Optimizing Exercise Intensity for Gut Health: Effect on Microbiota Composition, Barrier Integrity, and Inflammation in Male Wistar Rats

Introduction Exercise influences gut microbiota composition and intestinal permeability, but the optimal intensity for maintaining gut health remains unclear. Objectives This study investigates the effects of different exercise intensities on some gut microbiota abundance, epithelial barrier integrity, and inflammatory markers in male Wistar rats. Methods Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (no exercise), low-intensity (10 m/min, 30 min/day), moderate-intensity (20 m/min, 30 min/day), and high-intensity (30 m/min, 30 min/day) treadmill exercise, five times per week for eight weeks. qPCR was used to assess the relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila , Faecalibacterium prausnitzii , and Escherichia coli . Zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA levels were quantified as markers of gut barrier integrity and inflammation, respectively. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, Tukey’s HSD test, Mann-Whitney U tests, and regression modeling. Results High-intensity exercise significantly increased E. coli abundance ( p  < 0.05), while reducing beneficial microbes such as A. muciniphila and F. prausnitzii. Moderate-intensity exercise promoted a favorable gut microbiota balance, with increased A. muciniphila and stable F. prausnitzii levels. ZO-1 expression was highest in the high-intensity group, indicating compromised gut barrier function, whereas IL-6 was elevated, signifying increased inflammation. Statistical analyses revealed a significant relationship between exercise intensity and ZO-1 expression ( p  = 0.024, R² = 0.952). Tukey’s post-hoc analysis revealed that most pairwise comparisons were statistically significant ( p  < 0.05), except for Control vs Low-Intensity, which showed borderline significance for IL-6 Expression ( p  = 0.050) and non-significance for ZO-1 Expression ( p  = 0.062). This suggests that while low-intensity exercise had minimal effects compared to control, moderate and high-intensity exercise significantly influenced gut microbiota, barrier integrity, and inflammation markers. Conclusion While exercise benefits gut health, excessive intensity may induce dysbiosis and compromise gut barrier integrity. Moderate-intensity exercise appears optimal for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome. Future studies should explore metabolic pathways linking exercise and gut health.