Title: Self-Reported and Accelerometer-Recorded Physical Activity and 10-Year Associations with The Gut Microbiome: A CARDIA Study
Supervisor: Dr. Eli Puterman
Committee members: Dr. Michael Koehle, Dr. Katie Meyer
Background: The gut microbiome plays a variety of roles in host physiology and has been related to many pathological conditions, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and Alzheimer’s disease, to name a few. Specifically, different taxa of gut bacteria have been associated with these metabolic conditions. Emerging research has revealed that physical activity and exercise can play in altering the gut microbiome, and hence influence overall health. The proposed study will test the hypotheses that higher levels of physical activity, both self-reported and accelerometer-determined, are directly related to better health, as indicated by increased diversity in the gut microbiome and increased identification of certain bacteria, both cross-sectionally and prospectively over a 10-year period.
Methods: The study is based on a dataset from Black and White participants collected over a 10-year period from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults cohort. Data for the microbiome are from a sub-sample (n=605) of participants collected in Year 30 of the study. Stool samples were collected and sequenced using the 16S ribosomal RNA method as well as whole metagenomic sequencing. Measures include metagenomics, α diversity (within-person), β diversity (between-person), and taxonomies. Data for physical activity were collected using self-report as well as accelerometer-based measures at both Year 20 and Year 30 of the study. Accelerometer-determined measures include total average daily wear time, average accelerometer counts, and time spent sedentary and in light-, moderate, and vigorous intensity physical activity. As for self-report PA measures include total time spent, and time spent in moderate- and heavy intensity physical activity. We will conduct multivariable-adjusted regression to assess associations between physical activity variables (exposures) and gut microbiome (outcome) measures. Covariate adjustment will include sequencing batch, sociodemographics (age, race, gender, field center, and education), and health behaviors (diet, smoking).