Faecal Bacterial and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles in Response to 48 h FODMAP Intervention Prior to Endurance Exercise

Rachel Scrivin; Isabel Martinez; Kayla Henningsen; Gary Slater; Rebekah Henry; Dovile Anderson; Ricardo J. S. Costa

doi:10.3390/nu18121886

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Faecal Bacterial and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles in Response to 48 h FODMAP Intervention Prior to Endurance Exercise

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Faecal Bacterial and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles in Response to 48 h FODMAP Intervention Prior to Endurance Exercise

Rachel Scrivin, Isabel Martinez, Kayla Henningsen, Gary Slater, Rebekah Henry, Dovile Anderson and Ricardo J. S. Costa

Nutrients, Vol.18(12), pp.1-22

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18121886

PMCID: PMC13305234

PMID: 42356276

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Abstract

acetate

butyrate

exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome

fermentable carbohydrates

gastrointestinal microbiome

gastrointestinal symptoms

propionate

Background/Objectives: Short-term low-fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharide and polyol (FODMAP) diets can reduce exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS); however, their effects on the gut microbiome, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and gastrointestinal biomarkers remain unclear. This study explored the effects of 48 h dietary FODMAP manipulation within a high-carbohydrate diet on faecal bacterial and SCFA profiles, and their relationships with exercise-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (EIGS) biomarkers, Ex-GIS, and performance. Methods: Twelve endurance athletes experiencing Ex-GIS were randomly allocated to a 48 h high-carbohydrate (mean +/- SD: 12.1 +/- 1.8 g center dot d(-1))-high-FODMAP (HC-HFOD) (54.8 +/- 10.5 g center dot d(-1)) and a 48 h high-carbohydrate-low-FODMAP (HC-LFOD) (3.0 +/- 0.2 g center dot d(-1)) diet before 2 h of running at 60% (VO2max)-O-center dot, followed by a 1 h distance test (22.9 +/- 1.2 degrees C, 46 +/- 8% RH). Baseline faecal samples were collected before exercise trials to determine faecal bacterial and SCFA profiles. Blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise to determine plasma I-FABP, sCD14, and CRP concentrations. Ex-GIS were recorded every 15 min throughout exercise. Results: Faecal bacterial alpha-diversity and relative abundance (RA%) at the phylum level were unchanged following both diets, while several family- and genus-level taxa RA% values were changed (p < 0.05), with greater shifts after HC-HFOD. HC-HFOD significantly increased faecal total-SCFA (p = 0.004), acetic (p = 0.002), and butyric (p = 0.028) acid concentrations. Strong positive and negative correlations between bacterial RA% and EIGS biomarkers and Ex-GIS were observed. Strong negative correlations with bacterial RA% and performance were observed. Conclusions: The 48 h HC-HFOD resulted in greater increases in bacterial RA% and SCFA concentrations compared with baseline. Bacterial RA% correlated bidirectionally with EIGS biomarkers and Ex-GIS, alongside strong negative associations with performance.

Details

Title: Faecal Bacterial and Short-Chain Fatty Acid Profiles in Response to 48 h FODMAP Intervention Prior to Endurance Exercise
Authors: Rachel Scrivin - University of the Sunshine Coast
Isabel Martinez - Monash University
Kayla Henningsen - Monash University
Gary Slater - University of the Sunshine Coast
Rebekah Henry - Monash University
Dovile Anderson - Monash University
Ricardo J. S. Costa (Corresponding Author) - Monash University
Publication details: Nutrients, Vol.18(12), pp.1-22
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.3390/nu18121886
ISSN: 2072-6643
PMID: 42356276; PMC13305234
Copyright note: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Data Availability: The data presented in this study are available upon request from the corresponding author, in accordance with the ethics committee approval procedures, due to privacy and confidentiality concerns.
Grant note: This study was internally supported by Monash University, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food, Be Active Sleep Exercise (BASE) Facility.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991246278602621
Output Type: Journal article

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