Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40969984›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in sports and active living2025

Dynamic stability of gut microbiota in elite volleyball athletes: microbial adaptations during training, competition and recovery.

Junior Carlone, Saverio Giampaoli, Eugenio Alladio, Gioele Rosellini, Filippo Barni, Elena Salata, Attilio Parisi, Alessio Fasano, Antonio Tessitore

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Article in Frontiers in sports and active living, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Junior CarloneDepartment of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
Saverio GiampaoliDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Eugenio AlladioDepartment of Chemistry, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Gioele RoselliniDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Filippo BarniBiology Section, RIS Rome, Italy.
Elena SalataBiology Section, RIS Rome, Italy.
Attilio ParisiDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.
Alessio FasanoDivision of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.
Antonio TessitoreDepartment of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome "Foro Italico", Rome, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: To examine how different weekly training and competition schedules influence gut microbiota composition in elite volleyball players, investigating the relationship between training and competition demands, recovery periods and microbial dynamics to identify potential biomarkers for training load and recovery status assessment. Methods: Seven elite athletes from the Italian Men's SuperLega Championship (age: 26.5 ± 4.5 years; weight: 96 ± 11 kg; height: 200 ± 0.1 cm; BMI: 24 ± 1.9) were monitored at four timepoints over eight weeks Regular Season periods (T0, T1), Rest Period (T2) and International Tournament Period (T3). Faecal samples underwent 16S rRNA sequencing analysis, with concurrent Mediterranean Diet adherence and Stool Consistency assessments. Repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANOVA were performed to evaluate microbial abundance changes. Results: 16S rRNA sequencing revealed Firmicutes predominance (41.22-76.03%), followed by Actinobacteria (9.66-54.45%) and Bacteroidetes (0.73-26.56%). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio fluctuated in response to training intensity and competition 6:1 during T0 and T1, decreasing to 3:1 during T2 and returning to 5:1 during T3. Dominant bacterial families included Ruminococcaceae (26.97-28.3%), Bifidobacteriaceae (17.46-22.92%) and Lachnospiraceae (9.66-12.61%). Significant enrichment of Rikenellaceae abundance occurred during Rest Periods ( Discussion: Despite overall stability, elite athletes gut microbiota adapted to volleyball varying training demands primarily via Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio modulations and Rikenellaceae enrichment during Recovery Periods. These microbial alterations represent potential biomarkers for assessing training load and recovery status. Additional investigation is necessary to elucidate how these microbial dynamics influence athletic performance outcomes.

Indexed as

elite athletesgut microbiotamicrobial stabilitytraining and competition periodizationvolleyball

Identifiers

PMID40969984
PMCPMC12440923

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