Abstract:[Objective] To observe the effects of supplementing compound probiotics on the structure of gut microbiota, content of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and levels of inflammatory cytokines in Chinese wrestlers. [Methods] Eighteen non-sports undergraduates from Shandong Sport University were recruited as a control group, while 30 Chinese wrestlers served as the experimental group. Both groups received oral compound probiotics for 8 weeks. Venous blood and stool samples were collected before and after the intervention. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure inflammatory cytokines levels in plasma. The structural characteristics of gut microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the V3−V4 region, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to determine SCFAs content in stool samples. [Results] Prior to the intervention, the experimental group exhibited lower levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C reactive protein (CRP) (P<0.001, P<0.01, P<0.01), and higher levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) compared to the control group (P<0.001). After 8 weeks of probiotic supplementation, plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP in the Chinese wrestlers further declined (P<0.01, P<0.05). Before the intervention, the abundance of Bifidobacterium adolescentis was higher in Chinese wrestlers than that in the control group (P<0.01). Following 8 weeks of supplementation, Chinese wrestlers showed an increased abundance of Collinsella (P<0.01), a decreased abundance of Faecalibacterium (P<0.01), and reduced α-diversity in gut microbiota (P<0.01). Prior to the intervention, there was no significant difference in SCFAs content between the two groups. After 8 weeks of intervention with compound probiotics, the content of acetic acid and butyric acid in the stool samples increased in both the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05) and the experimental group (P<0.05). The correlation analysis results indicated a positive correlation between B. adolescentis abundance and plasma IL-10 level (r=0.233, P=0.037) and negative correlations of B. adolescentis and C. aerofaciens abundance with plasma IL-6 level (r=−0.499, P=0.000; r=−0.366, P=0.001) in Chinese wrestlers. Additionally, there was a positive correlation between C. aerofaciens abundance and the butyric acid content in stool samples of Chinese wrestlers (r=0.243, P=0.032). [Conclusion] The 8 weeks intervention with compound probiotics effectively reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in plasma. Furthermore, it enhanced the abundance of butyric acid-producing bacteria in the gut microbiota, promoting the production of SCFAs, and improving anti-inflammatory capacity.
