Structural and Functional Reconstruction of Metabolic Modules of Intestinal Microbiota in Child Athletes

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of regular physical activity on the gut microbiota architecture and associated metabolic modules in 8- to 10-year-old children. Participants were divided into two groups: controls (Group 1) and those who had been practicing taekwondo for over two years outside of school physical education (Group 2). The metagenomic component was based on sequencing of the 16S rRNA V1–V9 regions; the data were analyzed within a pipeline using Minimap2, Emu, and network analysis in R (vegan, igraph, ggraph). The results indicate that Group 2 exhibits a more complex microbiota network, highlighting specific modules associated with fiber processing and the synthesis of anti-inflammatory SCFAs, including butyrate and propionate. A direct link between metabolic pathways and immune regulation was observed through effects on regulatory T cells, IgA, and anti-inflammatory signaling. Network module analysis identified a core anti-inflammatory microbiota in athletes (modules 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 13, 25) and found enhanced lactate and succinate detoxification mechanisms. These findings highlight the role of physical activity in restructuring the functional architecture of the microbiota and increasing intestinal resistance.