Abstract: We analyzed gut microbiota from 32 male athletes and gut microbiota from 28 male college students in the same area as control. We found out the abundance of Firmicutes decreased, and the abundance of Bacteroides and Bilophila increased in athletes group. Probiotics such as Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium and Propionibacterium also increased in athletes group. The athletes group may possess a greater ability to synthesize Vitamin B, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and downstream product IPP, and a weaker ability of L-alanine and NAD synthesis. All results shed light on the species composition and functional characteristics of microbiota from male athletes and provide a valuable reference for related research.

Key words: gut microbiota, metagenome, male athletes, metabolic pathways