Purpose This exploratory pilot study investigated serum bile acids (BAs) as metabolic regulators in boxers, focusing on their dynamic responses to rapid weight loss (RWL) and recovery across different training levels. A developmental control group of young athletes served as a physiological reference. Methods Serum samples from 13 male boxers (5 elite, 8 national-level) and 10 young athletes were collected at baseline, post-RWL, and after 24 h recovery. Targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) quantified 82 BA species. Multivariate (OPLS-DA), univariate, and KEGG pathway analyses assessed phase- and level-dependent differences. Results Elite boxers showed higher baseline concentrations of conjugated and regulatory BAs (e.g., taurolithocholic acid [TLCA], glycohyocholic acid [GHCA]) and faster post-RWL restoration of BA balance. Non-elite athletes exhibited stronger shifts toward unconjugated secondary BAs (e.g., deoxycholic acid [DCA], lithocholic acid [LCA]) and incomplete recovery. Compared with young athletes, trained boxers displayed enhanced BA conjugation and FXR/TGR5-linked regulation. KEGG analysis indicated RWL-related disturbances in bile secretion and peroxisomal pathways, while elite profiles reflected greater hepatic-intestinal resilience. Conclusion BA composition may serve as a biochemical marker of metabolic adaptability in combat athletes. Elite boxers maintained tighter BA homeostasis through weight cycles, whereas non-elite athletes exhibited transient hepatic stress. Findings are preliminary and should be interpreted cautiously due to small subgroup sizes and unstandardized diet and microbiome control.
© Copyright 2026 BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation. BioMed Central. All rights reserved.