The effects of ageing on the colonic bacterial microflora in adults
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The composition of the fecal mircoflora and its changes on ageing have rarely been investigated in large samples of both patients and volunteers. METHODS: We analysed the fecal flora by conventional microbiological testing (Kyberstatus, Institute of Microecology, Herborn, Germany) of stool samples from 35 292 adults (age: 46.3 +/- 0.08 [18 to 96] years, 9564 males, 24 784 females; remaining = missing data) with different intestinal and non-intestinal diagnoses for total colony-forming units (CFU) (per g stool) as well as relative abundance of Bifidobacteria, Bacteroides spp., Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and Lactobacillus spp. with respect to age, gender, and clinical data available (e. g., stool consistency and pH). RESULTS: The total CFU was stable and showed no age- or gender-related changes. Individual bacterial species constantly and significantly increased with age (E. coli, Enterococci spp.), or decreased at higher age (Bacteroides spp.), or were stable throughout the life span (Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria). Gastrointestinal diagnoses (Crohn's disease, n = 198; ulcerative colitis, n = 515; irritable bowel syndrome, n = 7765; other GI diagnoses, n = 10 478) tended to exhibit some specificity of the bacterial profile, and when GI diagnoses were excluded, the age-related bacterial profile of the remaining group (n = 15 619, m:f = 4197:11 422) was not different. CONCLUSION: Conventional microbiological investigations of the fecal microbiota showed both bacteria-specific as well as a general pattern of ageing of the colonic microbiota, with the last decades (more than 60 years) demonstrating the most profound changes. It remains to be shown whether these changes reflect direct changes of the gut microbiota, the mucosal innate immunity, or indirect consequences of age-related altered nutrition.
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During old age, bacteria that produce butyrate decrease while bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum increase.
“during old age, the bacteria that produce butyrate (which influence colon motility, immunity maintenance, and anti-inflammatory properties) decrease, while the bacteria belonging to Proteobacteria phylum increase [14,15,16].”
From Novel Insights on Intake of Fish and Prevention of Sarcopenia: All Reasons for an Adequate Consumption (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
Bifidobacterium are shown to decrease with age and are associated with lower intestinal and circulating LPS levels.
“Bifidobacterium are shown to decrease with age [68], and are associated with lower intestinal [69] and circulating LPS levels [70].”
From Gut Microbiota Contribute to Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle Size, Composition, and Function: Biological Basis for a Gut-Muscle Axis (2018) · cites this paper as [68]
Investigations of age-related changes in gut microbiota describe a bacterial community that is both less diverse and lacking in microorganisms responsible for the production of butyrate, and more abundant in pathogens belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum (e.g., Enterobacteriaceae).
“investigations of age-related changes in gut microbiota describe a bacterial community that is both less diverse and lacking in microorganisms responsible for the production of butyrate (indicative of gastrointestinal health) [15, 84, 98, 99], and more abundant in pathogens belonging to the Proteobacteria phylum (e.g., Enterobacteriaceae) [15, 68, 83].”
From Gut Microbiota Contribute to Age-Related Changes in Skeletal Muscle Size, Composition, and Function: Biological Basis for a Gut-Muscle Axis (2018) · cites this paper as [68]
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- Authors
- Enck, P., Zimmermann, K., Rusch, K., Schwiertz, A., Klosterhalfen, S., & Frick, J.-S.
- Affiliations
- Universitätsklinikum Tübingen (DE)
- Venue
- Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie
- Publisher
- Georg Thieme Verlag KG
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 07
- Pages
- 653-658
- ISSN
- 0044-2771 (ISSN-L)
- 1439-7803
- OpenAlex
- W2081489708
- Cited by
- 68
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 2.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- de
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- aging, fecal microbiota, gut microbiota composition, age-related changes, Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, Lactobacillus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, stool consistency, fecal pH, sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Colitis, Colon, Feces, Female, Germany, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prevalence, Age Distribution, Young Adult
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