The Effects of Ageing on the Colonic Bacterial Microflora in Adults

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund: Die Zusammensetzung der Darmflora und deren Änderungen im Alter sind selten Gegenstand der Forschung gewesen, weder bei gesunden Probanden noch bei Patienten. Methoden: Wir analysierten die fäkale Flora mittels konventioneller mikrobiologischer Kulturtechnik (Kyberstatus®, Institut für Mikroökologie, Herborn) aus Stuhlproben von 35 292 Erwachsenen (46,3 ± 0,08 [18 bis 96] Jahre, 9564 Männer: 24 784 Frauen; verbleibende = fehlend) mit unterschiedlichen intestinalen und nicht intestinalen Diagnosen auf die Gesamtflora (total colony forming units – CFU) (pro g Stuhl) wie auch auf die relative Häufigkeit (abundance) von Bifidobacteria, Bacteroides spp., Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. und Lactobacillus spp. im Hinblick auf Alter, Geschlecht und verfügbaren klinischen Daten (z. B. die Stuhlkonsistenz und den pH). Ergebnisse: Die Gesamt-CFU war stabil und zeigt keine alters- und geschlechtsabhängige Veränderung. Individuelle bakterielle Species stiegen entweder konstant und signifikant mit dem Alter an (E. coli, Enterococci spp.), sanken mit steigendem Alter ab (Bacteroides spp.) oder blieben über die Lebensspanne hinweg gleich (Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria). Gastrointestinale Diagnosen (Morbus Crohn, n = 198; Colitis ulcerosa, n = 515; Reizdarmsyndrome, n = 7765; andere GI-Diagnosen, n = 10 478) zeigten tendenziell eine Spezifität des bakteriellen Profils; wurden die gastroenterologischen Diagnosen ausgeschlossen, änderten sich die Altersprofile der Restgruppe (n = 15 619, 4197:11 422) nicht. Schlussfolgerungen: Eine konventionelle mikrobiologische Untersuchung der fäkalen Mikroflora zeigt sowohl bakterienspezifische als auch allgemeine Muster der Alterung der Flora, wobei sich in den letzten Dekaden des Lebens (älter als 60 Jahre) die profundesten Veränderungen zeigen. Es müsste jedoch geklärt werden, ob dies direkte Veränderungen der Flora sind, Folge der altersbedingte Änderungen des mukosalen Immunsystems oder ob sie infolge von Änderungen der Ernährung im Alter auftreten.

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.

Schlüsselwörter

Darm - Flora - Bakterien

Key words

colon - commensal bacteria - ageing

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