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Effects of Age and Region on Fecal Microflora in Elderly Subjects Living in Bama, Guangxi, China

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Abstract

Intestinal microflora analysis was performed on 52 healthy elderly subjects of different ages and in different regions in Bama County, Guangxi, China. The participants were assigned to three groups depending on their age and location: longevous (group M; mean age = 98 years; n = 21); rural younger elderly (group S; mean age = 70 years; n = 18); and urban elderly (group C; mean age = 82 years; n = 13). Ten groups of bacteria were quantified using real-time PCR. Age-related differences were observed in the number of Clostridium coccoides–Eubacterium rectale—there were more in longevous participants. Region affected the numbers of Bacteroides—Prevotella and Clostridium perfringens subgroup, and longevous participants had significantly more of the two bacterial groups than urban elderly participants. Region-related effects were also observed for the relative abundance of E. coli, and rural elderly participants had a lower proportion. Both age and regional effects were observed in the amount of total bacteria, and longevous participants had higher numbers than urban elderly participants. A significantly higher proportion of lactobacilli was observed in rural younger elderly participants than urban elderly participants, but independent age or regional effects did not contribute to this difference. This study suggests that age and region can affect the intestinal microflora of elderly people.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2006BAD04A06 and 2007AA10Z311). The authors thank Rui Qin (Bureau of Science and Technology of Bama Yao Autonomous County) for his assistance in volunteer recruitment and sample collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University (East Campus), P.O. BOX 303, No. 17 Tsinghua East Road, Beijing, 100083, China

    Liang Zhao, Wentao Xu, Junhua Jin, Jiannan Feng & Fazheng Ren

  2. Food and Nutritional Sciences, North Carolina A & T State University, 1601 East Market Street, Greensboro, NC, 27411-1064, USA

    Salam A. Ibrahim

  3. MengNiu Diary (Beijing) Company, No. 1 Food Industry Park, Tongzhou district, Beijing, 101107, China

    Jingli Jiang

  4. Government of BaMa Yao Autonomous County, No. 368 Xinjian Road, BaMa County, GuangXi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 547500, China

    Jianjun Meng

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  1. Liang Zhao
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  2. Wentao Xu
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  3. Salam A. Ibrahim
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  4. Junhua Jin
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  5. Jiannan Feng
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  6. Jingli Jiang
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  7. Jianjun Meng
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  8. Fazheng Ren
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Correspondence to Fazheng Ren.

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Zhao, L., Xu, W., Ibrahim, S.A. et al. Effects of Age and Region on Fecal Microflora in Elderly Subjects Living in Bama, Guangxi, China. Curr Microbiol 62, 64–70 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-010-9676-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-010-9676-4

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