title: [Qualitative composition of the normal intestinal microflora in individuals from the various age groups].
abstract: The study of the microflora of the large intestine in healthy adult volunteers of different age groups (25-36, 55-68 and 88-94 years old), living in Switzerland, has been carried out. As revealed by the analysis of the result obtained in this study, normal intestinal microflora in adults has different qualitative and quantitative characteristics at different periods of their life. The greatest diversity of intestinal microflora is observed at a mature age (55-68 years old), while the poorest microflora is observed in people more advanced in age. The amount of microorganisms inhabiting the intestine reaches its maximum in people of mature age and is low in elderly people. Changes in normal intestinal microflora are probaly linked with morpho-functional transformations in the host body at different periods of life. It is expedient to work out the criteria of norm for the microflora of different age groups with a view to use these criteria for the evaluation of the microbial status of the intestine in persons of different age.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medico-Social Rehabilitology, State Medical University, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Korshunov
authors.forename: L V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Potashnik
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Efimov
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Korshunova
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Smeianov
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gyr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000332:Aerobiosis; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D006801:Humans; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged