darmflora

Darmflora, also known as the gut microbiota, denotes the complex community of microorganisms that inhabit the digestive tract, predominantly in the large intestine. It includes bacteria, archaea, viruses, and fungi, with bacteria forming the majority.

The composition varies between individuals and is influenced by age, diet, medications, geography, and health status. The dominant bacterial groups typically include the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, with representatives from Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria. Genera such as Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Ruminococcus, and Bifidobacterium are commonly present.

The microbiota carries out key functions such as fermentation of indigestible carbohydrates to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), production of vitamins, contribution to energy harvest, metabolism of bile acids, and support of the intestinal barrier and immune system. It also provides colonization resistance against pathogens and interacts with the gut-brain axis.

Development and health: colonization begins at birth and evolves during infancy, influenced by delivery mode and feeding. Diet, antibiotics, and other factors shape the community over life. Dysbiosis, or imbalance, has been linked to conditions such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, and metabolic disorders; evidence is strongest for intestinal diseases and metabolic health, while mechanisms remain under study.

Research on the darmflora includes sequencing and metagenomics; approaches to modify it include diet, probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation for certain infections.