Sex Differences in the Intestinal Microbiota of Japanese

Abstract

The findings of intestinal microbiota studies conducted in other countries may not be directly applicable to the Japanese, because the intestinal microbiota of the Japanese has a unique composition that differs from that of other countries. Therefore, studies of the intestinal microbiota in the Japanese population are needed. Many factors influence the intestinal microbiota, including lifestyle, body characteristics and condition, and these influences should be considered in studies of intestinal microbiota. This review introduces one of the most important factors affecting the intestinal microbiota: sex differences. Sex differences in the intestinal microbiota of Japanese people are characterized by age; they are largest in the 30s, and then tend to become smaller with increasing age. The existence of sex differences in the intestinal microbiota suggests that sex is a crucial consideration for studies of intestinal microbiota and disease association, prevention, and treatment approaches that target them.