Cross-sectional study of physiological and gut microbiome patterns in 45 healthy middle-aged and elderly Indian adults
In 45 apparently healthy middle-aged and elderly Indian participants, four age-sex groups showed no statistically significant overall differences in physiological measures or gut microbial community structure; descriptive variation appeared in some domains, and microbiota-host links were exploratory. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The study included 45 apparently healthy middle-aged and elderly participants in four age-sex groups. [1]
Multivariate analysis found no statistically significant overall differences among the four age-sex groups (p = 0.103). [1]
Gut microbial community structure did not differ significantly (p = 0.651), and microbiota-host associations were exploratory and nominal after correction. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Cross-sectional observational study (abstract).
- Population / context
- 45 apparently healthy middle-aged and elderly Indian participants in four age-sex groups.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 19, 2026
Age-sex groups in 45 healthy Indian adults
This cross-sectional observational study looked at age- and sex-associated patterns in physiological domains and gut microbiota among 45 apparently healthy middle-aged and elderly participants. They formed four groups: middle-aged males (n = 13), middle-aged females (n = 11), elderly males (n = 13) and elderly females (n = 8). Clinical, metabolic, inflammatory, hepato-renal, psychological and sleep parameters were standardized into domain-specific Z-scores and combined into a composite multidimensional physiological health index (MPHI). The authors describe this index as a proxy for physiological processes associated with mitochondrial function and apparently healthy aging, not a direct measure of mitochondrial biology.
Supporting source [1]
No significant overall group differences; descriptive variation
Multivariate analysis found no statistically significant overall differences among the four age-sex groups (MANOVA, p = 0.103), and gut microbial community structure also did not differ significantly (PERMANOVA, p = 0.651). Despite this, descriptive variation appeared across several physiological domains. Middle-aged males showed comparatively less favorable metabolic and inflammatory profiles, and selected psychosocial and sleep-related measures varied across groups, particularly among elderly females. A principal component analysis of domain scores pointed to inflammatory, metabolic and hepato-renal indices, with substantial overlap among groups. The MPHI varied descriptively, highest in elderly males and lowest in middle-aged females. Microbiota-host associations remained exploratory and nominal after correction for multiple testing.
Supporting source [1]
Exploratory index needs validation in larger cohorts
The authors conclude that this apparently healthy cohort showed subtle variation across interconnected physiological domains without overt differences in gut microbial community structure. They present the findings as support for the potential utility of composite physiological indices for exploratory characterization of multidimensional physiological variation during aging. They also state that validation is needed in larger independent cohorts and against direct mitochondrial biomarkers. The study is reported only as an abstract, so details of recruitment, measurement procedures and full results were not reviewed here.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The sample was small (45 participants), the design was cross-sectional, and the MPHI is described as a proxy rather than a direct measure of mitochondrial biology. Microbiota-host associations were exploratory and nominal after correction, and the authors call for validation in larger independent cohorts and against direct mitochondrial biomarkers.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Divyashri G, Hutti H, Madduri Venkata LP, Kumar BP, Yachie A, Ghosh S. · europepmc.org · September 19, 2026