박진영 (강원대학교)

양희정 (강원대학교)

박진영 (강원대학교)

양희정 (강원대학교)

오병섭 (강원대학교)

정현진 (강원대학교)

양윤미 (강원대학교)

조용준 (강원대학교)

Aging alters host metabolism and gut microbiota, yet the interplay between these systems remains unclear. We conducted untargeted liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS)-based fecal metabolomics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing on C57BL/6J mice maintained on a standard chow diet at 2, 6, 12, and 18 months of age to investigate age-associated changes in the gut environment. The metabolic changes were systematically annotated into functional classes using MS-based predictive platforms, such as GNPS and SIRIUS. Targeted mass queries further revealed dynamic alterations in several key metabolite groups, such as a progressive increase in taurine-related metabolites and microbially derived N-acyl lipids, as well as a sharp decline in thiamine-related compounds specifically observed at 18 months of age. In addition, we observed compositional remodeling of the bile acid pool with aging, including both host- and microbially derived bile acid species. Microbiome profiling indicated marked shifts in bacterial taxa, particularly those implicated in bile acid metabolism and vitamin turnover. Integration of metabolome and microbiome datasets uncovered correlations between specific microbial genera and age-associated metabolites, pointing to coordinated changes between host metabolism and microbial composition. Together, these findings highlight coordinated metabolic and microbial remodeling in the aging gut and suggest microbiota-driven influences on host nutrient balance and signaling molecules.