Gut microbiota and old age: Modulating factors and interventions for healthy longevity.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the effectiveness of prebiotics and other interventions in restoring gut microbiota diversity and function in older adults.
Results Summary
The study suggests that prebiotics, along with probiotics and synbiotics, may counteract aging-related gut dysbiosis, potentially improving health and extending healthy lifespan. However, specific efficacy data for prebiotics alone are not detailed.
Population
Older adults with aging-related gut microbiota alterations.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
aging | decrease | composition, diversity, and function of our microbiota | - | - | negatively affect | #1 |
aging-related gut dysbiosis | increase | initiation and/or progress of other metabolic diseases | - | - | contribute to | #2 |
aging-related gut dysbiosis | decrease | decrease in healthy longevity | - | - | contribute to | #3 |
diet supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation | decrease | aging-related deleterious consequences | - | - | aimed to counteract | #4 |
diet supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation | increase | our health | - | - | could improve | #5 |
diet supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation | increase | our healthy lifespan | - | - | could extend | #6 |
Our gut microbiota is a complex and dynamic ecosystem with a paramount role in shaping our metabolic and immunological functions. Recent research suggests that aging may negatively affect the composition, diversity, and function of our microbiota mainly due to alterations in diet and immunologic reactivity (i.e. immunosenescence), and increased incidence of certain diseases and, therefore, increased exposure to certain medication (e.g. antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors). In turn, this aging-related gut dysbiosis may contribute to the initiation and/or progress of other metabolic diseases, and consequently, to a decrease in healthy longevity. On the positive side, promising therapeutic interventions, such as diet supplementation with prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation, aimed to counteract these aging-related deleterious consequences, could improve our health, and extend our healthy lifespan. In this context, the current review aims to assess the latest progress in identifying the key elements affecting the gut microbiota of the older adults and their mechanism of action, and the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions aimed at restoring the diversity and healthy functions of the gut microbiota in older individuals.