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Ageing and the gut.

Edward Britton¹, John T McLaughlin

¹Institute of Inflammation and Repair and Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.

The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society

|November 14, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Ageing affects the gut, potentially causing malnutrition in older adults. While some gastrointestinal changes occur, the small intestine remains largely unaffected by age.

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Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Gerontology
Nutritional Science

Background:

Malnutrition is a significant concern in the elderly population.
Age-related changes in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can contribute to anorexia and malnutrition.
Understanding these changes is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the role of the ageing gut in malnutrition among the elderly.
To assess physiological changes in the GI tract and their clinical implications.
To explore the impact of the gut microbiome and 'inflamm-ageing' on elderly nutrition.

Main Methods:

Literature review of physiological changes in the ageing gastrointestinal tract.
Assessment of malnutrition burden and contributing factors in the elderly.
Analysis of neurohumoral changes and comorbid conditions related to ageing anorexia.

Main Results:

Ageing impacts swallowing, esophageal motility, gastric compliance, and fundic pressure.
Hypochlorhydria in the stomach may lead to malabsorption or bacterial overgrowth.
The small intestine's absorptive function is notably unaffected by age; colon transit time may prolong.

Conclusions:

Specific age-related GI changes, like hypochlorhydria, can predispose to malnutrition.
The gut microbiome and 'inflamm-ageing' are potential factors in elderly malnutrition.
Further research is needed to address the clinical impact of these changes and guide interventions.