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[Characteristics of disease and involution-induced changes in intestinal absorption]
Zeitschrift Fur Alternsforschung
|July 1, 1986
Summary
Aging causes intestinal changes. D-xylose absorption parameters can distinguish between normal aging and disease-related absorption disorders in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Gerontology
- Physiology
Context:
- Intestinal function and structure undergo changes with aging.
- Differentiating between age-related involution and pathological conditions affecting intestinal absorption is crucial.
Purpose:
- To identify reliable parameters for assessing intestinal absorption in the elderly.
- To determine if age-related intestinal changes are solely due to involution or also influenced by disease.
Summary:
- Functional and morphological changes occur in the aging intestine.
- Key parameters like absorption rate (k12), time to peak D-xylose concentration (tm), and relative absorption extent (RR(tm)) were evaluated.
- These parameters, derived from D-xylose kinetics after oral and IV administration, help differentiate between involutive and pathological intestinal absorption.
Impact:
- Absorption disorders in older adults are primarily linked to co-existing morbidities, not just aging itself.
- Provides a framework for better clinical assessment of gastrointestinal health in aging populations.