Most of the microbes that live within us are located within the gastrointestinal tract and form a mutualistic relationship. The gastrointestinal microbiota is usually stable during our adult years but once we begin aging this homeostasis starts to be affected by pathophysiological processes. Some age-related changes of the gut microbiota influence the risk of elderly to develop several diseases such as colon cancer. Pro/prebiotics are dietary supplements that target the intestinal microbiota and have been associated with health maintenance of elderly. The manipulation of this gut microbiota through the use of pro/prebiotics may be a strategy used to prevent and treat diseases as we begin aging.
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| Figure from Biagi et al. (2013) shows the health impact of age-related modiļ¬cations in gut microbiota composition |
Original article: Biagi E, Candela M, Turroni S, Garagnani P, Franceschi C, Brigidi P (2013). Ageing and gut microbes: perspectives for health maintenance and longevity. Pharmacol Res 69: 11-20.
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