Effect of prebiotics on the human gut microbiota of elderly persons

Toward, R., Montandon, S., Walton, G. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5426-5635 and Gibson, G. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0566-0476 (2012) Effect of prebiotics on the human gut microbiota of elderly persons. Gut Microbes, 3 (1). pp. 57-60. ISSN 1949-0984 doi: 10.4161/gmic.19411

Abstract/Summary

The colonic microbiota undergoes certain age related changes that may affect health. For example, above the age of 55–65 y, populations of bifidobacteria are known to decrease markedly. Bifidobacteria are known inhibitors of pathogenic microbes and a decrease in their activities may increase susceptibility to infections. There is therefore interest in trying to reverse their decline in aged persons. As the gut microbiota responds to dietary intervention, both probiotics and prebiotics have been tested in this regard. Probiotics are live microbes in the diet, whereas prebiotics are fermentable ingredients that specifically target components of the indigenous microbiota seen to be beneficial. We have published a recent paper demonstrating that prebiotic galactooligosaccharides can exert power effects upon bifidobacteria in the gut flora of elderly persons (both in vivo and in vitro). This addendum summarizes research that led up to this study and discusses the possible impact of prebiotics in impacting upon the gut health of aged persons.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/27895
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences > Food Microbial Sciences Research Group
Publisher	Landed Bioscience
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