Aging
Conditions
Keywords
Aging, Resistant starch, Dietary fibre, Immune system, Bacteria, older subjects
Brief summary
The development of preventative nutritional strategies to promote healthy ageing is becoming increasingly important. Elevated thresholds for taste and smell, coupled with swallowing difficulties and masticatory dysfunction, often result in nutritionally imbalanced diets among the elderly. This can induce great changes in the composition and metabolic activities of the gut microbiome, leading to decreased intestinal motility and impaired bowel function. This can result in constipation or diarrhoea, increased basal levels of inflammation, immunosenescence and morbidity. The objectives of this study are to use dietary modification to improve gut health in older people. Diets high in resistant starch or dietary fibre will be given to 50 elderly volunteers (70-95 years) living in the community, in a randomised double-blind cross-over study. The aim is to investigate the effects on microbiome composition and functionality through fermentation, reduced putrefaction, and modification of blood markers associated with obesity and diabetes.
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTResistant starch
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTDietary fibre (arabinogalactan, gum guar, pectin)
Sponsors
Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government
University of Dundee
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
70 Years to 95 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Men and women aged 70-95 years, with BMI 18.5-30.0 kg m2.
Exclusion criteria
*
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Number of participants with change in levels of faecal bifidobacteria measured by quantitative fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). | 4 weeks |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of participants with change in the bacterial composition of the faecal microbiome measured by quantitative FISH. | 4 weeks | — |
| Number of participants with change in inflammatory markers linked to ageing measured in whole blood by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). | 4 weeks | Measurement of cytokines Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), IL-1, IL-10, Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), IL-4, IL-8, Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1( MCP-1) and serum C-reactive protein (CRP). |
| Number of participants with change in faecal genotoxic potential determined by measurement of faecal bacterial enzymes involved in the formation of genotoxic metabolites in the gut. | 4 weeks | Enzymes to be measured beta-glucosidase, beta-glucuronidase, azoreductase, nitroreductase |
| Number of participants with a change in bowel habit and quality of life measured by completion of a bowel habit diary and quality of life questionnaire. | 4 weeks | — |
Countries
United Kingdom
Outcome results
None listed