Gut health, and the health of the trillions of microbes that live in the gut, may have a significant impact on overall health and wellness. The gut microbiome is thought to influence the risk of chronic conditions like cardiovascular issues, obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel concerns, and other health challenges. With chronic conditions like cardiovascular issues, cancer, and diabetes being significant health concerns in the United States, focusing on gut health may be beneficial for older adults wanting to support their overall well-being.
Changes in gastrointestinal health are common with age, so it's essential to know how to support the gut in a way that maintains a healthy microbiome and promotes overall well-being.
A patient-centered functional approach to a healthy gut in older adults focuses on natural and lifestyle-based strategies. In this article, we'll cover the gut microbiome, signs of an unhealthy gut, what may contribute to digestive discomfort in older adults, what functional laboratory tests can help identify potential gut issues, and which conventional and natural methods are used to support gut health.
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What is Gut Microbiome?
We often think of microbes as harmful and associate them with illness. However, not all microbes are harmful. Trillions of microbes reside in the gastrointestinal tract, many of which are very beneficial for human health. We collectively refer to this collection of bacteria, viruses, yeast, and other microorganisms as the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome plays a significant role locally for gut health but also systemically for overall health and wellness.
The gut microbiome supports our health in many ways. It contributes to the production of various vitamins, essential amino acids, and compounds called short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), a primary energy source for the cells that line the gastrointestinal tract. The microbiome also helps protect against pathogens, supports the integrity of the gut lining, and promotes a healthy immune function.
It's easy to see the importance of the gut microbiome when we see how it may influence the risk for many chronic conditions, including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular issues, obesity, and inflammatory bowel concerns (IBD). Seeing these connections makes it ever more apparent that supporting our gut health and microbiome is vital for a healthy aging process.
Signs of an Unhealthy Gut
Signs and symptoms of an unhealthy gut may include constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, gastroesophageal reflux, urgent need to have a bowel movement, feeling of incomplete bowel emptying, mucus or blood in stool, abnormal stool color, undigested food in the stool, nausea, and vomiting.
What Causes Digestive Disorders in Older Adults?
As we age, we change. Our lifestyles, cellular health, and body functions change, which may contribute to digestive discomfort in older adults. Decreased appetite is common in seniors, which can result in malnutrition and dehydration. Dehydration can contribute to constipation, among numerous other health challenges.
Aging impacts gastrointestinal function by affecting motility through the gastrointestinal system, secretion of enzymes and hormones, and how well we digest and absorb our food. These changes can have negative consequences that may result in digestive discomfort that is common in older adults, such as infection, constipation, ulcers, and gastritis. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is common in the elderly and is a common cause of malabsorption.
Lifestyle plays a significant role in the development of these changes that contribute to digestive discomfort. The Canadian Society of Intestinal Research points to several lifestyle factors contributing to gastrointestinal problems in the elderly, including low-fiber diets, sedentary lifestyles, medication side effects, stress, and inadequate sleep.
Functional Medicine Labs to Test for Root Cause of Digestive Disorders
Functional medicine practitioners utilize labs to help determine the various potential causes of digestive discomfort. Here are some of the most tested labs to assess gut health in older adults.
Comprehensive Stool Test
A comprehensive stool analysis offers a non-invasive in-depth way to assess gastrointestinal health in seniors. This test provides a wealth of information that can indicate what aspects of gastrointestinal function may be impaired.
The Genova Diagnostics GI Effects® Comprehensive Profile is a stool test that assesses digestive function, the gut microbiome, inflammation, and immune function. Zonulin is a marker that can be added to this test to identify whether there is increased intestinal permeability (often called "leaky gut").
The unique aspect of this specific test is that it also offers microbial sensitivity testing of detected pathogens to determine which prescription drugs and natural agents may effectively support balance. Older adults are often on medications, and their overall health may be more frail, making an effective and targeted approach to supporting gut health important.
Intestinal Permeability Testing
A protein called zonulin can be tested to indicate whether there is increased permeability of the gut lining. Zonulin can be tested by adding it to a comprehensive stool test or with a blood test. Zonulin testing in the blood can be performed with the Advanced Intestinal Barrier Assessment or Advanced IBA. This test measures several markers associated with intestinal permeability, including zonulin.
Breath Test
Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a common cause of malabsorption in the elderly. Another non-invasive testing option, a breath test, is used to evaluate this condition. The Genova Diagnostics SIBO test involves drinking a sugar solution and collecting measurements of methane and hydrogen by breathing into tubes at specified timing after ingesting the solution.
Conventional Treatment for Older Adults with Digestive Issues
Conventional approaches for older adults with digestive issues often include medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and antibiotics. These medications may not address the underlying factors of the digestive issue and can come with side effects. PPI drugs may increase the risk of osteoporosis, interstitial nephritis, pneumonia, and Clostridium difficile colitis. Antibiotics are known to have an impact on the gut microbiome, potentially causing dysbiosis (an imbalance in the microbial communities that live in the gut).
Functional Medicine Treatment for Digestive Health
Functional medicine approaches for digestive health include lifestyle factors that can support a healthy microbiome. Exercise has benefits for overall health for older adults and also may promote a healthy gut microbiome.
Gut Healthy Foods
Eating gut-healthy foods is a simple way for older adults to support their gut health and overall well-being. Gut-healthy foods include anti-inflammatory, high-fiber foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Probiotic-rich foods such as yogurt, vinegar, sauerkraut, and kimchi may help support a healthy gut microbiome.
The Mediterranean diet is a style of eating that may be helpful for a healthy gut as it contains anti-inflammatory, high-fiber, and antioxidant-rich foods. Foods commonly consumed in a Mediterranean diet include olive oil, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, legumes, poultry, fish, and red wine in moderation.
Supplements for Healthy Gut
Supplements can support a healthy gut by promoting digestive function, supporting a healthy inflammatory response, improving gut barrier function, or promoting a healthy microbiome.
Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzyme supplements provide the enzymes your stomach, pancreas, and small intestine make naturally. When your body isn't producing or releasing enough of these enzymes naturally, it may not properly break down your food, and absorption of your food's nutrients may be reduced. Digestive enzyme supplements can help support the body's digestive process to break food down properly and maximize absorption and utilization of your food's nutrients.
L-Glutamine
L-glutamine is an amino acid that is the primary fuel source for the cells that line the gut. Because it supports a healthy gut lining, it may be helpful for conditions in which the gut lining is compromised, such as Crohn's disease, Celiac disease, gastritis, and ulcers. It can be taken in powder or capsule form; however, therapeutic dosages (15 to 45 grams per day for at least five days) may be difficult to obtain with capsules, making powder a convenient option.
Aloe
Aloe is well known for its soothing and supportive properties. When aloe is taken internally, these properties may also support gut health. Aloe may be helpful for conditions like gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), ulcers, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Probiotics
Probiotics are supplements containing beneficial strains of bacteria and yeast that support a healthy gut microbiome. The beneficial bacteria commonly found in probiotic supplements include various strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and the beneficial fungi Saccharomyces.
Prebiotics
Prebiotic supplements are insoluble fibers fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), a source of energy for the microbiome. Prebiotics are known to increase the abundance and diversity of the microbial communities in the gut, supporting gut health.
Oil of Oregano
Oil of oregano is a supplement that may be beneficial for gut health with its supportive properties. Often taken in liquid tincture or gel capsule form, it may help support the management of SIBO and candida infections.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine healing modality that uses tiny needles placed at various points on the body to support well-being. Acupuncture has shown to be effective in reducing GERD-related symptoms, Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD), IBS, nausea, and vomiting.
Mind-body therapies, such as diaphragmatic breathing, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), relaxation therapy, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy, show benefits for various gastrointestinal conditions. These lifestyle-based therapies are wonderful options for seniors looking for non-invasive, non-pharmacologic ways to support gut health.
Summary
Gut health plays a vital role in overall health and well-being. As we age, it becomes even more important to be intentional about supporting a healthy gut to help manage the increased risk for digestive discomfort and chronic conditions that may come with an imbalanced microbiome.
A functional approach to a healthy gut in older adults includes identifying potential causes for any issues and using natural supplements and strategies along with lifestyle modifications, including exercise, eating gut-healthy foods, and mind-body techniques like diaphragmatic breathing.
Talk to your healthcare provider about ways to support your gut health as you age!
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