The Role of Diet and Gut Microbiota in Aging and Longevity
Exploring the connection between diet, gut microbiota, and aging reveals significant insights into how intestinal health influences our lifespan. As we age, our gut microbiota undergoes changes, losing beneficial bacteria that produce crucial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and indole derivatives, which are known to enhance glucose control and insulin function. Conversely, aging guts often show an increase in bacteria producing harmful substances that could lead to insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases.
Interestingly, individuals experiencing healthier, longer lives display a distinct gut microbial composition that is rich in SCFA and indole-producing bacteria. This contrast underscores the profound impact of gut health on aging and suggests that dietary choices directly influence the balance of beneficial versus harmful microbial metabolites. The review delves into how these metabolites affect the body, detailing both their positive and detrimental roles in metabolic health during the aging process.
Addressing gut dysbiosis—imbalance in gut microbiota—through diet and other interventions might offer promising avenues for enhancing health span and reducing age-related diseases. The article highlights potential strategies to manipulate gut microbiota to favor a longevity-supportive profile, offering hope for targeted therapies that could mitigate the adverse effects of aging.
Article Information
The metabolic and endocrine impact of diet-derived gut microbiota metabolites on ageing and longevity
Published in Ageing Research Reviews. João R Araújo et al.
Abstract
Gut dysbiosis has been recently recognized as a hallmark of ageing. At this stage of life, gut microbiota becomes depleted from bacteria involved in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), indole and its derivative indole-3-propionic acid (IPA), metabolites shown to improve host glycemic control as well as insulin sensitivity and secretion. Moreover, gut microbiota becomes enriched in pathobiont bacteria involved in the production of imidazole propionate, phenols and trimethylamine, metabolites that promote host insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. The magnitude of these changes is much more pronounced in unhealthy than in healthy ageing. On the other hand, a distinct gut microbiota signature is displayed during longevity, the most prominent being an enrichment in both SCFA and IPA bacterial producers. This short Review discusses, in an innovative and integrative way, cutting-edge research on the composition of gut microorganisms and profile of metabolites secreted by them, that are associated with a healthy and unhealthy ageing pattern and with longevity. A detailed description of the positive or detrimental metabolic effects, in the ageing host, of diet-derived gut microbial metabolites is provided. Finally, microbiota-targeted interventions that counteract gut dysbiosis associated with ageing, are briefly outlined.
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