A
new study has found that microorganisms living in the gut may alter the ageing
process, which could lead to the development of food-based treatment to slow it
down.
All
living organisms, including human beings, coexist with a myriad of microbial
species living in and on them, and research conducted over the last 20 years
has established their important role in nutrition, physiology, metabolism and
behaviour.
Researchers
transplanted gut microbes from old mice (24 months old) into young, germ-free
mice (6 weeks old). After eight weeks, the young mice had increased intestinal
growth and production of neurons in the brain, known as neurogenesis.
The
team showed that the increased neurogenesis was due to an enrichment of gut
microbes that produce a specific short chain fatty acid, called butyrate.
The
researchers then showed that giving butyrate on its own to the young germ-free mice
had the same adult neurogenesis effects.
The
team also explored the effects of gut microbe transplants from old to young
mice on the functions of the digestive system.
With
age, the viability of small intestinal cells is reduced, and this is associated
with reduced mucus production that make intestinal cells more vulnerable to
damage and cell death.
However,
the addition of butyrate helps to better regulate the intestinal barrier
function and reduce the risk of inflammation.
The
team found that mice receiving microbes from the old donor gained increases in
length and width of the intestinal villi -- the wall of the small intestine. In
addition, both the small intestine and colon were longer in the old mice than
the young germ-free mice.
The
discovery shows that gut microbes can compensate and support an ageing body
through positive stimulation. This points to a new potential method for
tackling the negative effects of ageing by imitating the enrichment and
activation of butyrate.
See:
Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle, Pharmaceutical Microbiology Resources (http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/)
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