Nutrition Gut Brain Interactions Research Centre, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Nutrition and Physical Activity Research Centre, Department of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
BMC Geriatr. 2018 Mar 20;18(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s12877-018-0767-6.
Despite the substantial number of older adults suffering from gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms little is known regarding the character of these complaints and whether they are associated with an altered intestinal barrier function and psychological distress. Our aim was to explore the relationship between self-reported gut health, intestinal permeability and psychological distress among older adults.
Three study populations were included: 1) older adults with GI symptoms (n = 24), 2) a group of older adults representing the general elderly population in Sweden (n = 22) and 3) senior orienteering athletes as a potential model of healthy ageing (n = 27). Questionnaire data on gut-health, psychological distress and level of physical activity were collected. Intestinal permeability was measured by quantifying zonulin in plasma. The level of systemic and local inflammation was monitored by measuring C-reactive protein (CRP), hydrogen peroxide in plasma and calprotectin in stool samples. The relationship between biomarkers and questionnaire data in the different study populations was illustrated using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA).
Older adults with GI symptoms displayed significantly higher levels of both zonulin and psychological distress than both general older adults and senior orienteering athletes. The PCA analysis revealed a separation between senior orienteering athletes and older adults with GI symptoms and showed an association between GI symptoms, psychological distress and zonulin.
Older adults with GI symptoms express increased plasma levels of zonulin, which might reflect an augmented intestinal permeability. In addition, this group suffer from higher psychological distress compared to general older adults and senior orienteering athletes. This relationship was further confirmed by a PCA plot, which illustrated an association between GI symptoms, psychological distress and intestinal permeability.
尽管有大量的老年人患有胃肠道（GI）症状，但对于这些症状的性质以及它们是否与肠道屏障功能改变和心理困扰有关，知之甚少。我们的目的是探讨老年人肠道健康自我报告、肠道通透性和心理困扰之间的关系。
纳入了三组研究人群：1）有胃肠道症状的老年人（n=24），2）瑞典一般老年人群（n=22），3）高级定向运动运动员作为健康老龄化的潜在模型（n=27）。收集了关于肠道健康、心理困扰和身体活动水平的问卷调查数据。通过定量测定血浆中的肠通透素来测量肠道通透性。通过测量血浆中的 C 反应蛋白（CRP）、过氧化氢和粪便样本中的钙卫蛋白来监测全身和局部炎症水平。使用主成分分析（PCA）来图示不同研究人群中生物标志物和问卷调查数据之间的关系。
有胃肠道症状的老年人的肠通透素和心理困扰水平明显高于一般老年人和高级定向运动运动员。PCA 分析显示，高级定向运动运动员和有胃肠道症状的老年人之间存在分离，并且胃肠道症状、心理困扰和肠通透素之间存在关联。
有胃肠道症状的老年人表达了更高水平的血浆肠通透素，这可能反映了肠道通透性的增加。此外，与一般老年人和高级定向运动运动员相比，该组人群的心理困扰程度更高。这一关系进一步通过 PCA 图得到证实，该图说明了胃肠道症状、心理困扰和肠道通透性之间的关联。
