Wu Peng, Zhang Ping, Chen Xiao Dong
Life Quality Interest Group, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University, Suzhou Industrial Park Campus, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
Life Quality Interest Group, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Soochow University, Suzhou Industrial Park Campus, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
Adv Food Nutr Res. 2025;114:273-300. doi: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2024.09.004. Epub 2024 Sep 30.
With the global population of individuals aged 65 and older projected to exceed 1.5 billion by 2050, understanding the impact of aging on digestion and nutrient absorption is essential for addressing the nutritional needs of the elderly. This review explores the limitations of traditional in vivo studies and underscores the growing importance of in vitro gastrointestinal models as an ethical and cost-effective alternative for investigating digestion in the elderly. The review provides a comprehensive analysis of age-related physiological changes in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), and critically evaluates how static and dynamic in vitro models have been adapted to simulate these changes. We also discuss the significant challenges these models face in accurately replicating the complexities of elderly digestion, particularly in mimicking the interactions between digestive processes and the gut microbiome. By addressing these challenges, particularly through the development of more physiologically relevant and personalized in vitro models, this review highlights the potential to enhance our understanding of elderly digestion and improve nutritional strategies, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for the aging population.
预计到2050年，全球65岁及以上的人口将超过15亿，因此了解衰老对消化和营养吸收的影响对于满足老年人的营养需求至关重要。本综述探讨了传统体内研究的局限性，并强调了体外胃肠道模型作为一种符合伦理且具有成本效益的替代方法在研究老年人消化方面日益增长的重要性。该综述全面分析了胃肠道（GIT）中与年龄相关的生理变化，并批判性地评估了静态和动态体外模型如何被用于模拟这些变化。我们还讨论了这些模型在准确复制老年人消化的复杂性方面面临的重大挑战，特别是在模拟消化过程与肠道微生物群之间的相互作用方面。通过应对这些挑战，特别是通过开发更具生理相关性和个性化的体外模型，本综述突出了增强我们对老年人消化的理解并改善营养策略的潜力，最终为老年人群带来更好的健康结果。
