Inflammaging and gut microbiota

The population of microbes living in the gut (the gut microbiota) performs many beneficial functions. If altered, however, it can contribute to the development of inflammatory phenomena which, silently, increase the risks to health. Even the simple fact of aging can be associated with alterations in the microbiota (dysbiosis) capable of triggering inflammation. Precisely because it is associated with aging, this phenomenon is known as inflammaging.

Analyzing the inflammaging levels enables the evaluation of the consequences of intestinal dysbiosis and actions to be taken in a targeted way to fight the effects of the alteration of the microbiota.

L'inflammaging

Over the course of life, a series of internal and external factors to the organism activate innate immunity, triggering inflammation and a metabolic response. This response is a defense mechanism and until middle age it is essential for the survival of the organism. However, aging is often associated with an increase in the inflammatory response, which can even become chronic and harmful. Furthermore, as we age, the ability to resolve inflammation decreases.

The chronic low-grade inflammation that accompanies aging is mainly associated with signals from within the organism, such as the presence of cellular debris or oxidized proteins and the accumulation of senescent cells. However, external factors such as stress or the microbiota also contribute.

The microbiota in inflammaging

Intestinal dysbiosis can contribute to both inducing inflammaging and maintaining it. In many cases their appearance depends on lifestyle, for example from the intake of drugs or from dietary changes typical of aging, in particular:

from an increase in sugar consumption
from an increase in fat consumption
from a reduction of foods of plant origin
by reducing the consumption of healthy foods
by reducing the variety of foods

These dysbioses are responsible for variations in the short-chain fatty acids levels normally produced by the microbiota. In addition, they can cause nervous system degeneration associated with the intestine and alterations in intestinal motility, can reduce the intestinal barrier and increase the permeability of the intestine, resulting in an increase in the molecules that control inflammation (proinflammatory cytokines). Molecules of bacterial origin can pass into the blood, activating the immune system cells involved in atherosclerosis and stimulating the production of the beta-amyloid protein involved in Alzheimer’s disease.

When to analyze inflammaging associated with intestinal dysbiosis

Inflammaging can be analyzed with CYTOBALANCE, the test that monitors inflammatory cytokine levels developed by the Bioscience Institute.

The analysis is indicated in all cases in which intestinal dysbiosis is suspected or detected that could promote or feed the inflammatory condition typically associated with aging.

Request CYTOBALANCE

For more information on the CYTOBALANCE test for the analysis of chronic inflammation levels, contact the Bioscience Institute by emailing info@bioinst.com or fill out the following request form to be contacted without obligation by one of our trusted biologists.

(*) Required fields

Inflammaging and gut microbiota