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Utility of Probiotics for Maintenance or Improvement of Health Status in Older People — A Scoping Review

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the available evidence on probiotic use in older adults from human studies.

Design

systematic review.

Methods

The databases Embase, CINAHL and Medline were searched in December of 2017 for studies in humans where probiotics were used to modify a health outcome in older people. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) assessment tool and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment tool.

Participants

Subjects aged over sixty years either through specified selection criteria or where the mean participant age was greater than sixty.

Interventions

Probiotic supplements. Measurements: Pre-specified clinically measurable health outcomes in age related conditions.

Results

1210 articles were identified. After quality assessment and selection criteria were applied, 33 articles were identified to be included for review. As these studies cover a variety of applications and used customised protocols accordingly, meta-analysis was not possible and synthesis is in narrative form.

Conclusions

A growing body of research has applied commercially available probiotic preparations across care settings for age related conditions including gut dysmotility, osteoporosis, common infectious diseases and cognitive impairment. Although methodologies vary, randomised controlled trials have reproduced results in these areas, and so warrant consideration of probiotics as a low risk adjuvant treatment for specific indications in the elderly.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Health Service Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Emerald Setbo

  2. Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia

    K. Campbell

  3. Microba Life Sciences, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia

    P. O’Cuiv

  4. Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia

    P. O’Cuiv

  5. Princess Alexandra Southside Clinical Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    R. Hubbard

  6. Centre for Health Services Research, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    R. Hubbard

  7. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    Emerald Setbo

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  1. Emerald Setbo
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Correspondence to Emerald Setbo.

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Setbo, E., Campbell, K., O’Cuiv, P. et al. Utility of Probiotics for Maintenance or Improvement of Health Status in Older People — A Scoping Review. J Nutr Health Aging 23, 364–372 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1187-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-019-1187-9

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