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Alteration in Gut Microbiota Composition of Older Adults Is Associated with Obesity and Its Indices: A Systematic Review

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The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Background

Obesity in the older adults is a health concern that increases the risk of several life-threatening diseases. Previous research has been revealed that alterations in the gut microbiota composition is related to obesity. So, understanding the gut microbiota changes in older adults’ obesity may help to provide promising strategies for their health management.

Objectives

Here we conducted a systematic review that investigate the alteration of gut microbiota composition in association with obesity and its indices in the older adults.

Design

Systematic review.

Setting

A comprehensive systematic search was performed through PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase databases for all relative studies up to 2023 with the main search concepts as Microbiota, Obesity and Elderly. The data about gut microbiota in association with obesity indices had been extracted.

Participants

Older adults (≥60 years).

Intervention

None.

Measurements

None.

Results

Within 10741 recordes, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Most of them indicated the gut microbiota alterations in obese compared with non-obese older adults. However, the gut microbiome composition in obese older adults is affected by other underlying diseases like diabetes and metabolic syndrome. The most important taxa that had abundance alteration in association with obesity in older adults were Christensenellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae and Rikenellaceae, Akkermansia, Blautia, Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium.

Conclusion

The gut microbiota composition is associated with obesity in older adults. Considering the other factors affecting the composition of gut microbiota, such as age, underlying diseases and lifestyle, a more accurate conclusion about this matter requires more future studies.

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Data availability: All data generated in this study are supported by the published articles in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase databases, and all data generated are included in this published article.

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Acknowledgements

Declared none.

Funding

Funding: This study was funded by the Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Number: 1401-3-91-1213).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, P.O. Box: 1411713137

    Z. Hoseini Tavassol, H.-S. Ejtahed, F. Saghafian, K. Khalagi & Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar

  2. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    H.-S. Ejtahed & B. Larijani

  3. Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    R. Atlasi

  4. Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    K. Khalagi & A. Ostovar

  5. Microbiology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

    S. D. Siadat

  6. The Persian Gulf Marine Biotechnology Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University Of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

    I. Nabipour

  7. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    A. Ostovar

Authors
  1. Z. Hoseini Tavassol
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  2. H.-S. Ejtahed
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  3. R. Atlasi
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  4. F. Saghafian
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  6. Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar
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  7. S. D. Siadat
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  8. I. Nabipour
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  9. A. Ostovar
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  10. B. Larijani
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Correspondence to Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar.

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Tavassol, Z.H., Ejtahed, HS., Atlasi, R. et al. Alteration in Gut Microbiota Composition of Older Adults Is Associated with Obesity and Its Indices: A Systematic Review. J Nutr Health Aging 27, 817–823 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-023-1988-8

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