Life-Space: Age Well with a Healthy Microbiome
- Australian Health & Aged Care
- May 1
- 3 min read
As we evolve with age, so does our microbiome.1 Taking care of microbiome health is an important consideration for maintaining digestive and immune health and function in our senior years.2
Many of us are aware of the far-reaching benefits of making healthy diet and lifestyle choices, and one of the key beneficiaries of these choices is our gut microbiome. However, certain age-related changes can result in imbalances within the gut microbiome, such as taking multiple medications, exercising or eating less, or becoming more isolated from friends and family.1
Why is a healthy gut microbiome so important?
The gut microbiome is the large community of microorganisms that reside within the gut, working in partnership with the human body to perform key functions, including:
Food digestion and absorption
Vitamin and metabolite synthesis (e.g., vitamin B12)
Immune function
Thanks to the discovery of the gut-organ axis, we now understand that these functions are not only important to support gut health, but also other body systems, including the cardiovascular system.3,4 In addition to diet and lifestyle interventions, certain probiotic strains have shown to support immune and cardiovascular health in older adults. For instance, the probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis HN019, has been shown in clinical trials to enhance cellular immunity in elderly individuals.5 Additionally, the probiotic strain blend, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, 7528 and 7529, has been found to support healthy cholesterol levels in adults 18 years and older.6,7
Life-Space healthy ageing range
The Life-Space healthy ageing range has been designed to support microbiome health in adults and seniors, targeting a range of health needs, including:
Bowel health and regularity
Immune health and function
Cholesterol and cardiovascular health
Product training and samples
Probiotic efficacy is both strain and condition-specific, so the choice of probiotic supplement and dosing should be guided by the available evidence. A product training session with an education specialist can help you understand the differences between Life-Space probiotic formulations so that you can more confidently educate your patients. Register your interest here.
Life-Space Microbiome Institute
Want to improve your microbiome knowledge and probiotic prescribing confidence? The Microbiome Institute is an award-winning* educational platform and clinical resource for healthcare professionals, providing access to current research on microbiome science and biotic therapies. Register here.
B. = Bifidobacterium L. = Lactobacillus CFU = Colony Forming Unit. *Winner of the Marcus Blackmore Outstanding Contribution to Research, Education or
Training award, CMA Industry Awards, 2024
References:
1. Buford TW. (Dis) Trust your gut: the gut microbiome in age-related inflammation, health, and disease. Microbiome. 2017 Dec;5(1):1-1. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40168-017-0296-0.
2. Chiang BL, Sheih YH, Wang LH, Liao CK, Gill HS. Enhancing immunity by dietary consumption of a probiotic lactic acid bacterium (Bifidobacterium lactis HN019):
optimization and definition of cellular immune responses. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2000 Nov;54(11):849-55. https://www.nature.com/articles/1601093.
3. Witkowski M, Weeks TL, Hazen SL. Gut microbiota and cardiovascular disease. Circulation research. 2020 Jul 31;127(4):553-70. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/ full/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.120.316242.
4. Ahlawat S, Asha, Sharma KK. Gut–organ axis: a microbial outreach and networking. Letters in applied microbiology. 2021 Jun 1;72(6):636-68. https://academic.oup.com/lambio/article-abstract/72/6/636/6698278?login=false.
5. Gill HS, Rutherfurd KJ, Cross ML, Gopal PK. Enhancement of immunity in the elderly by dietary supplementation with the probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis HN019. The American journal of clinical nutrition. 2001 Dec 1;74(6):833-9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523064171.
6. Fuentes MC, Lajo T, Carrión JM, Cuñé J. Cholesterol-lowering efficacy of Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, 7528 and 7529 in hypercholesterolaemic adults. Br J Nutr. 2013May 28;109(10):1866–72. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-ofnutrition/article/cholesterollowering-efficacy-of-lactobacillus-plantarum-cect-7527-7528-and-7529-in-hypercholesterolaemic-adults/FC996365AB1AFBC91356489F83FB177A.
7. Kerlikowsky et al., 2023. Distinct Microbial Taxa Are Associated with LDLCholesterol Reduction after 12 Weeks of Lactobacillus plantarum Intake in Mild Hypercholesterolemia: Results of a Randomized Controlled Study. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12602-023-10191-2.
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