Diets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil can positively affect gut bacteria. This is due to the increase in the diversity of bacteria, which slows... moreDiets rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and olive oil can positively affect gut bacteria. This is due to the increase in the diversity of bacteria, which slows the advance of physical frailty and cognitive deterioration in older populations.
In a new five-country study published in the journal Gut, researchers looked at habitable diets among older people, particularly those receiving long-term residential care. These are usually restrictive diets that reduce the diversity of intestinal bacteria, which accelerates the onset of fragility.
Therefore, the research team wanted to see if a Mediterranean diet could maintain the microbiome in the digestive tract of older people and promote the retention or even proliferation of bacteria associated with healthy aging.
The researchers conducted a study that investigated whether a year on the Mediterranean diet could alter the gut microbiota and reduce frailty.
Method
The study authors analyzed the gut microbiome of 612 people ages 65 to 79,... less