Probiosenior Project: elderly people as a target population for probiotic supplementation and functional foods

In Italy senior population is growing, as well as in many western countries. The population of older people (65 years or more) in the EU-27 will increase significantly, rising from 90.5 million at the beginning of 2019 to reach 129.8 million by 2050. During this period, the number of people in the EU-27 aged 75-84 years is projected to expand by 56.1%, while the number aged 65-74 years is projected to increase by 16.6% (EUROSTAT, 2019). This demographic change will most likely lead to an increase of elderly people with age-related diseases. The challenge of modern societies is to study and develop new strategies and public actions to decrease morbidity, slowing down the ageing process and increasing the number of healthy seniors. To improve health status and general well-being, nutrition and functional foods play a key role. PROBIOSENIOR is a research project that aims to evaluate the effects of a probiotic functional food-based diet on the reduction of low-grade inflammation in elderly subjects, promoting healthy ageing. PROBIOSENIOR is a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled human trial that recruited elderly healthy volunteers for the administration of specific functional foods containing the probiotic mixture SYNBIO® for 3 or 6 months. Lifestyle and eating habits information, psychological well-being and nutritional status data were collected through the administration of specific questionnaires, while biological parameters were analysed by collecting faecal, urine and blood samples. Questionnaires and biological samples were administered and/or collected at baseline and after the dietary intervention, to monitor all changes occurred. The biological parameters evaluated, related to inflammation status and well-being, were high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cytokines and other inflammatory biomarkers, haematological parameters, composition and diversity of gut microbiota, Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), and biogenic amines.