Clinical Significance of Bacterial Overgrowth in Elderly People

Holt, Peter R.

doi:10.1093/ageing/21.1.1

Cited by 16 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In the same study, the lactulose breath tests were positive in 30% of normal young controls indicating colonic metabolism. The validity of the findings from this study have been questioned [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth in subjects living in residential care homes

Lewis¹

1999

Age and Ageing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives: in elderly people, bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel may be occult. The significance of positive breath tests are uncertain: many fit elderly subjects with positive tests show no evidence of malabsorption. We assessed the prevalence and significance of bacterial overgrowth in the small bowel in a relatively unselected elderly population. Methods: residents of seven elderly people's homes had a glucose hydrogen breath test. A medical history and anthropomorphic measurements were recorded. Volunteers with positive breath tests were given doxycycline. After 4 months all volunteers were reassessed. Results: of 140 residents, 62 were tested. Nine (14.5%) had a positive breath test. There was no difference in anthropomorphic and bowel habit data between those with positive and those with negative breath tests. After 4 months of antibiotic treatment, volunteers with a positive breath test had increased weight and body mass index, while those with a negative test had decreased weight and body mass index. Conclusions: the percentage of volunteers with a positive breath test was much lower than in previous studies. This may be due to the relatively unselected nature of the volunteers. Treatment of bacterial overgrowth resulted in a small but significant improvement in anthropometric indices. The lack of association of positive breath tests with baseline anthropomorphic measurements or bowel habit highlights the occult nature of the bacterial overgrowth and questions its clinical importance.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth in subjects living in residential care homes

Lewis¹

1999

Age and Ageing

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Glucose and rice are almost completely absorbed in the small intestine in healthy adults (Englyst et al ., 1992). However, small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SBBO) is often seen in older adults because of the reduced secretion of gastric acid, propulsive intestinal motility, and intestinal bacteriostatic and immune secretions (Holt, 1992). Fermentation of these carbohydrates by bacteria in the small intestine occurs in individuals with SBBO and is a possible cause of malabsorption (Holt, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth and rice malabsorption in healthy and physically disabled older adults

Mitsui

Kagami

Kinomoto

et al. 2003

J Human Nutrition Diet

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Small bowel bacterial overgrowth appears to be common in the elderly, 4 –8 and may be the most frequent cause of occult malabsorption in this age group 9 –12 . Although the reasons for high duodenal bacterial counts in elderly subjects are multifactorial, any disorder that results in hypochlorhydria—for example, chronic atrophic gastritis, pernicious anaemia, or the use of drugs which reduce gastric acid secretion—may predispose to SBBO.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%