Gastrointestinal Disorders · Published 2026-01-23 · DOI 10.3390/gidisord8010008
Aging is accompanied by progressive gastrointestinal structural and functional decline, increased intestinal permeability, dysbiosis, and impaired mucosal immunity, collectively elevating susceptibility to infections, chronic inflammation, and multimorbidity. These age-related changes are further exacerbated by polypharmacy, metabolic disorders, and lifestyle factors, positioning the gastrointestinal tract as a central driver of systemic physiological decline. Gut-centered interventions have emerged as critical strategies to mitigate these vulnerabilities and support healthy aging. Dietary modulation, prebiotic and probiotic supplementation, and microbiota-targeted approaches have demonstrated efficacy in improving gut microbial diversity, enhancing short-chain fatty acid production, restoring epithelial integrity, and modulating immune signaling in older adults. Beyond nutritional strategies, non-nutritional interventions such as molecular hydrogen and medical ozone offer complementary mechanisms by selectively neutralizing reactive oxygen species, reducing pro-inflammatory signaling, modulating gut microbiota, and promoting mucosal repair. Hydrogen-based therapies, administered via hydrogen-rich water or inhalation, confer antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective effects, while ozone therapy exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, enhances tissue oxygenation, and stimulates epithelial and vascular repair. Economic considerations further differentiate these modalities, with hydrogenated water positioned as a premium wellness product and ozonated water representing a cost-effective, scalable option for geriatric gastrointestinal care. Although preclinical and early clinical studies are promising, evidence in older adults remains limited, emphasizing the need for well-designed, age-specific trials to establish safety, dosing, and efficacy. Integrating dietary, microbiota-targeted, and emerging non-nutritional gut-centered interventions offers a multimodal framework to preserve gut integrity, immune competence, and functional health, potentially mitigating age-related decline and supporting overall health span in older populations.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →