Xu L, Guo JT, Zhao J, Liu MH, Mo C. Probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in the elderly individuals. World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther 2025; 16(2): 105242 [DOI: 10.4292/wjgpt.v16.i2.105242]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Chen Mo, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Gerontology, The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 69 Beijing Yongding Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100039, China. mchen@sohu.com
Research Domain of This Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Article-Type of This Article
Minireviews
Open-Access Policy of This Article
This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
World J Gastrointest Pharmacol Ther. Jun 5, 2025; 16(2): 105242 Published online Jun 5, 2025. doi: 10.4292/wjgpt.v16.i2.105242
Probiotics and prebiotics in the treatment of functional constipation in the elderly individuals
Li Xu, Jian-Tang Guo, Jing Zhao, Ming-He Liu, Chen Mo
Li Xu, Jian-Tang Guo, Jing Zhao, Ming-He Liu, Chen Mo, Department of Gerontology, The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
Author contributions: Xu L, Guo LT, Zhao J and Liu MH performed the research; Xu L and Mo C wrote the paper; Mo C designed the research study; all of the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript to be published.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest in publishing the manuscript.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Chen Mo, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Gerontology, The Third Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, No. 69 Beijing Yongding Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100039, China. mchen@sohu.com
Received: January 16, 2025 Revised: February 28, 2025 Accepted: March 20, 2025 Published online: June 5, 2025 Processing time: 138 Days and 22.1 Hours
Abstract
Functional constipation (FC) in elderly individuals is a significant health issue that adversely affects their quality of life, with recent studies indicating a close relationship between this condition and gut microbiota dysbiosis. This review aims to explore the role of the gut microbiota in FC in elderly individuals, analyze the mechanisms of the gut-brain axis, and evaluate the potential use of microecological agents, including probiotics and prebiotics, in modulating the gut microbiota and alleviating constipation symptoms. By integrating the latest research findings, this study seeks to provide new perspectives and intervention strategies for the management of FC in elderly individuals.
Core Tip: Probiotics and prebiotics may play a significant role in managing functional constipation (FC) in elderly individuals by modulating gut microbiota and alleviating symptoms. The interplay between gut microbiota dysbiosis and the gut-brain axis further complicates FC, necessitating a multifaceted treatment approach that includes microecological agents to enhance gut health and improve the quality of life for older adults. Recent studies have highlighted the potential use of probiotics and prebiotics in managing FC, particularly in the elderly individuals.
