Probiotic Supplementation in Aged Human Subjects Counteracts Leukocyte Telomere Attrition Rate.

Probiotic supplementation is gaining attention for its role in maintaining health and enhancing the quality of life of the elderly. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker of cellular aging, with shorter LTL associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study explored whether p...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Journal of Medicinal Food Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 438 - 444
Autores principales: Coman, Maria Magdalena, Torbidoni-Baldassari, Benedetta, Occhigrossi, Lucia, Deiana, Giovanni, Silvi, Stefania, Verdenelli, Maria Cristina, Napolioni, Valerio
Formato: research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article
Publicado: Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Jul2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Probiotic supplementation is gaining attention for its role in maintaining health and enhancing the quality of life of the elderly. Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a biomarker of cellular aging, with shorter LTL associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This study explored whether probiotics could counteract LTL attrition in an ethnically homogeneous cohort of older adults over a 6-month period. Samples were selected from the PROBIOSENIOR trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 46 participants (≥60 years). Participants were randomized to receive either SYNBIO® probiotics (5 × 109 CFU/daily dose) or a placebo for 6 months. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood samples at baseline, and 6 months later, LTL measures were obtained via quantitative PCR. A general linear model assessed the "treatment x time" interaction as the main outcome. LTL was successfully assessed for all participants (N = 46 × 2 time points). Statistical analysis revealed a significant "treatment x time" interaction (P =.034), indicating a reduced LTL attrition rate in the probiotic group compared with the placebo group. A 6-month supplementation with SYNBIO probiotics significantly reduced LTL attrition in an ethnically homogeneous cohort of elderly adults. These findings suggest that probiotics may serve as a simple and effective intervention to mitigate cellular aging and promote healthy aging.