Intestinal permeability and its relation to anthropometric and biochemical variables associated with cardiovascular risk in an elderly population

Abstract

Aging reduces functional capacity, decreasing lean mass and immune function, possibly impacting the intestinal morphofunctional barrier. This study aimed to characterize intestinal permeability in an elderly population and its association with anthropometric and biochemical variables associated with cardiovascular risk. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 54 elderly individuals from Oct/19-Mar/23. Self-reported disease, anthropometric (weight, height, waist, and hip circumferences), and biochemical (lipid profile, glycemic, and serum retinol) data were collected. Intestinal permeability was assessed using the lactulose: mannitol (L: M) test, and stratified into percentile ≤ 50 or > 50. Diabetes, hypertension, and overweight were present in 25.9%, 53.7%, and 51.9% of the population, with no significant differences between those with L: M ≤ P50 or > P50. Median L: M was 0.037 (0.014; 0.060). Those with L: M > P50 had significantly lower levels of hip circumference [96.50 (93; 104) cm; P = 0.041] and serum retinol [0.95 (0.60; 1.16) mmol/L; P < 0.001], and these variables were also inversely associated with an odds for a L: M > P50 (AOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.86–0.99; P = 0.042; AOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.05–0.42; P < 0.001, respectively). We concluded that hip circumference and serum retinol were negatively associated with intestinal permeability in the studied elderly, and data indicate that lactulose and mannitol were positively associated with anthropometric and biochemical markers related to metabolic complications.