Atrophic Gastritis: Gut Health in the Elderly

Noel Peterson, ND

With the impending population explosion of aging baby boomers, medical experts from the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging called for careful attention to maintaining optimal gastrointestinal health in patients as they age.

In an article titled "The Aging Gut" (Gastroenterol Clin N Am 1998;27(2):309-325), the authors outline common patterns of GI dysbiosis affecting the elderly. Decreased gastric acidity, or hypochlorhydria, is called "the most striking change" associated with age, one that often leads to decreased absorption of critical vitamins and nutrients. Since gastric acidity normally prevents bacterial growth in the upper intestine, elderly patients may also display increased bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. This bacterial overgrowth, in fact, is cited as one of the most important clinical conditions affecting their GI status, and often results in abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.

Atrophic gastritis can affect as many as half of the entire aging population, and infection with the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter Pylori is believed to initially trigger this condition. The incidence of lactose intolerance also increases dramatically with age, producing uncomfortable digestive complaints that can range from mild to severe. Because lactose intolerance is also linked to increased risk of osteoporosis, clinical testing is important to avoid unnecessary elimination of dairy products.

It is worth noting that conventional medical practice almost universally ignores the problem of achlorhydria, and instead promoting the use of drugs that effectively block hydrochloric acid production.