Weight loss improves many of the adverse health outcomes associated with obesity, including preventing or delaying the onset of diabetes, improving blood sugar control in those with diabetes, reducing low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol), raising high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol), improving hypertension, improving symptoms of osteoarthritis, and providing an improved sense of well-being. (more…)

After appropriate digestion of nutrients, the function of the gastrointestinal tract is to absorb these nutrients so they may be used for a variety of cellular processes.

Absorption occurs across the cells lining the small intestine and proceeds via one of several mechanisms. The first is passive absorption, in which material moves along an electrochemical gradient. The second is facilitated transport, in which absorption of one substance is coupled to the transfer of another substance. (more…)

The regulation of fluid balance is crucial to survival. Approximately 9 L of fluid enters the gastrointestinal tract per day. Of that amount, about 2 L is ingested by mouth. The remaining 7 L consists of fluids secreted by the various gastrointestinal organs. Ninety eight percent of the total amount of fluid that enters the gastrointestinal tract is reabsorbed in the small intestine and the colon. (more…)

Altered cellular metabolism and intracellular and intercellular signaling with advancing age result in widespread changes in endocrine function. Several mechanisms interact in most systems to bring about the observed changes. Aging is associated with anatomic changes of the endocrine glands. In addition, with age, changes in hormone secretion occur, including alterations in circadian or seasonal biorhythms, changes in pulsatile frequency or amplitude of hormone secretion, as well as absolute changes in mean serum hormonal levels. (more…)

The accurate diagnosis of endocrine dysfunction in the elderly requires a high index of suspicion. Signs and symptoms of hormone deficiency or excess may be absent. When such signs and symptoms are present, coexisting malnutrition or chronic disease may often make their interpretation difficult. (more…)

Mutations that extend lifespan in invertebrates typically render the animals resistant to multiple forms of lethal injury, whether the threat comes from oxidative agents, heat, heavy metals, or irradiation. Indeed, this stress resistance seems likely to represent the mechanism by which these mutations delay the aging process. Thus presumably much of the cellular and extracellular pathology that produces dysfunction and increases mortality risk in older animals is held in abeyance by the same, poorly defined, defenses that permit nematodes and flies to survive when exposed to external stress in an experimental setting. (more…)

Altered cellular metabolism and intracellular and intercellular signaling with advancing age result in widespread changes in endocrine function. Several mechanisms interact in most systems to bring about the observed changes. Aging is associated with anatomic changes of the endocrine glands. In addition, with age, changes in hormone replacement secretion occur, including alterations in circadian or seasonal biorhythms, changes in pulsatile frequency or amplitude of growth hormone secretion, as well as absolute changes in mean serum hormonal levels. The three main hormone systems that show decline with age are the gonadal hormones (menopause and andropause), the adrenal steroids DHEA and DHEA-S (adrenopause), and the GH/IGF-1 axis (somatopause). (more…)

A decline in glucose tolerance with age is a common finding that leads to an increased incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in the elderly. By age 60, 18.3% of persons have diabetes. Nearly 50% of individuals with T2DM are over the age of 65 years. (more…)

The systemic benefits of exogenous Growth Hormone therapy in the healthy elderly remain unclear and controversial. Studies have not been able to demonstrate a clear anabolic effect of replacement of Growth Hormone in elderly subjects, possibly because Growth Hormone replacement cannot completely correct the alterations in binding recommended proteins. (more…)

As we grow older, our dietary habits seem to become more deeply entrenched. As a consequence, deficiencies in the diet are perpetuated and can eventually cause trouble. Most people get enough carbohydrate (sugars and starches) and fat in their meals but protein is often inadequate. Meat and fish are the most important sources of protein, but dairy products and vegetables such as beans are also good sources. (more…)