Background The gut microbiota can impact older adults’ health, especially in patients with frailty syndrome. Understanding the association between the gut microbiota and frailty syndrome will help to explain the etiology of age-related diseases. Low-grade systemic inflammation is a factor leading to geriatric disorders, which is known as “inflammaging”. Intestinal dysbiosis has a direct relationship with low-grade systemic inflammation because when the natural gut barrier is altered by age or other factors, some microorganisms or their metabolites can cross this barrier and reach the systemic circulation. Objectives This review had two general goals: first, to describe the characteristics of the gut microbiota associated with age-related diseases, specifically frailty syndrome. The second aim was to identify potential interventions to improve the composition and function of intestinal microbiota, consequently lessening the burden of patients with frailty syndrome. Methods A search of scientific evidence was performed in PubMed, Science Direct, and Redalyc using keywords such as “frailty”, “elderly”, “nutrient interventions”, “probiotics”, and “prebiotics”. We included studies reporting the effects of nutrient supplementation on frailty syndrome and older adults. These studies were analyzed to identify novel therapeutic alternatives to improve gut microbiota characteristics as well as subclinical signs related to this condition. Results The gut microbiota participates in many metabolic processes that have an impact on the brain, muscles, and other organs. These processes integrate feedback mechanisms, comprising their respective axis with the intestine and the gut microbiota. Alterations in these associations can lead to frailty. We report a few interventions that demonstrate that prebiotics and probiotics could modulate the gut microbiota in humans. Furthermore, other nutritional interventions could be used in patients with frailty syndrome. Conclusion Probiotics and prebiotics may potentially prevent frailty syndrome or improve the quality of life of patients with this disorder. However, there is not enough information about their appropriate doses and periods of administration. Therefore, further investigations are required to determine these factors and improve their efficacy as therapeutic approaches for frailty syndrome.

Background. Breast cancer (BC) is the first cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women. This disease has been linked to obesity; however, it is not clear how fat accumulation affects women who survive breast cancer. Although the visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a marker of cardiometabolic risk and adipose tissue dysfunction, it is not clear how it changes in breast cancer survivors. The aim of this investigation was to compare VAI in women with and without breast cancer. Methods. A case-control cross-sectional study was conducted on women who were BC survivors and women without the history of BC (control group). Body composition was assessed using electrical bioimpedance while VAI by means of waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), triacylglycerols (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Results. 49 women in the BC survivor group and 50 in the control group. WC was wider in the survivor group as regards control (93.65 ± 10.48 vs. 88.52 ± 9.61 cm) ( p = 0.025 ); at once, TG and VAI were significantly higher for the survivor group (243.55 ± 199.84 vs. 159.84 ± 75.77) ( p = 0.007 ) and (11.03 ± 11.15 vs. 6.41 ± 3.66) ( p < 0.005 ), respectively. Body composition parameters were similar in both groups. Conclusions. VAI is higher in women who are BC survivors in comparison with controls matched by age and bodyweight.

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Breast cancer and obesity are two diseases that currently occur in a high percentage of women population. Central obesity is an important risk factor for developing breast cancer. Both obesity and cancer are characterized by a chronic state of inflammation in part maintained by cytokines secreted by fat tissue; however, it is not clearly known how they are linked to each other. The aim of this study was to compare body composition and visceral adiposity index (VAI) between women with and without breast cancer. The participants included women 40–60 years old, with stages I and II of breast cancer, who voluntarily accepted to participate in the study. The control group comprised women with BIRADS 1, 2 and 3 mammograms, and the same age span. General sociodemographic data, hereditary family history of breast cancer, gyneco‐obstetric history and histopathological classification of breast cancer were recorded for each participant. Additionally, body composition was evaluated with electrical bioimpedance using an InBody230 equipment. In order to compute the VAI, concentrations of triacylglycerols and high‐density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL‐c) were measured by colorimetric tests. Data were analyzed using Mann‐Whitney test. The results showed that women with breast cancer presented a higher mean of body mass index (BMI) than the control group (30.4 ± 3.8 Kg/m2 vs 26.5 ± 2.6 Kg/m2, respectively); but these were not significant different (p=.99). The VAI in women with breast cancer was 4.5 ± 0.8, but in the control group was 3.9 ± 0.5; however they were not significantly different. In summary, women with breast cancer showed a higher BMI and VAI, which suggests these markers of obesity might be useful in the diagnostics procedures for this type of cancer, but further analysis in a bigger population is required.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Breast cancer (BC) and cardiometabolic diseases share a multifactorial and modifiable etiology, modulated by complex molecular pathways. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) plays a critical role, providing protection against xenobiotics and regulating levels of enzymes and proteins in the cell. GST variants have a significant impact on susceptibility to diseases whose pathogenesis involves oxidative stress, as is the case in many inflammatory diseases such as BC and cardiometabolic pathologies. However, the expression of these polymorphic variants has not been studied in BC. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of GST mRNA isoforms and their association with clinical and cardiometabolic parameters in women with BC. This was a case-control study, and a total of 57 participants were recruited. Concentrations of glucose and lipids in blood were measured in all the participants. GST variants (GSTT1, GSTM1 and GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism) were evaluated in all the participants by real-time PCR analysis. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between the frequency of GSTP1 and LDL-c in the BC group. However, the control group showed significant associations between blood pressure with GSTT1 and GSTP1 variants with total cholesterol (TC), LDL-c, VLDL-c and triacylglycerols (TG). Therefore, GSTT1 and GSTP1 variants could be emerging biomarkers to discriminate between BC cases related or not to cardiometabolic disease factors.