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| This is a common condition in the elderly which comes from the inability to secrete sufficient stomach acid to kill bacteria. Ingested bacteria can thus survive and reside in the stomach and the upper part of the small bowel. This problem affects approximately 20% of people between 60 and 69 years of age, and 40% of people over 80. Putting these patients on antibiotics to reduce the number of bacteria returns their B12 levels to normal. These deficiencies may be disguised as Alzheimer's disease or senile dementia. It may also lead to reduced levels of intrinsic factor. Treatment & Prevention A significant number of elderly people have atrophic gastritis with hypo- or achlorhydria, predisposing them to bacterial overgrowth. A study showed that elderly atrophic gastritis subjects are more easily populated with specific lactobacilli than normal subjects. This study also showed that organisms found in yogurt have no impact on the flora of healthy elderly subjects and a relatively small impact on elderly atrophic gastritis subjects. Lactobacillus gasseri was the only one among several organisms administered that was successfully implanted in healthy and atrophic gastritis individuals. |
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