Functional changes in the gastrointestinal system.

Aging is associated with a higher risk for nutritional deficiencies which cause adverse functional consequences. Functional and anatomic changes in the gastrointestinal system could explain part of the nutritional alterations observed in the elderly. However, for every study that indicates a decline in gastrointestinal tract efficiency with advancing age, there is another that argues for no age-related effect. Consequently, despite the vast number of studies conducted on this issue, there is no consensus whether healthy old individuals have a reduced capacity for nutrient assimilation.