Student essay 

Can gut health be blamed for premature ageing?

Oct 13 / Kaia Kardmaa
Most of us have heard a saying: health comes from within. Does it also apply to beauty and youthful appearance? Let’s take a closer look.

Gut microbiota and cellular senescence

Every cell in our body has an ability to renew itself. Over a lifetime, at one point the cell loses its ability to proliferate; it kind of stays in an inactive state - it no longer renews itself, but also doesn’t die. If there is just a small amount of such cells in our body it doesn’t have a huge downside or noticeable side effects. However, if this kind of not-dead, not-alive cells accumulate, they create a pro-inflammatory environment in tissues, also in skin. Chronic low level of inflammation will lead to reduced skin quality (as there are less healthy skin cells), premature formation of wrinkles, and skin thinning.
Cellular senescence is an intrinsic aging process that has been recently associated with microbial imbalance. The gut microbiota influences cellular senescence and skin disruption through the gut-skin axis and secretion of microbial metabolites.
Nutrients 2021

Observations from daily practice

In my daily work as a skin specialist, I often see clients who say their skin has been youthful, but all of a sudden notice uneven skin tone, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles forming. The decrease in skin quality may appear suddenly and then unwanted changes kind of accumulate. This is really connected to a finding mentioned earlier, that cell senescence is like a malfunction that is able to spread like an infection to healthy cells.

Supporting cell renewal through diet

However, there are also promising findings that with diet we can effectively support cell renewal and lifespan.
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“A high-fiber diet with 5% inulin for a duration of 4 weeks resulted in an altered gut microbiome in aged mice. The models also showed lower expression of inflammatory markers and exhibited an increased anti-inflammatory microglial profile compared to a low-fiber diet. These findings support the intake of high fermentable, prebiotic fiber in resolving age-related dysbiosis.”

Front. Immunol. 2018

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How to slow down skin aging naturally

So how can we take advantage of this finding for slowing down skin aging? Implementing a high-fiber diet with emphasis on a special prebiotic - inulin, may be beneficial for anti-aging.

Eat daily:

  • Chicory root
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Leeks
  • Asparagus
  • Bananas
  • Artichokes


Don’t forget berries, seeds, and vegetables for thriving cell renewal. Plant-based fiber is excellent as it also provides hydration with active antioxidants in the juice. Hydration is another key to youthful and plump skin.

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Senescent cells are able to spread senescence to surrounding healthy cells via the bystander effect, possibly initiating a systemic impact.
Nature Reviews Neuroscience 2020

REFERENCES

  1. Microbiome and Human Aging: Probiotic and Prebiotic Potentials in Longevity, Skin Health and Cellular Senescence. Nutrients 2021, 13(12), 4550; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13124550Zmora, N.; Suez, J.; Elinav, E. (2019). You are what you eat: Diet, health and the gut microbiota. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology.
  2. Saez-Atienzar, S.; Masliah, E. Cellular senescence and Alzheimer disease: the egg and the chicken scenario. Nature Reviews Neuroscience 21, 433–444 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-020-0325-z
  3. Matt, S.M.; Allen, J.M.; Lawson, M.A.; Mailing, L.J.; Woods, J.A.; Johnson, R.W. Butyrate and Dietary Soluble Fiber Improve Neuroinflammation Associated with Aging in Mice. Front. Immunol. 2018, 9, 1832. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2018.01832/full
My name is Kaia Kardmaa and I am a SNI graduate from Estonia
KAIA KARDMAA | SKIN NUTRITION INSTITUTE GRADUATE

Frequently Asked Questions About Gut Health and Early Ageing

What is cellular senescence and how does it affect skin ageing?

Cellular senescence occurs when cells lose their ability to renew themselves. These inactive cells don’t die but accumulate, creating a pro-inflammatory environment. This can reduce skin quality, promote wrinkles, and thin the skin.

Can senescent cells affect surrounding healthy cells?

Yes. Senescent cells can spread ageing signals to nearby healthy cells via the bystander effect, potentially causing systemic impact and worsening skin quality.

How can diet support cell renewal and slow aging?

A high-fibre diet, especially with prebiotics like inulin, can improve gut microbiota diversity, reduce inflammation, and support cell renewal. Foods like chicory root, garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, and artichokes are beneficial.

How does the gut microbiota influence ageing?

The gut microbiota affects cellular senescence and skin health through the gut-skin axis. Microbial imbalance can trigger inflammation and disrupt skin cell renewal, accelerating early ageing.
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