The gastrointestinal (GI) ecosystem is a complex network of bacterial cells, host cells and tissues that change with age. Fewer numbers and less diversity of beneficial bacteria and greater number and diversity of non-beneficial bacteria occurs with age and conditions associated with accelerated aging (i.e. obesity, high fat diet)(1,2). This imbalance of the microbiota contributes to increased inflammation of the gastrointestinal lining and changes to the integrity of the intestinal cell wall.