Supplementation with Enterococcus lactis (SF68) and its association with biochemical parameters and inflammatory biomarkers related to renal impairment in dogs with chronic kidney disease

To investigate the influence of probiotic supplementation on parameters of renal function, dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD) received a commercial probiotic formulation containing Enterococcus lactis SF68 (n = 8) or placebo (n = 8) for 60 days. Gut microbiome was investigated by comparing with healthy dogs (n = 10). Blood biochemistry, urinalysis, inflammatory and oxidative markers, uremic toxins and blood pressure were monitored. Higher presence of Lachnospiraceae family, Blautia bacterial species and Ruminococcus gnavus group was observed in dogs with CKD when compared with healthy dogs. Adding the probiotic to the diet decreased the abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus. Probiotic treatment resulted in a significant reduction in plasma concentrations of symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), from 1.50 ± 0.18 to 1.35 ± 0.16 µmol/l (p = 0.008), and indoxyl sulfate (IxS), from 19.1 ± 6.8 to 12.8 ± 4.8 µmol/l (p = 0.04). Cytokine inflammatory markers did not show significant changes. An increase in urine protein-to-creatine ratio, 1.5 ± 0.6 vs 1.2 ± 0.5, and in systolic blood pressure, 163 ± 11 vs 144 ± 6 mmHg (p = 0.033), was observed in the placebo group but not in dogs receiving probiotic. In conclusion, feeding Enterococcus lactis SF68 to dogs with CKD results in changes in intestinal microbiota that are associated with a decrease in plasma concentrations of IxS and SDMA and a reduction in proteinuria and systolic blood pressure.