CKD Outcomes Improved with Prebiotics, Probiotics

Use of prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotic supplements could help to improve biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress and lipid profiles among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a recent study.

In order to examine the effects of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplementation in patients with CKD, the researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials including 671 patients with CKD.

Overall, probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplementation was associated with significantly reduced C-reactive protein, malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol levels, as well as increased glutathione, total antioxidant capacity, and HDL-cholesterol levels in patients with CKD compared with placebo.

“This meta-analysis supports the potential use of probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplements in the improvement of established biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as lipid profiles among patients with CKD, which are well-known cardiovascular risk factors. Further research into these interventions should consider the limitations of our study to explore the effect of long-term administration of these supplements in the CKD population.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Zheng HJ, Guo J, Wang Q, et al. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics for the improvement of metabolic profiles in patients with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2021;61(4):577-598. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2020.1740645