PetFood PRO 4/2024

INGREDIENTS

Probiotic and Postbiotic

Supplements for Positive Gut

Health in Adult Dogs

ADM a global leader in innovative

solutions from nature, announces the

publication of its first-in-species study

of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.

lactis CECT 8145 (BPL1) 1 on adult dogs

by the Journal of Animal Science. This

pioneering study examined the effects

of daily supplementation of both the live

probiotic and heat-treated postbiotic

forms of BPL1 on canine health.

According to recent ADM global

consumer research, 55% of U.S. pet

Supp. Table 5. Relative fold change in leukocyte

gene expression of dogs in the three treatment

groups.

Supp. Table 5. Relative fold change in leukocyte gene expression of dogs in the three treatment groups.

Treatment

Item CON PRO POST SEM 1 P-Value

PPARGC1 2 0.7 0.7 0.6 0.11 0.7026

SREBF-1 2 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.12 0.4874

IGF1 2 0.9 0.8 0.8 0.14 0.2018

Leptin 0.6 b 0.8 a 0.5 b 0.13 0.0095

UCP 2 0.9 0.8 0.6 0.12 0.1484

HSL 2 1.4 1.5 1.2 0.31 0.8276

ADIPOR1 2 1.5 1.4 1.1 0.28 0.2735

Resistin 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.10 0.2103

SOD 2 1.1 1.1 0.9 0.15 0.3239

Catalase 2 1.0 0.9 0.8 0.10 0.1035

MTOR 2 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.14 0.2769

TLR4 2,5 0.7 y 0.9 x 0.8 xy 0.08 0.0746

Supp. Table 5 (cont.). Relative fold change in leukocyte gene

expression of dogs in the three treatment groups.

Supp. Table 5 (cont.). Relative fold change in leukocyte gene expression of dogs in the three treatment groups.

Treatment

Item CON PRO POST SEM 1 P-Value

IL61 2 0.6 0.5 0.5 0.10 0.3110

GSR 2 1.0 0.9 0.7 0.14 0.2730

COX2 2 0.7 0.7 0.5 0.12 0.1934

MMP3 2 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.14 0.7516

RSP6KA5 2 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.11 0.3699

HSP1 2,6 0.9 b 1.3 a 0.8 b 0.16 0.0037

IRS1 2 1.0 1.1 0.9 0.20 0.8247

IRS2 2 0.7 0.5 0.6 0.11 0.3122

LPL 2 1.1 1.4 0.8 0.20 0.1012

CPT1A 2 0.8 a 0.7 ab 0.5 b 0.11 0.0216

PPARG 2 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.16 0.3400

Adiponectin 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.10 0.6244

owners have purchased biotics at least

once a year because of a professional

recommendation. In many cases,

they use biotics to support their pet’s

digestive or gastrointestinal concerns 2 .

“The popularity of functional ingredients

has increased as pet owners seek ways

to improve the health and wellness of

their pets, yet limited research has been

conducted regarding the use of probiotics

and postbiotics and their effects on

canine health,” said Sophie Nixon, Ph.D.,

Head of Clinical Research for Pet & Animal

Well-being at ADM, who oversaw the trial.

For this exploratory

study, 18 adult beagles

and 18 adult English

pointers were used in

a 3-arm randomized,

placebo-controlled, parallel

group design, with

12 animals per group.

Following a 60-day

adaptation period in

which dogs were fed

a standard diet alone,

the dogs were then

supplemented with

either probiotic or

postbiotic BPL1 or

an identical placebo

alongside their

standard diet for 90

days. Measurements

were taken to assess

outcome measures

relating to a variety of

health areas, including

fecal fermentative

end products and

microbiome, insulin

sensitivity, serum gut

hormones, oxidative

stress, inflammatory

biomarkers and

white blood cell gene

expression.

Improvements were observed in fecal

short-chain fatty acids, as well as

changes in microbiome composition

and the functional metagenome, when

compared to placebo control. Data from

the trial shows that both the live and

heat-treated forms of BPL1 can safely be

supplemented in healthy adult dogs and

support several aspects of gut health. A

further clinical study is ongoing to assess

additional physiological outcomes, with

a focus on metabolic health.

“Groundbreaking science such as this

canine trial spurs development of

ADM’s functional ingredients across

human, pet and animal nutrition,” said

Mark Lotsch, ADM’s President of Global

Health & Wellness. “Beneficial outcomes

and ingredient stability of our awardwinning

BPL1 solution have been

repeatedly demonstrated in previous

human clinical trials. We are thrilled to

also see promising results for pet health

applications.”

Because heat-treated BPL1 has a

similar effect to live BPL1 in healthy

adult dogs, pet product formulators

will have greater flexibility through the

manufacturing and supply process, as

they don’t need to make adaptations for

living microorganisms 3 . Notably, extreme

heat from extrusion and baking common

in pet food processing can diminish the

efficacy of live probiotics. As inanimate

microorganisms, postbiotics can confer a

health benefit on the host despite these

challenging conditions.

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Photos: ADM

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