CHICAGO — Consumer demand for more functional pet food, treat and supplements products have risen the industry’s interest in pro- and postbiotics, but limited research has been performed to fully understand the health impacts of these ingredients on pet health. A new study by ADM and published in the Journal of Animal Science has proven that forms of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 (BPL1™) can be safely supplemented to healthy adult dogs, and supports several aspects of canine gut health.
BPL1 is an ADM-branded functional ingredient available in two forms, live (probiotic) and heat-treated (postbiotic). The ingredient has been shown to support weight management, metabolism regulation and more in human health, and has a variety of applications in food and beverage products. With an increased emphasis on pet health, ADM has explored the use of the biotics in animal health.
“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 Wellbeing at ADM, who oversaw the trial.
The study used a 3-arm randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group design involving 36 adult dogs, 18 beagles and 18 English pointers, separated into groups of 12. The dogs were fed a standard pet food diet alone for 60 days, then fed the same diet supplemented with a placebo or a live probiotic form or a heat-treated postbiotic form of BPL1 for 90 days.
The researchers then examined the dogs’ fecal matter, microbiomes, insulin sensitivity, gut hormones, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarkers, white blood cell gene expression and more health indicators.
Overall, the data showed that both the probiotic and postbiotic forms of BPL1 could be safely administered to healthy adult dogs to support various aspects of gut health. According to the results, improvements in fecal short-chain fatty acids, changes in the microbiome composition and functional metagenome were noted compared to the results of the placebo.
Additionally, the researchers did not find any differences in the dogs’ body weight, body condition score, pelvic circumference or fecal scores. The fecal pH was lower in the dogs fed the postbiotic compared to those fed the placebo, and a higher fecal concentration of propionate was noted in the dogs fed the biotics versus those fed the placebo.
In the gut, both biotic forms did impact the bacterial composition, however, the overall diversity of the microbiome was not significantly affected compared to those fed the placebo.
Regarding the metagenome, researchers noted the supplementation of both forms of BPL1 led to potentially beneficial changes relating to pathogenicity, amino acid biosynthesis and DNA repair.
“Groundbreaking science such as this canine trial spurs development of ADM’s functional ingredients across human, pet and animal nutrition,” said Mark Lotsch, president of Global Health & Wellness at ADM. “Beneficial outcomes and ingredient stability of our award-winning BPL1™ solution have been repeatedly demonstrated in previous human clinical trials. We are thrilled to also see promising results for pet health applications.”
According to these results, the live and heat-treated forms of BPL1 have a similar effect on healthy adult dogs. This means that pet nutrition formulators have even greater flexibility in the manufacturing and supply process, as the effectiveness of the live BPL1 form can be diminished through extrusion and baking, according to ADM. As an inanimate organism, the postbiotic can serve as a solution to manufacturers seeking to offer functional products while also overcoming processing challenges.
To understand more about this ingredient’s impact on pet health, a further clinical study is currently ongoing, this time focusing on metabolic health.
Read more on ADM’s BPL1 study here.
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