Pilot study of probiotic dietary supplementation for promoting healthy kidney function in patients with chronic kidney disease

RANGANATHAN, NATARAJAN; RANGANATHAN, PARI; FRIEDMAN, ELI A.; JOSEPH, ANTHONY; DELANO, BARBARA; GOLDFARB, DAVID S.; TAM, PAUL; VENKETESHWER RAO, A.; ANTEYI, EMMANUEL; GUIDO MUSSO, CARLOS

ADVANCES IN THERAPY

SPRINGER

Año: 2010 vol. 27 p. 634 - 647

0741-238X

Introduction: Uremic syndrome consists of nitrogenous waste retention, deficiency in kidney-derived hormones, and reduced acid excretion, and, if untreated, may progress to coma and eventual death. Previous experience suggests that oral administration of a probiotic formulation of selected microbial strains may extend renoprotection via intraintestinal extraction of toxic waste solutes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD)stages 3 and 4. This report presents preliminary data from a pilot study. Methods: This was a 6-month prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of a probiotic bacterial formulation conducted in four countries, at five institutions, on 46 outpatients with CKD stages 3 an nd 4: USA (n=10), Canada (n=113), Nigeria (n=115), and Argentina (n=8). Outcomes were compared using biochemical parameters:blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, and uric acid. General well-being was assessed as a secondary parameter by a quality of life (QQOL) questionnaire on a subjective scale of 1-10. Results: Oral ingestion of probiotics (90 billion colony forming units [CFUs]/day) was well tolerated and safe during the entire trial period at all sites. BUN levels decreased in 29 patients (63%, P