Learn : Pet Microbiome
Probiotics and Pet Health
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are formulas that contain living microorganisms, usually bacteria (but sometimes other microorganisms such as yeast), that are consumed to improve health. The goal of ingesting probiotic substances is to bring the gut microbiota back to a state of balance after it has been disrupted by antibiotic treatment or other disturbances. However, probiotics can also be used to maintain a healthy gut and prevent gastrointestinal issues1. Most probiotic organisms are lactic-acid bacteria2,3, which means they can ferment (or break down) sugars into lactic acid. It is thought that these species colonize the intestine during early life4,5 and allow other symbiotic bacteria to take residence as an individual grows into adulthood.
Scientists are currently exploring the utility of probiotics to treat conditions such as diarrhea6, inflammatory bowel disease7, and lactose-intolerance8 (in humans). The underlying idea is to introduce bacterial strains that can compete with those that are overgrown and contributing to health issues. Bacteria can contend with each other in a variety of ways9, including competition for nutrients or the production of substances that thwart the growth of rival species. The desired result is the resolution of symptoms and a balanced microbiota, where disruptive strains are reduced to normal levels. Humans can find probiotics in foods like yogurts and cheese in addition to dietary supplements. Probiotics for dogs and cats are typically sold in the form of pills or powders that can be added to their food.
What bacteria are in probiotics?
The most common bacteria used in dog and cat probiotics10 are Lactobacillus, a genus of lactic-acid bacteria2,3 that includes regular inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract11,12. Some Lactobacilli strains are thought to improve health by preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium species10. They are also able to survive acidic conditions, such as those encountered in the stomach, which is necessary for them to remain viable as they transit from the mouth to the gastrointestinal tract. Other strains often found in probiotic formulas belong to the genera Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium10,12. Some species of the latter have been associated with the early colonization of the infant gut microbiome in mice and humans13.
Examples of bacterial species used in companion animal probiotic formulas are Enterococcus
How can probiotics be enhanced?
Research has shown that many probiotic strains of bacteria are able to establish themselves in the gastrointestinal tract, alter the compositions of gut microbes and metabolites, and modulate host immunity15,16—all key traits for colonization of the gut and changing the composition of the microbiome. Nonetheless, some studies have found positive effects in the absence of these traits. Two other components can be used in conjunction with probiotics in an effort to increase these traits, called prebiotics and synbiotics.
Prebiotics14
Synbiotics14
How do probiotics influence health?
Probiotics have been widely tested for their effects on health. While it is clear is that some do have health benefits, we still do not completely understand how this is achieved. Furthermore, there are differences between studies10 regarding their direct impact on well-being. Nevertheless, probiotics have been shown to successfully treat acute gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and to prevent allergy10. Their use may also reduce the recovery time following acute diarrhea17.
How might probiotics support health? One possibility is by outcompeting pathogenic microbes for food or colonization sites. It might also be through stimulating their host’s immune system to decrease inflammation in the gut or help recognize invaders. Probiotics could further change the metabolism of other bacteria or produce antimicrobial substances that kill their competitors. Future research will help outline the mechanisms and better dictate how probiotics should be used to improve intestinal health18.
The Nom Nom R&D team is on the lookout for dogs that experience regular diarrhea to participate in their new GI microbiome study. Sound like someone in your house? See if your dog qualifies for this paid research study here.
References
1. Gareau, M. G., Sherman, P. M. & Walker, W. A. Probiotics and the gut microbiota in intestinal health and disease. Nat. Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 7, 503–514 (2010).
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3. Biotechnology of lactic acid bacteria: novel applications. (2016).
4. Moles, L. et al. Bacterial diversity in meconium of preterm neonates and evolution of their fecal microbiota during the first month of life. PLoS One 8, e66986 (2013).
5. Barko, P. C., McMichael, M. A. & Swanson, K. S. The gastrointestinal microbiome: a review. Journal of veterinary (2018).
6. Gómez-Gallego, C. et al. A canine-specific probiotic product in treating acute or intermittent diarrhea in dogs: A double-blind placebo-controlled efficacy study. Vet. Microbiol. 197, 122–128 (2016).
7. White, R. et al. Randomized, controlled trial evaluating the effect of multi-strain probiotic on the mucosal microbiota in canine idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease. Gut Microbes 8, 451–466 (2017).
8. Oak, S. J. & Jha, R. The effects of probiotics in lactose intolerance: A systematic review. Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr. 1–9 (2018).
9. Hibbing, M. E., Fuqua, C., Parsek, M. R. & Peterson, S. B. Bacterial competition: surviving and thriving in the microbial jungle. Nat. Rev. Microbiol. 8, 15–25 (2010).
10. Grześkowiak, Ł., Endo, A., Beasley, S. & Salminen, S. Microbiota and probiotics in canine and feline welfare. Anaerobe 34, 14–23 (2015).
11. Deng, P. & Swanson, K. S. Gut microbiota of humans, dogs and cats: current knowledge and future opportunities and challenges. Br. J. Nutr. 113 Suppl, S6–17 (2015).
12. Azad, M. A. K., Sarker, M., Li, T. & Yin, J. Probiotic Species in the Modulation of Gut Microbiota: An Overview. Biomed Res. Int. 2018, 9478630 (2018).
13. O’Callaghan, A. & van Sinderen, D. Bifidobacteria and Their Role as Members of the Human Gut Microbiota. Front. Microbiol. 7, 925 (2016).
14. Schmitz, S. & Suchodolski, J. Understanding the canine intestinal microbiota and its modification by pro-, pre- and synbiotics - what is the evidence? Vet Med Sci 2, 71–94 (2016).
15. Strompfová, V., Kubašová, I. & Lauková, A. Health benefits observed after probiotic Lactobacillus
16. Garcia-Mazcorro, J. F. et al. Effect of a multi-species synbiotic formulation on fecal bacterial microbiota of healthy cats and dogs as evaluated by pyrosequencing. FEMS Microbiol. Ecol. 78, 542–554 (2011).
17. Gagné, J. W. et al. Effects of a synbiotic on fecal quality, short-chain fatty acid concentrations, and the microbiome of healthy sled dogs. BMC Vet. Res. 9, 246 (2013).
18. Walker, W. A. Mechanisms of action of probiotics. Clin. Infect. Dis. 46 Suppl 2, S87–91; discussion S144–51 (2008).