The Effects of Gum Acacia on the Composition of the Gut Microbiome and Plasma Levels of Short-Chain Fatty Acids in a Rat Model of Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be fatal for its victims and is an important long-term public health problem. The complicated medical procedures and diet restrictions to which patients with CKD are subjected alter the gut microbiome in an adverse manner, favoring over-accumulation of proteolytic bacteria that produce ammonia and other toxic substances. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of GA on 1) the composition of the gut microbiome and 2) on plasma levels of short-chain fatty acids. Male Wister rats were divided into four groups (six each) and treated for 4 weeks based on the following: control, dietary adenine (0.75%, w/w) to induce CKD, GA in the drinking water (15%, w/v), and both adenine and GA. At the end of the treatment period, plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected for determination of several biochemical indicators of renal function and plasma levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as well as characterization of the gut microbiome. Dietary adenine induced the typical signs of CKD, i.e., loss of body weight and impairment of renal function, while GA alleviated these effects. The intestine of the rats with CKD contained an elevated abundance of pathogenic Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia but lowered proportions of Lactobacillaceae belonging to the Firmicutes phylum. Plasma levels of propionate and butyrate were lowered by dietary adenine and restored by GA. A negative association (Spearman’s p-value ≤ 0.01, r ≤ 0.5) was observed between Firmicutes and plasma creatinine, urea, urine N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and albumin. Phylum Proteobacteria on the other hand was positively associated with these markers while Phylum Bacteroidetes was positively associated with plasma SCFAs. In conclusion, the adverse changes in the composition of the gut microbiome, plasma levels of SCFAs, and biochemical indicators of renal function observed in the rats with CKD induced by dietary adenine were mitigated by GA. These findings are indicative of a link between uremia and the composition of the microbiome in connection with this disease. Dietary administration of GA to patients with CKD may improve their renal function via modulating the composition of their microbiome—a finding that certainly warrants further investigation.

Faecal Microbiota Transplantation and Chronic Kidney Disease

“…Furthermore, a recent clinical study recruiting 30 patients with DKD confirmed that SCFAs were reduced in serum and stool compared to 30 normal controls [81]. In line with those clinical findings, the decreased plasma levels of SCFAs and impaired renal function were observed in a rat model of CKD induced by dietary adenine, which was attenuated by gum acacia [82]. In a DKD mouse model induced by streptozotocin (STZ), Li et al reported that a high-fibre diet significantly reduced albuminuria, kidney hypertrophy, glomerular injury, tubulointerstitial fibrosis, and interstitial macrophage infiltration compared with healthy controls.…”

Tongbixiao Pills Improve Gout by Reducing Uric Acid Levels and Inhibiting Inflammation

“…According to the classification of dysfunction indicators and inflammation indicators related to acute arthritis symptoms, an acute gouty arthritis model was established. 28 Dysfunction index evaluation was also recorded (Level 0: normal gait, evenly landing on all four feet; Level 1: relaxed left foot, toes spread out, mild lameness; Level 2: left hind foot flexed, toes touching the ground, visible limp; Level 3: Left hind foot completely leaves the ground). After injection of MSU crystals or PBS solution, the dysfunction index of rats was evaluated at 0h, 12h, 24h, and 48h.…”

Recent advances of gut microbiota in chronic kidney disease patients

“…Increasing publications have demonstrated that CKD could be ameliorated by improving the dysbiosis of gut microbiota via some intervention strategies [82,83]. Mo and his colleague [84] demonstrated that treatment with α-Ketoacid could decrease the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24 h proteinuria, as well as retarded interstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis in the adenine-induced CKD rats.…”