October 17, 2024 – 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 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 post biotic forms of BPL1 on canine health.
According to recent ADM global consumer research, 55 percent of US pet owners have purchased bionics at least once a year because of a professional recommendation. In many cases, they use bionics to support their pet’s digestive or gastrointestinal concerns.
“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, PhD, Head of Clinical Research for Pet & Animal Wellbeing at ADM, who oversaw the trial.
For this exploratory study, 18 adult beagles and 18 adult English pointers were used in a three-arm randomised, 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-treatment 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 trials 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 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.”
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. Notably, extreme heat from extrusion and baking common in petfood processing can diminish the efficacy of live probiotics. As inanimate microoragnisms, postbiotics can confer a health benefit on the host despite these challenging conditions.
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