Probiotic supplements prevented oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemia and renal damage

Abstract

Hyperuricemia is highly prevalent and especially common in subjects with metabolic, cardiovascular and renal diseases. In chronic kidney disease, hyperuricemia is extremely common, and uric acid (UA) excretion relies on gut uricolysis by gut microbiota. Current therapy for lowering serum UA includes drugs that may produce undesired secondary effects. Therefore, this pilot study was designed to evaluate the potential of two probiotic supplements to reduce systemic uric acid concentrations. Secondary objectives were to assess whether the hypouricemic effect related to a therapeutic benefit on the hyperuricemia-induced renal damage and hypertension. Analysis of fecal microbiota was also performed. Groups of 6 rats each were followed for 5 weeks and allocated in the following treatment groups: C = Control; HU-ND = Oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemia (HU) +regular diet; HU-P = HU+placebo; HU-F1 = HU+ probiotics formula 1 and HU-F2 = HU+ probiotics formula 2. We confirmed that oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemia produced hypertension and renal functional and structural changes, along with modest changes in the overall composition of fecal microbiota. Both probiotic-containing diets prevented HU, elevated UA urinary excretion and intrarenal UA accumulation induced by oxonic acid. The hypouricemic effect conferred by probiotic supplementation also prevented the renal changes and hypertension caused by hyperuricemia. However, probiotic treatment did not restore the fecal microbiota. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time the ability of probiotics containing uricolytic bacteria to lower serum uric acid in hyperuricemic animals with beneficial consequences on blood pressure and renal disease. As probiotics supplements are innocuous for human health, we recommend clinical studies to test if probiotic supplements could benefit hyperuricemic individuals.

The altered gut microbiota of high-purine-induced hyperuricemia rats and its correlation with hyperuricemia

“…Some studies have reported altered gut microbiome in gout patients (Shao et al, 2017), with gut bacteria expressing the gene of allantoinase significantly reduced (Crane, 2013), suggesting that altered gut microbiota may associate with gout, and therefore, may help distinguish gout patients from healthy patients and serve as new targets for disease treatment (Guo et al, 2016). As reported previously, certain probiotics containing uricolytic ability can be used to help prevent oxonic acid-induced hyperuricemia in animals (García-Arroyo et al, 2018). Similarly, a potential probiotic has been found that improves fructose-induced hyperuricemia by reducing intestinal inosine (Wang et al, 2019).…”

<p>Converging Relationships of Obesity and Hyperuricemia with Special Reference to Metabolic Disorders and Plausible Therapeutic Implications</p>

“…118 Additionally, probiotic-containing diet prevents hyperuricemia induced by oxonic acid, which is essential for normal blood pressure and renal function. 119 Alternatively, the use of urate-lowering drugs on rats with hyperuricemia causes changes in the composition of microbiota indicating the effective treatment of hyperuricemia. 120…”

Hyperuricemia, the heart, and the kidneys – to treat or not to treat?

“…Recently, studies on mice have shown that probiotics could reveal to be an additional therapeutic option. Lactobacillus strains have shown to lower SUA with beneficial effects on hypertension and renal disease [26,27].…”