# Bifidobacterium animalis Subspecies lactis CECT 8145 Affects Markers of Metabolic Health in Dogs During Weight Gain and Weight Loss

## TL;DR

This study shows that a specific postbiotic can improve metabolic health markers in dogs during weight gain and loss.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that a heat-treated postbiotic of B. animalis CECT 8145 affects metabolic and digestive markers in dogs.

## Key findings

- Postbiotic supplementation reduced post-prandial blood sugar in dogs during weight loss.
- Postbiotic treatment increased fat digestibility and altered fecal isovalerate levels during weight gain.
- Postbiotic supplementation was associated with changes in glucagon and GLP-1 levels in dogs.

## Abstract

Obesity is a key risk factor for metabolic disorders and chronic inflammation. With 59% of pet dogs in the USA recently estimated to be overweight or obese, it is crucial to investigate strategies to proactively support metabolic health in dogs, and postbiotics may play a role in this. This study explored how supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis CECT 8145 affects metabolic health markers in Labrador Retriever dogs during weight gain and loss. The study had two phases: a weight-gain phase where dogs were overfed, and a weight-loss phase where overweight dogs were fed just enough to maintain their ideal weight. During each phase, forty-five adult Labradors were divided into three groups: one received the live bacterial supplement (probiotic), another received the heat-treated version (postbiotic), and the third group received a placebo. Dogs’ weight, body fat, fecal biomarkers, and overall health were monitored throughout the study. During weight gain, both probiotic and postbiotic supplements affected certain fecal and blood biomarkers linked to digestion and metabolism. Most notably, the postbiotic reduced blood sugar after consuming kibble in the weight-loss phase. Overall, the study suggests that supplementing dogs with Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis CECT 8145 may influence metabolic health markers as seen through changes in blood and fecal markers in Labradors during weight change.

This study explored the effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis CECT 8145 (B. animalis CECT 8145)—in both live probiotic and heat-treated postbiotic form—on metabolic health and digestion in male and female Labrador Retrievers during weight gain and loss. The study consisted of two, seven-week phases: weight gain (200% maintenance energy intake; Phase (1) and weight loss (100% maintenance energy requirement for ideal weight; Phase (2), separated by a 2-week washout period. In each phase, forty-five adult Labrador Retrievers (1.6–12.5 years) were randomly assigned to daily supplementation with live B. animalis CECT 8145 probiotic (PRO, n = 15), heat-treated B. animalis CECT 8145 postbiotic (POST, n = 15), or placebo control (CON, n = 15). Body weight, body condition score, fecal quality and food consumption were monitored throughout the study, and body composition, fecal, and blood samples were analyzed at the beginning and end of each phase. Digestibility was evaluated at the end of each phase. Post-prandial glucose responses were affected by intervention during weight loss, with a 6% reduction in the area under the curve (AUC) in POST compared to CON dogs (p = 0.035). Glucagon was decreased in females supplemented with POST (p = 0.0014), while POST males showed increased glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) compared to CON (p = 0.016) during weight gain. Serum GGT levels decreased, within the normal reference range, in POST compared to CON dogs during weight gain (post hoc p = 0.041). Fecal isovalerate was also reduced and fat digestibility increased (p = 0.026) in POST compared to CON (p = 0.018) during weight gain. There was a significant association between the group and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), with a decrease in GIP in POST over time (p = 0.030), and glucagon tended to be decreased in POST compared to CON (p = 0.073). Overall, these findings suggest supplementation with postbiotic B. animalis CECT 8145 may improve certain markers of Labrador retrievers’ metabolic health.