Synbiotic supplementation reduces intestinal permeability and inflammation in overweight or obese kidney transplant recipients: a randomized controlled trial.
Zeinab Karimi, Hadi Tabibi, Mohsen Nafar et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial assessed 12 weeks of synbiotic supplementation in 46 kidney transplant recipients, comparing two daily synbiotic capsules with placebo. Compared with placebo, the synbiotic group had significant reductions in serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP; p = 0.03), hs-CRP (p = 0.02), sICAM-1 (p = 0.04), and IL-6 (p = 0.02). These findings suggest effects on a marker of intestinal permeability and several inflammatory markers. Malondialdehyde, galectin-3, urea, and creatinine showed no significant changes within either group.
Key findings
- Compared with placebo, serum LBP decreased significantly with synbiotic supplementation (p = 0.03).
- Compared with placebo, hs-CRP, sICAM-1, and IL-6 decreased significantly (p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.02, respectively).
- MDA, galectin-3, urea, and creatinine showed no significant within-group changes.
Why it matters
Intestinal permeability and inflammation are relevant to cardiovascular disease and graft failure in kidney transplant recipients. The trial suggests synbiotic supplementation can alter LBP and several inflammatory markers in this population, while kidney-function measures did not significantly change. These biomarker findings may inform further evaluation of gut-directed approaches, but do not establish effects on clinical cardiovascular or graft outcomes.
What to keep in mind
The trial included 46 recipients and assessed biomarkers over 12 weeks; the abstract reports no clinical cardiovascular or graft outcomes.