Effects of supplementation with Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145-in live probiotic and heat-treated postbiotic form-on fecal metabolites, fecal microbiota, blood metabolites and systemic biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, and white blood cell gene expression of adult cats.

2025
Journal of animal science 103

PubMed: 41117771
DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaf355

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size: n = 90
Population: 36 cats
Methods: double-blind parallel randomized design; cats were fed a standard extruded commercial diet and assigned to control diet + placebo (maltodextrin carrier), control diet + probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145; daily dosage: 10^10 CFU/day), or control diet + postbiotic (heat-treated Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145) 1 x 10^10 cells/day; longitudinal analyses every 30 d for a total of 90 d

Animal Study

Probiotics and postbiotics have been linked with enhancement of gastrointestinal health. This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of daily supplementation of a pro- and a postbiotic on metabolic health, blood metabolites and systemic biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, fecal fermentative end-products, the gastrointestinal microbiota and white blood cell gene expression of adult cats. The study was a double-blind parallel randomized design with 36 cats divided into 3 groups. Animals were fed a standard extruded commercial diet. The groups were control diet + placebo (maltodextrin carrier) (CON), control diet + probiotic (Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145; daily dosage: 1010 CFU/day) (PRO), and control diet + postbiotic (Heat-treated Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145) 1x1010 cells/day (POST). Longitudinal analyses were performed every 30 d for a total of 90 d. There was no observed effect on body weight (P > 0.05). At a species level, cats in the PRO group had an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium animalis over time (P < 0.05). Over time, CAZy genes between the PRO and POST groups presented similar output when compared to the CON group. There was no treatment by day effect of serum cytokines and chemokines (P > 0.05). Overall, the supplementation of the probiotic and postbiotic was safe and well tolerated during the supplementation period, showing similar physiological responses in this population of adult cats.

Research Insights

Supplement	Dose	Health Outcome	Effect Type	Effect Size	Source
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	Change in Body Weight	Neutral	Small	View source There was no observed effect on body weight (P > 0.05).
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	Increased Abundance of Bifidobacterium animalis	Beneficial	Small	View source At a species level, cats in the PRO group had an increased abundance of Bifidobacterium animalis over time (P < 0.05).
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	No Change in Inflammation Markers	Neutral	Small	View source There was no treatment by day effect of serum cytokines and chemokines (P > 0.05).
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	No Change in Metabolic Health	Neutral	Small	View source This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal effects of daily supplementation of a pro- and a postbiotic on metabolic health... Overall, the supplementation of the probiotic and postbiotic was safe and well tolerated during the supplementation period, showing similar physiological responses in this population of adult cats.
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12	—	No Significant Change in Body Weight or Systemic Inflammation	Neutral	Small	View source There was no observed effect on body weight (P > 0.05). ... There was no treatment by day effect of serum cytokines and chemokines (P > 0.05).