The oxalate-lowering effect of functional stirred yogurt in a rat model

Abstract

Urolithiasis is a prevalent health issue that can potentially lead to kidney failure. Of the different kinds of kidney stones, the most common kind are calcium oxalate crystals. In this study, we investigated the impact of two probiotic lactobacilli preparations on urinary functions in rats that were fed a high-oxalate diet. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats in all were split up into five groups, each with eight rats. Two groups were used: one as a positive control group that received a high-oxalate diet, and the other as a negative control group that received a regular, balanced diet. The remaining three groups were administered oral doses of the probiotic preparations in addition to being fed a high-oxalate diet. After 21 days, the rats were sacrificed, and biochemical analysis was conducted on their blood and urine samples, including measurements of creatinine, urea, uric acid, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, aspartate transaminase (AST), acid and alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, and urine pH. The findings of the study confirmed that these probiotic preparations had a positive impact on kidney functions, potentially by enhancing oxalate metabolism in the intestines and/or reducing oxalate absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, the counts of lactobacilli colonies in the fecal samples increased with both preparations, while the counts of coliforms decreased compared to the baseline. These results suggest that lactobacilli could be explored as a promising therapeutic approach in the prevention of urinary stones.