ATLANTA — With pet parents looking for more functional nutritional products to support their barking and meowing companions, biotic ingredients have become all the rage. Known for their ability to support gut health in humans, biotics have popularized the pet food industry for their purported benefits to the pet microbiome.
Kelly Swanson, Ph.D., director of the division of nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, took a deep dive into biotics during her presentation at the American Feed Industry Association’s 2024 Pet Food Conference, showing of potential benefits and applications in pet nutrition.
According to Swanson, gastrointestinal (GI) health can be defined by several factors including proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, a stable and resilient microbiota, and a functional immune system. Common indicators of GI health can range from a pet’s stool quality and immune markers to their response to health challenges.
Gut microorganisms play an important role in gut health, as well as a pet’s overall health, according to Swanson. These microorganisms help support gut immunity, energy, metabolism, resistance to pathogens and more. However, the industry’s understanding of the pet microbiome and gut health is just beginning. As Swanson shows, the view of cat and dog microbiomes continues to evolve as additional strains and genes of microorganisms are discovered.
Many dietary strategies have emerged to help support GI health in pets, but the most common is the use of pro-, pre- and postbiotics.
The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), a non-profit that aims to advance the science behind these biotics, has developed clear definitions for each. According to ISAPP, a biotic must demonstrate a clear health benefit, which may be directed at the gut or elsewhere.
Probiotics
According to ISAPP, a probiotic is a “live microorganism that, when administered in sufficient quantities, provides a health benefit to the host.”
Common taxa include probiotics Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus and Enterococcus. These probiotics can be used in many formats, including dry powders, gels and liquids, and even in pet diets, treats or toppers to provide health benefits.
According to Swanson, probiotics offer many benefits to pets, from reduced diarrhea to managing chronic inflammatory bowel issues, by offering minor to moderate changes in the pet’s gut microbiota. These particular biotics are currently the most researched and show some of the best evidence on health, according to Swanson.
Prebiotics
According to ISAPP, a prebiotic is a “substrate that is selectively used by host microorganisms, providing a health benefit.” Prebiotic substances may include phenolics and phytochemicals, oligosaccharides, conjugated linoleic acid (CLAs), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
Regarding their benefits, prebiotics mainly help to improve the quality of feces in pets but can also provide protection against pathogens. According to Swanson, the use of these specific biotics often results in moderate to large changes in the microbiome, which show more visible effects on pet health.
Synbiotics
A relatively new term in the biotic world for the pet industry is synbiotic. According to ISAPP, a synbiotic is a “mixture of live microorganisms and substrate(s) that are selectively used by host microorganisms that provide a health benefit.” This mixture may include pro- and prebiotics, or other live microorganisms.
Synbiotics can be complementary or synergistic, according to Swanson. Synbiotic supplements are made from a mixture of probiotics and prebiotics, each of which work independently to provide one or more health benefits. Synergistic synbiotics are a mixture of substrate and a live microbe that work together to provide a specific health benefit.
Postbiotics
According to ISAPP, a postbiotic is a “preparation of non-living microorganisms and/or their components that provide a health benefit to the host.” It is important to note here that postbiotics are simply inactivated or killed. They can be any microorganism that offers a health benefit, but they must be intentionally killed. Within this definition, Swanson clarified that vaccines, microbial metabolites and metabolites produced by the gut microbiota are not considered postbiotics.
Postbiotics can provide a litany of benefits including maintaining stool quality, altering gut microbiota, reducing fecal odor, increasing antioxidant capacity, and supporting the immune system. These biotics are relatively new to the pet space, but are gaining traction for their benefits, as well as their stability.
According to Swanson, many postbiotics have been approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), such as yeast; are more shelf stable and can withstand more rigorous processing compared to pre- and probiotics; and boasts high satisfaction. However, despite their significant benefits and stability, very little research has been done on postbiotics.
The future of biotics
As research continues into pet microbiomes and gut health, so will research into biotics. Swanson said he expects the discovery of new gut microbes and the advanced cultivation of biotics to fuel the category. Machine learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) are also expected to help support the future of biotics, as this technology can provide great automation in the cultivation of more biotics.
Additionally, Swanson said he expects as the popularity of biotics continues, more novel sources, mixtures and delivery formats will need to be explored to keep up with demand. Precise dosing and personalization will also play a factor as more personalized pet nutrition products hit the market. They are likely to focus on species-specific biotics, as well as specific diets and microbiomes.
Although the pet biotics category may be in its infancy, Swanson emphasized the need for expanded research into new biotic strains and proper dosing to ensure benefits and safety.
Read more coverage from 2024 Pet Food Conference.
