Probiotics and CKD Progression: Are Creatinine-Based Estimates of GFR Applicable? (original) (raw)

Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms beneficial for health, are proposed to potentially impact kidney function by influencing glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, existing studies largely rely on creatinine-based estimates of GFR, which may be misleading due to the ability of probiotics to reduce creatinine concentrations through effects on the gut microbiome. This paper explores the implications of probiotics on the progression of CKD, highlighting the inaccuracies of current estimates of GFR and the need for high-quality intervention trials that utilize non-creatinine-based methods to assess the true impact of probiotics on kidney health.