Remodeling of Gut Microbial Networks After Sulforaphane Supplementation in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is closely associated with gut dysbiosis, and sulforaphane (SFN), a bioactive compound found in cruciferous vegetables, may help to mitigate this condition.

These are secondary exploratory analyses from a previous study that included 16 patients with CKD (stages 3 to 5). The patients were divided into two groups: the Sulforaphane (SFN) group (400 mcg/day of SFN) and the placebo group, both of which received treatment for four weeks. Fecal DNA extraction was performed, and amplicon sequencing was conducted on an Illumina MiSeq V3 platform. The sequence data were analyzed using the QIIME 2 software package. Plasma uremic toxin concentrations (indoxyl sulfate, IS, and p-cresyl sulfate, pCS) were measured by HPLC with fluorescence detection.

No significant differences were observed in the gut microbiota alpha microbial richness and diversity after supplementation. However, supplementation with SFN altered the taxonomic composition and resulted in changes to the complexity of the microbial network. A distinct set of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) was observed post-supplementation with SFN, dominated by genera such as Megamonas, Sphingobium, Clostridia, and Hungatella, indicating a treatment-specific microbial signature. The placebo group showed significant increases in IS and pCS, whereas the SFN group presented non-significant changes.

SFN supplementation for one month did not significantly alter microbial diversity or uremic toxin levels in non-dialysis CKD patients; however, it led to changes in microbial composition and network complexity, suggesting a modulatory effect on specific microbial interactions.