Colonic dialysis can influence gut flora to protect renal function in patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health burden around the world. The gut microbiome may contribute to CKD progression and serve as a promising therapeutic target. Colonic dialysis has long been used in China to help remove gut-derived toxins to delay CKD progression. Since disturbances in the gut biome may influence disease progression, we wondered whether colonic dialysis may mitigate the condition by influencing the biome. We compared the gut microbiota, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, in fecal samples of 25 patients with CKD (stages 3–5) who were receiving colonic dialysis(group CD), 25 outpatients with CKD not receiving colonic dialysis(group OP), and 34 healthy subjects(group HS). Richness of gut microbiota was similar between patients on colonic dialysis and healthy subjects, and richness in these two groups was significantly higher than that in patients not on colonic dialysis. Colonic dialysis also altered the profile of microbes in the gut of CKD patients, bringing it closer to the profile in healthy subjects. Colonic dialysis may protect renal function in pre-dialysis CKD by mitigating dysbiosis of gut microbiota.