Antrodia cinnamomea (AC), a medicinal mushroom, has multiple beneficial actions, such as acting as a prebiotic. The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children has steadily increased year by year, and CKD is related to gut microbiota dysbiosis. Herein, we investigated the renoprotection of solid-state cultivated AC in adenine-induced CKD juvenile rats. CKD was induced in 3-week-old male rats by feeding with adenine (0.5%) for three weeks. Treated groups received oral administration of AC extracts at either a low (10 mg/kg/day) or high dose (100 mg/kg/day) for six weeks. At nine weeks of age, the rats were sacrificed. Renal outcomes, blood pressure, and gut microbiome composition were examined. Our results revealed that AC treatment, either low- or high-dose, improved kidney function, proteinuria, and hypertension in CKD rats. Low-dose AC treatment increased plasma concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Additionally, we observed that AC acts like a prebiotic by enriching beneficial bacteria in the gut, such as Akkermansia and Turicibacter. Moreover, the beneficial action of AC against CKD-related hypertension might also be linked to the inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. This study brings new insights into the potential application of AC as a prebiotic dietary supplement in the prevention and treatment of pediatric CKD.
Keywords: Antrodia cinnamomea; children; chronic kidney disease; gut microbiota; hypertension; renin-angiotensin system; short-chain fatty acid; trimethylamine-N-oxide.