Nutrigenomic activity of plant derived compounds in health and disease: Results of a dietary intervention study in dog

Supplementation with Silybum marianum Extract, Synbiotics, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamins, and Minerals: Impact on Biochemical Markers and Fecal Microbiome in Overweight Dogs

Overweight and obese dogs can develop metabolic dysfunction, characterized by an inflammatory response and involvement of liver functions. If a modulation of the gut microbiome and its interaction with the gut-liver axis is implicated in the development of metabolic dysfunction, exploration becomes necessary. Over the past decade, diverse therapeutic approaches have emerged to target pathogenic factors involved in metabolic dysfunction. This study investigated the impact of a supplement with hepatoprotective activity, containing extracts of Silybum marianum, prebiotics, probiotics, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals on hematological markers of liver functions and inflammation, as well as on the intestinal microbiota of 10 overweight adult dogs over a 35-day time span. Animals underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations every 7 days, both before the administration of the supplement (T0) and after 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5). In comparison to T0, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in ALP, glucose, direct bilirubin, and CRP was observed from T3 to T5. The alpha diversity of the fecal microbiota significantly decreased (p < 0.05) only at T1, with high variability observed between dogs. Total short-chain fatty acid and lactic acid were also lower at T1 (p < 0.05) compared to the other times of sampling. The beta diversity of the fecal microbiota failed to show a clear pattern in relation to the sampling times. These results of blood parameters in overweight dogs show a reduction of the inflammation and an improvement of metabolic status during the study period, but the effective contribution of the supplement in this clinical outcome deserves further investigation. Furthermore, the considerable individual variability observed in the microbiome hinders the confident detection of supplement effects.

Use of Milk Thistle in Farm and Companion Animals: A Review

Milk thistle, Silybum marianum, is a medicinal plant grown for its bioactive compounds with well-documented antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. Milk thistle has a well-established pharmacological reputation for treatments of human liver disease, but it is also used in animals. This review summarizes the experimental evidence of milk thistle's effects on animals when administered as silymarin extract (feed additive) or a feed ingredient, if administered as seed or expeller/cake with the seed residue still containing the bioactive components. The use as a feed additive or feed ingredient is motivated by the complexity of silymarin registration as a veterinary drug. In farm animals, the drug improves the animals' performance and product quality and oxidative stability, supports liver function during the productive life-cycle, improves gut-health and morphology, and can reduce intestinal pathogens. In dogs and cats, the treatment is focused on acute and chronic liver diseases including the detoxification processes and support of drug treatments including chemotherapy. In equine athletes, milk seed cake showed positive effects and a faster return of cortisol to the resting values before exercise occurred. In aquaculture, it confirms its usefulness in supporting animal health and performance. In certain studies it is not clear what has been administered, and the composition and doses are not always clearly reported. A few studies reported no effects, but none reported problems connected to milk thistle administration. However, the overall picture shows that the use of milk thistle results in improved or restored health parameters or better animal performance.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Effect of a Nutritional Supplement with Silymarin Phytosome, Choline Chloride, l-Cystine, Artichoke, and Vitamin E in Dogs

Phytotherapy has been promoted for the treatment of liver diseases in dogs. The interest in identifying the antioxidant/hepatoprotective potential of various plants is increasing. Every 10 days for 30 days, forty dogs were subjected to blood sampling and hepatic ultrasound assessment. Clinically healthy dogs (group A) and dogs with liver enzyme and ultrasound hepatic aspects and sizes outside the physiological range (group B) were divided into two subgroups. Every day for 30 days, one subgroup received Epacare pet + pasta^® and the other received a placebo. Differences due to groups were observed in dROM, SHp, AST and LDH serum concentrations. The administration of Epacarepet + pasta^® for 30 days had an influence on the serum concentration of dROMs, SHp, AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, and urea. The application of paired Student's t-test showed a decrease in the longitudinal and transverse liver axis size. In conclusion, feed supplementation with Epacare pet + pasta^® had a beneficial effect on the antioxidant status and liver enzymes in animals with liver enzymatic alterations and in healthy dogs.

Chronic Intestinal Disorders in Humans and Pets: Current Management and the Potential of Nutraceutical Antioxidants as Alternatives

Simple Summary

Chronic disorders of the intestinal tract (CID) are characterized by signs of inflammation of the intestine for a period of at least three weeks. Both humans and pets can be affected by these disorders. Different therapeutic approaches can be selected to treat patients and the use of natural products has been increased in the last decade, since oxidative stress plays a key role in the progression of the chronic intestinal disorders. In this review, the antioxidant proprieties of several natural products with potential for treatment of CID in human and veterinary medicine are highlighted. Unfortunately, few clinical trials report the use of these products for treating CID in humans and none in animals.

Abstract

Chronic intestinal disorders (CID) are characterized by persistent, or recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) signs present for at least three weeks. In human medicine, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic GI diseases and includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). On the other hand, the general term chronic enteropathies (CE) is preferred in veterinary medicine. Different therapeutic approaches to these diseases are used in both humans and pets. This review is focused on the use of traditional therapies and nutraceuticals with specific antioxidant properties, for the treatment of CID in humans and animal patients. There is strong evidence of the antioxidant properties of the nutraceuticals included in this review, but few studies report their use for treating CID in humans and none in animals. Despite this fact, the majority of the nutraceuticals described in the present article could be considered as promising alternatives for the regular treatment of CID in human and veterinary medicine.

The efficacy of a nutritional supplement containing green-lipped mussel, curcumin and blackcurrant leaf extract in dogs and cats with osteoarthritis

Background

Osteoarthritis is a common disease in dogs and cats, and the search for novel treatment options is needed. The combination of green‐lipped mussel, curcumin and blackcurrant leaf extract has to date not been studied in dogs and cats.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to test the effect of a supplement containing green‐lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus), curcumin (Curcuma longa) and blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum) leaf extract on locomotion and behaviour in client‐owned dogs and cats suffering from mild to moderate osteoarthritis.

Methods

To this end, 32 dogs and 16 cats were enrolled in a double‐blinded, randomised, crossover, placebo‐controlled trial for 10 weeks in cats and 16 weeks in dogs. Outcome parameters were the Helsinki Chronic Pain Index (HCPI) by pet owners in dogs and cats, Canine OsteoArthritis Staging Tool (COAST) by a veterinarian in dogs and Force Plate Analysis (FPA) in 18 dogs.

Results

In dogs, the COAST improved significantly in the supplement group compared to baseline but was not different than the placebo group. In cats, the ability to groom, activity level, playfulness and walking up the stairs improved in the supplement group. No differences were found on HCPI scores and FPA in dogs. Several non‐responders were noted in both species, which were irrespective of the stage of osteoarthritis.

Conclusions

Overall, the supplement had only partial positive effects in client‐owned dogs and cats with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Further research with a larger sample size and longer duration is needed to expand these findings.

Roles of plant-based ingredients and phytonutrients in canine nutrition and health

Dogs possess the ability to obtain essential nutrients, established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), from both animal‐ and plant‐based ingredients. There has been a recent increase in the popularity of diets that limit or completely exclude certain plant‐based ingredients. Examples of these diets include ‘ancestral’ or ‘evolutionary’ diets, raw meat‐based diets and grain‐free diets. As compared to animal sources, plant‐derived ingredients (including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts and seeds) provide many non‐essential phytonutrients with some data suggesting they confer health benefits. This review aims to assess the strength of current evidence on the relationship between the consumption of plant‐based foods and phytonutrients (such as plant‐derived carotenoids, polyphenols and phytosterols) and biomarkers of health and diseases (such as body weight/condition, gastrointestinal health, immune health, cardiovascular health, visual function and cognitive function) from clinical trials and epidemiological studies. This review highlights the potential nutritional and health benefits of including plant‐based ingredients as a part of balanced canine diets. We also highlight current research gaps in existing studies and provide future research directions to inform the impact of incorporating plant‐based ingredients in commercial or home‐prepared diets.

Effects of silybin supplementation on nutrient digestibility, hematological parameters, liver function indices, and liver-specific mi-RNA concentration in dogs

Background

Hepatopathies are an important group of disorders in dogs where proper nutritional care is crucial. Supplementation with a hepatoprotectant like silybin can improve liver function and should not interfere with nutrient digestibility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of both pure silybin and commercial hepatoprotectant on nutrients digestibility, liver function indices and health status in healthy dogs (EXP1). Moreover, the second experiment (EXP2) investigated the effect of commercial hepatoprotectant on liver function tests and liver-associated miRNAs concentration in dogs with idiopathic liver disorder.

Results

Nutrient digestibility was not affected by treatment in EXP1. Supplementation did alter the serum fatty acid profile, with no clinical relevance. The levels of liver markers such as ALT, AST and GGT significantly decreased. In EXP2, supplementation with commercial hepatoprotectant containing silybin improved liver function tests. A decrease was observed in liver serum markers such as ALT, AST and miR122 concentration.

Conclusions

EXP1 confirmed that silybin (whether pure or as a commercial hepatoprotectant) does not interfere with digestion which subsequently exerts no detrimental effect on dogs’ health and metabolism. In EXP2, dietary supplementation with commercial hepatoprotectant containing silybin resulted in a decreased activity of serum liver markers, accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of liver-specific miRNA molecules. Liver function indices were consequently improved. Silybin supplementation can thus serve as an effective therapeutical tool in dogs with hepatopathies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-021-02929-3.

Science and Healthy Meals in the World: Nutritional Epigenomics and Nutrigenetics of the Mediterranean Diet

The Mediterranean Diet (MD), UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, has become a scientific topic of high interest due to its health benefits. The aim of this review is to pick up selected studies that report nutrigenomic or nutrigenetic data and recapitulate some of the biochemical/genomic/genetic aspects involved in the positive health effects of the MD. These include (i) the antioxidative potential of its constituents with protective effects against several diseases; (ii) the epigenetic and epigenomic effects exerted by food components, such as Indacaxanthin, Sulforaphane, and 3-Hydroxytyrosol among others, and their involvement in the modulation of miRNA expression; (iii) the existence of predisposing or protective human genotypes due to allelic diversities and the impact of the MD on disease risk. A part of the review is dedicated to the nutrigenomic effects of the main cooking methods used in the MD and also to a comparative analysis of the nutrigenomic properties of the MD and other diet regimens and non-MD-related aliments. Taking all the data into account, the traditional MD emerges as a diet with a high antioxidant and nutrigenomic modulation power, which is an example of the “Environment-Livings-Environment” relationship and an excellent patchwork of interconnected biological actions working toward human health.

Evidences on Molecules Most Frequently Included in Canine and Feline Complementary Feed to Support Liver Function

Numerous complementary feeds to support liver function are commercially available for small animals. Aiming to furnish a scientific support for clinicians/nutritionists that necessitate a complementary feed to support liver function in dogs and cats, with the present paper, we analyzed scientific evidences supporting the use, for this purpose, of ingredients/additives such as artichoke (Cynara scolymus), curcumin, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), phosphatidylcholine, and S-adenosylmethionine. Although sustained by significant results, our review found only few scientific papers, and albeit we believe that they represent a significant aid in handling hepatopathies, in the authors' opinion, this topic probably deserves, and would benefit of, further studies.

Interplay between Neuroendocrine Biomarkers and Gut Microbiota in Dogs Supplemented with Grape Proanthocyanidins: Results of Dietary Intervention Study

Simple Summary

The connection between animal health and gut microbiota has been studied during the past years through different diet modulation experiments; however, there is still a paucity of information about the prebiotic functions in the gastrointestinal tract of companion animals. Considering this, a population of dogs living in the same environment has been subjected to a nutritional study, with different doses of proanthocyanidins extracted from grapevine supplied to the diet. Characterization of the gut microbiota and data from endocrine analysis in saliva have been collected. Dogs responded differently to the dietary intervention, and results underlined the existence of a difference between subjects in terms of fecal microorganisms and neuroendocrine markers, leading us to think the balance of gut microbiota is going to play a strong role in diet formulation based on host health modulation.

Abstract

Several studies on the interaction between gut microbiota and diets, including prebiotics, have been reported in dogs, but no data are available about the effects of dietary administration of grape proanthocyanidins. In the study, 24 healthy adult dogs of different breeds were recruited and divided in 3 groups of 8 subjects each. A group was fed with a control diet (D0), whilst the others were supplemented with 1 (D1) or 3 (D3) mg/kg live weight of grape proanthocyanidins. Samples of feces were collected at the beginning and after 14 and 28 days for microbiota, short chain fatty acid, and lactic acid analysis. Serotonin and cortisol were measured in saliva, collected at the beginning of the study and after 28 days. A significantly higher abundance (p < 0.01) of Enterococcus and Adlercreutzia were observed in D0, whilst Escherichia and Eubacterium were higher in D1. Fusobacterium and Phascolarctobacterium were higher (p < 0.01) in D3. Salivary serotonin increased (p < 0.01) at T28 for D1 and D3 groups but cortisol did not vary. Proanthocyanidins administration influenced the fecal microbiota and neuroendocrine response of dogs, but a high variability of taxa was observed, suggesting a uniqueness and stability of fecal microbiota related to the individual.

Effects of Silymarin on the In Vivo Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin and Its Active Metabolite in Rats

Herein, the effect of silymarin pretreatment on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin in rats was evaluated. To ensure the accuracy of the results, a rapid and sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous quantification of simvastatin (SV) and its active metabolite simvastatin acid (SVA). This method was applied for studying the pharmacokinetic interactions in rats after oral co-administration of silymarin (45 mg/kg) and different concentrations of SV. The major pharmacokinetic parameters, including Cmax, tmax, t_1/2, mean residence time (MRT), elimination rate constant (λz) and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC_0-12h), were calculated using the non-compartmental model. The results showed that the co-administration of silymarin and SV significantly increased the Cmax and AUC_0-12h of SVA compared with SV alone, while there was no significant difference with regards to Tmax and t_1/2. However, SV pharmacokinetic parameters were not significantly affected by silymarin pretreatment. Therefore, these changes indicated that drug-drug interactions may occur after co-administration of silymarin and SV.

Oxidative Stress and Nutraceuticals in the Modulation of the Immune Function: Current Knowledge in Animals of Veterinary Interest

In the veterinary sector, many papers deal with the relationships between inflammation and oxidative stress. However, few studies investigate the mechanisms of action of oxidised molecules in the regulation of immune cells. Thus, authors often assume that these events, sometime leading to oxidative stress, are conserved among species. The aim of this review is to draw the state-of-the-art of the current knowledge about the role of oxidised molecules and dietary antioxidant compounds in the regulation of the immune cell functions and suggest some perspectives for future investigations in animals of veterinary interest.