Feeding Fiber-Bound Polyphenol Ingredients at Different Levels Modulates Colonic Postbiotics to Improve Gut Health in Dogs

The Role of Plant Extracts in Enhancing Nutrition and Health for Dogs and Cats: Safety, Benefits, and Applications

Plant extracts, derived from various natural sources, encompass primary and secondary metabolites, which include plant polysaccharides, polyphenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, terpenes, and volatile oils. These compounds exhibit a range of biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial functions. Currently, polyphenols and other bioactive compounds are being incorporated into the diets of farm animals, fish, and pets to promote health benefits. Despite this, the application and potential of plant extracts in canine and feline nutrition have not been comprehensively explored. Many aspects of the mechanisms underlying the action of these plant metabolites remain to be analyzed and elucidated. Furthermore, leveraging natural plant extracts for the treatment of clinical conditions in dogs and cats is a crucial component of clinical nutrition. Consequently, this review aims to highlight the impact of plant extracts on overall health, gastrointestinal health, immune health, cardiovascular health, redox balance, and pathology in dogs and cats.

Insights into the interplay between gut microbiota and lipid metabolism in the obesity management of canines and felines

Obesity is a prevalent chronic disease that has significant negative impacts on humans and our companion animals, including dogs and cats. Obesity occurs with multiple comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and osteoarthritis in dogs and cats. A direct link between lipid metabolism dysregulation and obesity-associated diseases has been implicated. However, the understanding of such pathophysiology in companion animals is limited. This review aims to address the role of lipid metabolism in various metabolic disorders associated with obesity, emphasizing the involvement of the gut microbiota. Furthermore, we also discuss the management of obesity, including approaches like nutritional interventions, thus providing novel insights into obesity prevention and treatment for canines and felines.

Dietary polyphenols represent a phytotherapeutic alternative for gut dysbiosis associated neurodegeneration: A systematic review

Globally, neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular disease are common and growing causes of morbidity and mortality. Pathophysiology of this group of diseases encompasses various factors from oxidative stress to gut microbial dysbiosis. The study of the etiology and mechanisms of oxidative stress as well as gut dysbiosis-induced neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, autism spectrum disorder, and Huntington's disease has recently received a lot of attention. Numerous studies lend credence to the notion that changes in the intestinal microbiota and enteric neuroimmune system have an impact on the initiation and severity of these diseases. The prebiotic role of polyphenols can influence the makeup of the gut microbiota in neurodegenerative disorders by modulating intracellular signalling pathways. Metabolites of polyphenols function directly as neurotransmitters by crossing the blood-brain barrier or indirectly via influencing the cerebrovascular system. This assessment aims to bring forth an interlink between the consumption of polyphenols biotransformed by gut microbiota which in turn modulate the gut microbial diversity and biochemical changes in the brain. This systematic review will further augment research towards the association of dietary polyphenols in the management of gut dysbiosis-associated neurodegenerative diseases.

Microbiota of healthy dogs demonstrate a significant decrease in richness and changes in specific bacterial groups in response to supplementation with resistant starch, but not psyllium or methylcellulose, in a randomized cross-over trial

Even though dietary fibres are often used as prebiotic supplements in dogs, the effect of individual types of fibres on canine microbiota composition is unknown. The objective of this study was to assess changes in faecal microbiota richness, diversity and taxonomic abundance with three different fibre supplements in dogs. These were psyllium husk, resistant starch from banana flour and methylcellulose. They were administered to 17 healthy dogs in a cross-over trial after transition to the same complete feed. Faecal scores and clinical activity indices were recorded, and faecal samples were collected before and at the end of supplementation, as well as 2 weeks after each supplement (washout). Illumina NovaSeq paired-end 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on all samples. After quality control and chimera removal, alpha diversity indices were calculated with QIIME. Differences in specific taxa between groups were identified using Metastats. Methylcellulose significantly increased faecal scores but had no effect on microbiota. Psyllium resulted in minor changes in the abundance of specific taxa, but with questionable biological significance. Resistant starch reduced microbiota richness and resulted in the most abundant changes in taxa, mostly a reduction in short-chain fatty acid-producing genera of the phylum Bacillota, with an increase in genera within the Bacteroidota, Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota and Saccharibacteria. In conclusion, while psyllium and methylcellulose led to few changes in the microbiota composition, the taxonomic changes seen with resistant starch may indicate a less favourable composition. Based on this, the type of resistant starch used here cannot be recommended as a prebiotic in dogs.

Prediction Equations for In Vitro Ileal Disappearance of Dry Matter and Crude Protein Based on Chemical Composition in Dog Diets

The aims of this study were to determine in vitro ileal disappearance (IVID) of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in commercial dog diets and to develop equations for predicting the IVID of DM and CP in dog diets based on chemical composition. Eighteen commercial dog diets were analyzed for IVID of DM and CP using a two-step in vitro procedure for dogs. The diet samples in flasks with digestive enzymes were incubated for 2 h and 4 h to simulate digestion in the stomach and the small intestine, respectively. The contents of CP, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and ash in the diets ranged from 14.4 to 42.5%, 3.5 to 23.5%, 6.4 to 34.6%, and 4.9 to 10.0%, respectively, on an as-is basis. The NDF contents were negatively correlated with the IVID of DM and CP (r = -0.73 and r = -0.62, respectively; p < 0.05). The most suitable prediction equations for the IVID of DM and CP in the dog diets were: IVID of DM (%) = 81.33 + 0.46 × CP - 0.77 × NDF, R² = 0.78; IVID of CP (%) = 81.25 + 0.33 × CP - 0.49 × NDF, R² = 0.64, where all nutrients were in % on an as-is basis. In conclusion, dry matter and protein utilization of dog diets based on in vitro digestibility assays can be estimated fairly well using protein and fiber concentrations as independent variables.

The effect of age and processing on the in vitro fermentation of fibrous feedstuffs by labrador retriever dogs

Dietary fibre substances in dog foods are composed of cell wall polysaccharides, non-cellulose polysaccharides, and structural non-polysaccharides. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of dog age and heat-steam pressure (extruding process) on the in vitro fermentation of fibrous feedstuffs (sugar beet pulp, tomato pomace, wheat bran, corn bran, and rice bran) to be included in dog foods. The fibrous feedstuffs were incubated with a fermentation medium mixture and faeces inoculum, which were collected from two 6 month old (puppy), two 2 year old (adult), and two 8 year old (geriatric) dogs. The in vitro cumulative gas production (at 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 h), true-organic matter disappearance (T-OMd) (at 6, 12, 24, and 48 h), and molarities of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (acetic, propionic, and butyric acids; AA, PA, and BA) in fermentation fluid (at 24 h) of fibrous feedstuffs were determined. The extruding process increased the in vitro cumulative gas production of rice bran (at 12, 18, 24, and 48 h) and wheat bran (at 6, 12, 24, and 36 h) (P < 0.05). In addition, in vitro cumulative gas production values of tomato pomace (at 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 h) were reduced by the extruding process (P < 0.05). The extruding process increased the in vitro T-OMd values of sugar beet pulp (at 6, 12, and 24 h), wheat and rice bran (at 6 and 12 h), and the molarities of AA, BA, and total SCFA of the in vitro fermentation fluid of sugar beet pulp and wheat bran (P < 0.05). The in vitro cumulative gas production values of tomato pomace from faecal inoculums of the puppy and adult dogs were higher than that of the geriatric dog (P < 0.05). The in vitro T-OMd of sugar beet pulp (at 48 h) and extruded corn bran (at 6 h) with faecal inoculums of adult dog was higher than those of inoculum from puppy faeces (P < 0.05). The molarity of AA of tomato pomace with adult dog's faecal inoculum was higher than those from puppy and geriatric dog (P < 0.05). The molarities of AA, BA, and total SCFA with corn bran from faeces inoculums of the puppy and adult dog was higher than that of the geriatric dog (P < 0.05). The molarities of AA and total SCFA of the in vitro fermentation fluid of extruded rice bran with faecal inoculums from the geriatric dogs was higher than those with faecal inoculums from the puppy and adult dogs (P < 0.05). As a result, the extruding process positively affected the in vitro fermentation values of sugar beet pulp, wheat bran, and rice bran. Furthermore, the organic acid molarities of the in vitro fermentation fluid of extruded rice bran from the geriatric dog was higher than those from the puppy and adult dogs. Sugar beet pulp, tomato pomace, wheat bran, and corn bran can be used as a source of fibre in food for puppy, adult, and geriatric large dogs.

A Diet Supplemented with Polyphenols, Prebiotics and Omega-3 Fatty Acids Modulates the Intestinal Microbiota and Improves the Profile of Metabolites Linked with Anxiety in Dogs

Simple Summary

This study used a nutrition-based approach to examine the effects of foods supplemented with fish oil and a polyphenol blend (citrus pulp, carrot, and spinach) with or without added tomato pomace on anxiety-related biomarkers in dogs. First, all dogs consumed the same initial food, then either the control or test (with tomato pomace) foods, then the washout food, then switched over to the test or control foods, each for 30-day periods. Many more changes in plasma and fecal metabolites were observed when comparing the washout food with the control or test foods than when the control and test foods were compared. Plasma levels of several metabolites that were previously associated with anxiety disorders, including 4-ethylphenyl sulfate, were decreased with the control or test foods compared with the washout food. In addition, bacterial genera that are decreased in the feces of those with anxiety-like disorders were increased following the consumption of the control or test foods. Overall, these data indicate that foods supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids and selected fiber and polyphenol sources lead to beneficial changes in anxiety-related metabolites and gut bacteria.

Abstract

A nutrition-based approach was utilized to examine the effects of fish oil and a polyphenol blend (with or without tomato pomace) on the fecal microbiota and plasma/fecal metabolomes. Forty dogs, aged 5–14 years, were fed a washout food, then randomized to consume a control (fish oil and polyphenol blend without tomato pomace) or test (fish oil and polyphenol blend with tomato pomace) food, then the washout food, and crossed over to consume the test or control food; each for 30 days. Several metabolites differed when comparing consumption of the washout with either the control or test foods, but few changed significantly between the test and control foods. Plasma levels of 4-ethylphenyl sulfate (4-EPS), a metabolite associated with anxiety disorders, demonstrated the largest decrease between the washout food and the control/test foods. Plasma 4-EPS levels were also significantly lower after dogs ate the test food compared with the control food. Other plasma metabolites linked with anxiety disorders were decreased following consumption of the control/test foods. Significant increases in Blautia, Parabacteroides, and Odoribacter in the fecal microbiota correlated with decreases in 4-EPS when dogs ate the control/test foods. These data indicate that foods supplemented with polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids can modulate the gut microbiota to improve the profile of anxiety-linked metabolites.

Feeding Fiber-Bound Polyphenol Ingredients at Different Levels Modulates Colonic Postbiotics to Improve Gut Health in Cats

Simple Summary

Food eaten by humans or companion animals is broken down by enzymes produced by the host and also by bacteria present in the large intestine of the host. Many of the compounds produced can have beneficial effects on the host’s health. Previous studies in dogs evaluated changes after they ate food containing a fiber bundle made of pecan shells, flax seed, and powders from cranberry, citrus, and beet. These studies showed that bacteria in the large intestine switched from digesting mainly protein to digesting mainly carbohydrates resulting in production of compounds with beneficial properties. The study presented here tested this fiber bundle in cats to see which compounds and/or bacteria in the feces changed. After cats consumed food containing the fiber bundle, several compounds associated with beneficial health effects increased, and some compounds that indicate the breakdown of protein decreased. In contrast, little change in fecal bacteria was observed following consumption of food with the fiber bundle. Overall, these findings indicate that, similar to the dog studies, bacteria in the large intestine of cats were able to digest the fiber bundle to make compounds that may contribute to host health and also shifted to digestion of carbohydrates instead of protein.

Abstract

Consumption of fiber in its different forms can result in positive health effects. Prior studies in dogs found that addition of a fiber bundle (composed of pecan shells, flax seed, and powders of cranberry, citrus, and beet) to food resulted in a shift in fecal bacterial metabolism from proteolysis to saccharolysis. The present study evaluated the changes in fecal metabolites and microbiota in healthy cats following the consumption of this fiber bundle. Following a 28-day pre-feed period, 56 healthy adult cats received food with none or one of three concentrations (0%, 1%, 2%, and 4%) of the fiber bundle for a 31-day period. In cats that consumed the 4% fiber bundle, levels of ammonium and fecal branched-chain fatty acids (BCFAs) decreased from baseline and compared with the other groups. Addition of any level of the fiber bundle resulted in increases in beneficial metabolites: polyphenols hesperidin, hesperetin, ponciretin, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, secoisolariciresinol, and enterodiol. Little change in fecal microbiota was observed. Since higher levels of ammonia and BCFAs indicate putrefactive metabolism, the decreases in these with the 4% fiber bundle indicate a shift toward saccharolytic metabolism despite little change in the microbiota composition.