Research on Functional Foods for Canine Health

· by Glendon Lloyd Dip.Canine.Nutrition Dip.Dog.Nutrigenomics

Research Studies on Functional Foods for Dogs' Health Benefits

Functional Foods for Dogs – Impact and Outcomes on Health

This article explores the significant role of functional foods in enhancing the health and well-being of dogs. It delves into how these foods interact with the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome, a critical component in nutrient digestion and absorption, and its influence on overall canine health. It reviews various types of functional foods, including probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and phytonutrients, detailing their mechanisms and impacts on canine physiology. It highlights their benefits in managing gut microbiome health, improving immune function, reducing inflammation, and addressing chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, musculoskeletal disorders, cognitive decline, and eye health. The comprehensive review underscores the potential of tailored functional food-based diets to optimise canine health and calls for further research using multi-omics approaches to develop personalised nutrition plans for dogs.

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary of Research on Functional Foods for Canine Health

The research piece “Perspectives on functional foods for improvement of canine health and treatment of diseases” explores the role of functional foods in enhancing canine health and treating diseases through their impact on the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome. This detailed summary provides in-depth insights into the findings across various aspects of dog physiology influenced by these foods.

Key Functional Foods and Their Mechanisms

Probiotics

Mechanisms: Probiotics introduce beneficial live microorganisms into the canine gut, primarily from Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Bacillus and Enterococcus species. These microbes:

  • Adhere to GI tract cells: They colonise the gut lining, ensuring stability and beneficial interactions.
  • Produce antimicrobial compounds: Lactic acid, bacteriocins, and hydrogen peroxide inhibit pathogenic bacteria.
  • Competitive inhibition: They outcompete harmful bacteria for resources and space.

Impact:

Studies:

  • Supplementation with strains like Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, Bacillus velenzis (Calsporin®) and Saccharomyces boulardii has demonstrated improved clinical and histological scores in dogs with IBD.

Prebiotics and Synbiotics

Mechanisms: Prebiotics are indigestible fibres that selectively stimulate the growth of beneficial gut bacteria. Common prebiotics include FOS, MOS, inulin, and lactosucrose. Synbiotics combine probiotics and prebiotics to enhance their synergistic effects.

Impact:

  • Gut Microbiota: Promote the growth of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
  • SCFAs Production: Increase the production of SCFAs (butyrate, propionate, acetate) which are crucial for gut health and energy metabolism.
  • Stool Quality: Improve stool consistency and reduce faecal water content and pH.
  • Immune Response: Enhance immune function by stimulating gut-associated lymphoid tissue.

Studies:

  • Prebiotic supplementation with inulin and FOS has been shown to reduce faecal ammonia concentration, improve stool quality, and enhance the production of beneficial SCFAs.

Postbiotics

Mechanisms: Postbiotics are non-viable microbial products, including SCFAs, peptidoglycan, and teichoic acids. They confer health benefits through their metabolic products and cell wall components.

Impact:

  • Metabolic Regulation: SCFAs like acetate and butyrate regulate metabolism, insulin secretion, and maintain intestinal homeostasis.
  • Immune Modulation: Peptidoglycans and teichoic acids modulate immune responses and reduce inflammation.

Studies:

  • Supplementation with butyrate has shown benefits in maintaining intestinal health and reducing inflammation in dogs with chronic enteropathies.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs)

Mechanisms: PUFAs, including Omega-3 (EPA, DHA) and Omega-6 (linoleic acid, arachidonic acid) fatty acids, are essential for various physiological functions.

Impact:

Studies:

Phytonutrients

Mechanisms: Phytonutrients include carotenoids, polyphenols, and phytosterols, which provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-carcinogenic properties.

Impact:

  • Antioxidant Properties: Carotenoids (β-carotene, lutein) and polyphenols (flavonoids, stilbenes) reduce oxidative stress.
  • Anti-inflammatory Effects: Phytosterols and polyphenols reduce inflammation and support immune function.
  • Chronic Disease Prevention: Help in managing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer.

Studies:

  • Resveratrol and flavonoids like quercetin have shown to improve cardiovascular health by reducing platelet aggregation and oxidative stress.

Impact on Canine Health

Gut Microbiome and GI Diseases

Mechanisms: Functional foods positively impact the gut microbiome by increasing the diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria and reducing pathogenic strains. This balance is crucial for managing chronic enteropathies and IBD.

Impact:

  • Microbiome Diversity: Higher diversity in beneficial bacteria such as Blautia spp., Faecalibacterium spp., and Fusobacterium spp..
  • Disease Management: Improved gut health leads to better management of chronic GI diseases.

Studies:

  • Dogs with IBD show significant improvements with diets rich in probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics, demonstrating reduced symptoms and improved gut microbiome profiles.

Diabetes and Insulin Sensitivity

Mechanisms: Functional foods, especially probiotics and prebiotics, improve insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative stress, and modulate glucose metabolism.

Impact:

  • Glucose Tolerance: Enhanced by probiotics like Bifidobacterium spp. and prebiotics such as inulin (from Chicory root).
  • Insulin Sensitivity: Improved by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress.

Studies:

  • Plant-based compounds like the herbs, rosemary and basil, have shown to lower blood glucose levels and improve insulin secretion in diabetic dogs.

Cardiovascular Health

Mechanisms: PUFAs, phytosterols, and phytonutrients support cardiovascular health by reducing cholesterol, triglycerides, and preventing blood clot formation.

Impact:

  • Lipid Profile: Improved by reducing serum cholesterol and triglycerides.
  • Anti-inflammatory Effects: PUFAs reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.

Studies:

  • Fish oil (algal/seaweed oil) supplementation has shown to improve heart health, reduce arrhythmias, and enhance overall cardiovascular function in dogs.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Mechanisms: Functional foods like fish oil, curcumin, and avocado and soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) reduce inflammation and support joint health.

Impact:

  • Joint Health: Improved by reducing inflammation and promoting cartilage synthesis.
  • Pain Alleviation: Reduced joint pain and improved mobility in dogs with osteoarthritis.

Studies:

  • Supplementation with fish oil and curcumin has shown significant improvements in joint health and reduced symptoms of osteoarthritis in dogs.

Cognitive Health

Mechanisms: Antioxidant-rich diets and supplements like DHA, EPA, and MCT improve cognitive function by reducing oxidative stress and supporting brain health.

Impact:

  • Cognitive Function: Enhanced memory, learning, and visuospatial function in aging dogs.
  • Behavioural Improvement: Reduced symptoms of cognitive dysfunction and improved interaction with owners.

Studies:

  • Supplementation with antioxidant-rich diets combined with behavioural therapy has shown significant improvements in cognitive function and delayed onset of cognitive dysfunction in older dogs.

Eye Health (Visual Acuity)

Mechanisms: Certain nutrients are crucial for maintaining and improving eye health in canines. These include PUFAs, particularly DHA, and antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E.

Impact:

  • Visual Development: DHA is vital for retinal development and maintaining visual acuity.
  • Oxidative Stress Reduction: Antioxidants protect the eyes from oxidative damage, reducing the risk of cataracts and other eye conditions.

Studies:

  • Diets enriched with DHA have shown to improve retinal function and visual acuity in puppies and adult dogs. Antioxidant supplementation has been associated with reduced progression of age-related ocular diseases.

Conclusion

The research highlights the significant potential of integrating functional foods into canine diets for improving overall health and managing various diseases. The impact of these foods on the gut microbiome is particularly crucial, as it directly influences canine health. Future research should focus on multi-omics approaches to develop tailored functional foods based on individual microbiome profiles. This approach can establish standardised guidelines for optimal canine nutrition and health management.

Bonza Superfoods and Ancient Grains, a dry vegan dog food, has been specifically formulated by veterinary canine nutritionists as a functional food for dogs with the aim of providing your dog with the nutrients and nutraceuticals, as identified by science, to provide your dog with the very best preventative (and curative) support for their health.

This exceptional functional dog food includes:

  • DHAgold® – Premium source of Omega-3 with EPA, DHA and DPA (and astaxanthin, chlorophyll, beta-carotene and plant-based sterols)
  • Calsporin® – Clinically researched spore-forming probiotic chosen for its stability and resilience in surviving processing and the harsh gut environment as well as its powerful benefits.
  • TruPet® – Clinically researched postbiotic
  • PhytoPlus® – A proprietary blend of phytonutrients with bioactive anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits
  • MCT (medium chain triglycerides) – Virgin Coconut Oil provides a rich source of MCT’s
  • Inulin and Baobab – considered the gold standard of prebiotics
  • Turmeric – provides full spectrum of curcuminoids
  • Rosemary and Basil

You may be interested in reading the article, Best Vegan Dog Food for Health – The Analysis, which covers the most likely health issues dogs are likely to face in their life and the ingredients, nutrients and supplements that can help to prevent and support them with these issues.

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The Healthiest Vegan Dog Food

About Glendon Lloyd Dip.Canine.Nutrition Dip.Dog.Nutrigenomics

I have had dogs from the day I was born. Much to my Mum's amusement, my Dad bought home Zetta, a beautiful corgi puppy , as his contribution to our new family!

Fast forward to 2018 and Catherine, my wife, and one of our dogs Poppy, were both diagnosed and treated for cancer within months of each other

Diet and its impact on health, cancer particularly, led me down a rabbit hole of discovery.

I consumed information voraciously - on our diets, our dogs' diets and the impact these have not just on health but also the health of our increasingly fragile planet.

I was humbled by the time and expertise given so freely by doctors and vets, canine nutritionists and scientists, academics and agronomists. The more I learned the more I understood there had to be a better way to improve not just our health but also our dogs and the planet's.

The result of my trip down that rabbit hole is Bonza, a plant-based dog food (and now supplements) that elevate our dogs' diet beyond simple nutrition to a diet that inspires a healthier everyday life for our dogs and the planet.

I am continually researching the nutritional impact our dogs' diets have on their health and wellbeing and the ingredients and nutrients we should include in, and exclude from, their food to deliver longer, healthier lives.

I am delighted that my trip down the rabbit hole has led to me completing a Diploma in Canine Nutrigenomics and a Diploma in Canine Nutrition being awarded a Distinction for both my coursework and theses!

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