Dennis Jewell - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Dennis Jewell
The FASEB Journal
As in other mammals, domestic cats have specific taste preferences that can be influenced by macr... more As in other mammals, domestic cats have specific taste preferences that can be influenced by macronutrient composition and physical characteristics of food as well as the presence or absence of spe...
Animals
One of the liver functions is copper storage, which can be toxic when in excess. The objective of... more One of the liver functions is copper storage, which can be toxic when in excess. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the relationship between hepatic copper and pathology conditions in stored samples from 55 post-mortem dogs (37 Beagles, 12 Labrador Retrievers, and 6 Labrador Mixes). The analyses evaluated data from blood chemistry and complete blood count (CBC) that were measured immediately before euthanasia, and liver biopsies which were harvested at necropsy and frozen at −80 °C. Slides for microscopic evaluation were prepared, and liver copper and plasma metabolites were measured. Hepatic copper was correlated (p ≤ 0.001) with monoacylglycerols, 13-HODE + 9-HODE (13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid + 9-hydroxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid), and stearoyl-arachidonoyl-glycerophosphocholine. This indicates lipid metabolism modification and cell membrane oxidation. However, hepatic copper was not related to liver histopathology severity or altered liver biomar...
Animals
The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased ... more The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased water intake, thus lowering the risk of urolithiasis in cats. Twelve healthy adult cats were fed pre-trial standard dry maintenance food for 1 week and then randomized into two groups for the study phase. The cats continued to receive the same food but were provided either control (deionized) water or viscous (1% methylcellulose) water for two months and then switched to the other water type for two months in a cross-over study design with repeated measures. Complete blood counts, serum chemistry profiles, and urinalysis were performed at the initiation of the study and again at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months. Daily water consumption and energy intake for each cat were recorded. Body weights were assessed weekly. Cats consuming 1% methylcellulose water with increased viscosity had increased water intake (p < 0.001; 25% and 21% higher at 28 and 56 days, respectively). Increased consumption of w...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives Evaluate the interaction of dietary betaine and two different sources of dietary polyu... more Objectives Evaluate the interaction of dietary betaine and two different sources of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): alpha-linolenate (ALA) and combined eicosapentaenoate (EPA) and docosahexaenoate (DHA) on subsequent circulating single carbon metabolism and metabolomics. Methods This study was a complete factorial with or without added betaine and 3 levels of PUFA. Sixty four dogs with an average age of 5.9 years (range 1–12) were used in this study. All dogs were assigned to a prefeed period (14 days), then assigned to one of the six treatment foods: control (0.05% betaine, no measurable EPA or DHA, and 0.25% 18 : 3 omega 3), control with 0.81% ALA (flaxseed used to increase ALA), control with 0.47% betaine and 0.85% ALA (flax added to increase ALA), control with 0.28% EPA&DHA combined (added fish oil as a source), control plus 0.55% betaine and 0.28% EPA&DHA (fish oil added as a source), and control with 0.58% betaine. All treatment foods were fed for sixty days. Blood...
Microorganisms
Age-related changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with the increased risk ... more Age-related changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with the increased risk of detrimental conditions also seen with age. This study evaluated whether a test food with potential anti-aging benefits results in favorable changes in plasma and fecal metabolites and the fecal microbiota in senior cats. Forty healthy domestic cats aged 8.3–13.5 years were fed a washout food for 30 days, then control or test food for 30 days. After another 30-day washout, cats were switched to the other study food for 30 days. Assessment of plasma and fecal metabolites showed lower levels of metabolites associated with detrimental processes (e.g., uremic toxins) and higher levels of metabolites associated with beneficial processes (e.g., tocopherols) after cats consumed the test food compared with the control food. A shift toward proteolysis with the control food is supported by higher levels of amino acid metabolites and lower levels of carbohydrate metabolites. Operational taxonomic...
Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, 2021
Simple Summary Increasing water intake and decreasing urine concentration are recommended for cat... more Simple Summary Increasing water intake and decreasing urine concentration are recommended for cats that form stony concretions in the bladder or urinary tract. The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased water intake in cats by taking advantage of the unique anatomy of the cat’s tongue. Cats delicately dip their tongue into water, pull their tongues back up to their mouths, and capture the water that follows. Lapping occurs by fluid adhesion to the dorsal part of the tongue’s tip and by lifting a liquid column through the tongue’s upward motion before jaw closure. Cats have the ability to balance gravity and water surface tension to ingest the maximum amount of water per lap. This observation led us to question whether changing the properties of water in a way that allows cats to lift more water per lap is possible. Increasing the viscosity of water was accomplished with 1% methylcellulose, an ingredient that is palatable to cats....
Microorganisms
The objective of this study was to assess whether diets with increased resistant starch (RS) had ... more The objective of this study was to assess whether diets with increased resistant starch (RS) had a positive effect on markers of colonic health in dogs. Three identical diets were extruded with high, medium and low shear (HS, MS and LS) to incrementally increase RS, and fed to 24 dogs in a replicated 3 × 3 William’s Latin square design for 28-day periods. Fasting blood and fresh feces were collected on the last week of each period. Fecal quality was maintained among treatments. Gut integrity markers were measured by ELISA. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured by LC MS/MS. In addition, the microbiota of dogs was determined from fresh feces by 16s rRNA high throughput sequencing. Untargeted metabolomics of both feces and serum were determined by UPLC. Data were analyzed using mixed models. There were no treatment effects on satiety hormones or gut integrity markers. Dogs fed LS or MS diets had marginal evidence (p < 0.10) for decreased fecal pH and for higher concent...
Animals
This study was designed to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on the glutathione status in... more This study was designed to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on the glutathione status in healthy adult dogs. Following a 15 month baseline period during which dogs were fed a food containing no alpha-lipoic acid, dogs were randomly allocated into four groups. Groups were then fed a nutritionally complete and balanced food with either 0, 75, 150 or 300 ppm of alpha-lipoic acid added for 6 months. Evaluations included physical examination, body weight, food intake, hematology, serum biochemistry profile and measurements of glutathione in plasma and erythrocyte lysates. Throughout, blood parameters remained within reference ranges, dogs were healthy and body weight did not change significantly. A significant increase of 0.05 ng/mL of total glutathione in red blood cell (RBC) lysate for each 1 mg/kg bodyweight/day increase in a-LA intake was observed. In addition, a significant increase was observed for GSH, GSSG and total glutathione in RBC lysate at Month 6. We conclude that ...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives The relationship between gut microbiome and obesity is known; this study focused on gu... more Objectives The relationship between gut microbiome and obesity is known; this study focused on gut microbiome changes during weight loss in obese dogs fed three different foods Methods Control and two test foods formulated with a mean of 3153 kcals/kg SD ± 107.8. All foods were similar in their as fed protein (30.7% SD ± 0.73), carbohydrate (32.0% ±1.25) and fat (11.7% ±0.86) levels but differed in crude fiber (CF), total dietary fiber (TDF) and n-3FAs. Soluble: insoluble fiber (SF: IF) and n-3FAs: n-6FAs ratio were 0.13 and 0.07 in control and 0.27 and 0.62 in test foods. The study used 22 healthy adult dogs except their obese condition with a fat mass of >37% in a cross-over design. Control food was fed in pre-feed (28d) and washout period (28d) and two test foods were fed during treatment phases (phase 1 and 2, 56d each). All dogs were fed based on their body weight. DEXA was performed at the end of pre-feed, phase 1 and phase 2. Fecal samples were collected at the end of pre-...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives Inflammation is a key component in the initiation and progression of chronic kidney di... more Objectives Inflammation is a key component in the initiation and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can contribute to renal fibrosis and a gradual loss of renal function. Inflammasomes are multiprotein immune complexes and their activation contributes to inflammation. While inflammasome-related protein including NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) is important in acute and chronic kidney disorders in rodent models, the role of inflammasomes in renal disorders in canines is not clear. Methods We assessed gene expression levels of inflammatory markers, in the blood of dogs clinically diagnosed with CKD, post-mortem. Pathology reports indicated interstitial inflammation, fibrosis, and thickening of the Bowman's capsule. RNA was extracted from blood collected at necropsy from dogs with CKD (n = 6; 11–15 yr) and controls (n = 6; 10–14 yr). Gene expression was investigated using the NanoString nCounter® platform, and results analyzed using the nSol...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives Aging is characterized by increased blood concentrations of several age-related host a... more Objectives Aging is characterized by increased blood concentrations of several age-related host and microbial metabolites associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various fiber sources on age-related metabolites and the gut microbiome in senior cats. Methods Forty cats between the age of 8 and 14 were fed a pretrial food for 4 weeks and then randomly assigned to receive a control or a test food for 4 weeks each. The test food contained 1.3% crude fiber mainly from oat groats, broccoli powder, pea and tomato pomace. The control food contained 1.4% crude fiber mainly from whole wheat, beet pulp, flax seed and oat fiber. Cats were given the pretrial food again as a washout for 4 weeks before the crossover was performed. Cats initially fed the test food were then switched to the control food for remaining 4 weeks. Similarly, cats fed the control food were switched to the test food for 4 weeks. Blood, urine and fecal samples were colle...
Metabolites
The objective was to determine the effects of feeding different fiber sources to cats with chroni... more The objective was to determine the effects of feeding different fiber sources to cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared with healthy cats (both n = 10) on fecal metabolites. A cross-over within split-plot study design was performed using healthy and CKD cats (IRIS stage 1, 2, and 3). After cats were fed a complete and balanced dry food designed to aid in the management of renal disease for 14 days during a pre-trial period, they were randomly assigned to two fiber treatments for 4 weeks each. The treatment foods were formulated similar to pre-trial food and contained 0.500% betaine, 0.586% oat beta glucan, and either 0.407% short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) fiber or 3.44% apple pomace. Both treatment foods had similar crude fiber (2.0 and 2.1% for scFOS and apple pomace, respectively) whereas soluble fiber was 0.8 and 1.6%, respectively. At baseline, CKD had very little impact on the fecal metabolome. After feeding both fiber sources, some fecal metabolite concentr...
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Forty Eight cats were used to measure the effects of feeding a traditional adult cat food supplem... more Forty Eight cats were used to measure the effects of feeding a traditional adult cat food supplemented with either arachidonic acid (ARA), a botanical mix (botanicals) or both on circulating biochemical parameters and inflammatory cytokines. The cats were healthy adults (mean age, 3.0; range, 1.3–6.4 years). The adult cats were fed one of four foods (n = 12 per group) for 84 days (dietary changes reported as fed): a traditional adult cat food (control, 0.05% ARA no added botanicals), or control food supplemented with arachidonic acid from chicken liver (0.13% ARA when supplemented), control food supplemented with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%), and control plus ARA (0.13% as fed) with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%). Response variables were compared between treatments: initially, and at 84 days (end of study). The measurements were standard complete blood counts and chemistries as well as circulating cytokines. Botanical...
Metabolites
Renal diets are recommended for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study examined the e... more Renal diets are recommended for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study examined the effects of foods with added betaine and fiber on the plasma and fecal metabolome and fecal microbiome in dogs with early stage CKD. At baseline, several metabolites differed between healthy dogs and those with CKD. Dogs with CKD (n = 28) received a control food, low soluble fiber plus betaine food (0.5% betaine, 0.39% oat beta-glucan, and 0.27% short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS)), or high soluble fiber plus betaine food (0.5% betaine, 0.59% oat beta-glucan, and 0.41% scFOS) each for 10 weeks in different sequences. Consumption of test foods led to several favorable, significant changes in the plasma metabolome, including decreases of several uremic toxins and other deleterious metabolites, and increases in favorable metabolites compared with the control food. Only 7 fecal metabolites significantly changed with consumption of the test foods compared with the control food, largely i...
Animals
There is a normal variation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the foods consumed both by t... more There is a normal variation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the foods consumed both by the domestic cat and wild felines. This variation may lead to specific changes in metabolites and circulating fatty acids that influence health and response to disease. Therefore, in order to evaluate the response to these changes in dietary PUFA three foods were formulated: a complete and balanced control food (COF) with no enhanced source of added PUFA (ARA = 0.08%, EPA & DHA = 0.01%), Test food 1 (E&DF) like the COF with added eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (E&D = 0.36%)) from menhaden fish oil, and Test Food 2 (ARAF) like the COF with added arachidonic acid (ARA = 0.16%) from liver. All test foods had similar protein concentrations and similar vitamin and mineral concentrations while the PUFA supplemented foods had slightly higher fat concentrations. Cats (n = 36) were fed a pre-trial food for 28 days and then assigned to a group fed either the control, E&DF or...
Toxins
The optimal ranges of protein for healthy adult dogs are not known. This study evaluated the impa... more The optimal ranges of protein for healthy adult dogs are not known. This study evaluated the impact of long-term consumption of foods containing low, medium, and high levels of protein on serum, urine, and fecal metabolites, and gut microbiome in beagles. Following maintenance on a prefeed food for 14 days, dogs (15 neutered males, 15 spayed females, aged 2–9 years, mean initial weight 11.3 kg) consumed the low (18.99%, dry matter basis), medium (25.34%), or high (45.77%) protein foods, each for 90 days, in a William’s Latin Square Design sequence. In serum and/or urine, metabolites associated with inflammation (9,10-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid (DiHOME)), 12,13-DiHOME) and kidney dysfunction (urea, 5-hydroxyindole sulfate, 7-hydroxyindole sulfate, p-cresol sulfate) increased with higher protein levels in food, while one-carbon pathway metabolites (betaine, dimethylglycine, sarcosine) decreased. Fecal pH increased with protein consumed, and levels of beneficial indoles and short-chain...
Animals, Dec 13, 2018
The liver is a vital organ involved in numerous physiological functions. Maintaining its health i... more The liver is a vital organ involved in numerous physiological functions. Maintaining its health is vital to the wellbeing of the dog. Copper is a transition metal that can cause cell oxidation when stored in excess. This surplus storage in the liver may happen due to breed genetics, or excess dietary copper consumption. The objective of this work was to determine relationship between hepatic copper and liver pathology severity with plasma metabolites, complete blood count, and blood chemistry. Copper accumulation was not related to either liver pathological condition nor to an increase in liver biomarkers in the selected dog population. However, an increasing copper concentration suggested oxidation and cell membrane stress. Liver pathology severity was related to increased liver enzymes, and some cholestasis. Further, liver neoplasia was correlated with biomarkers that suggest rapid cell division and increased energy metabolism.
The FASEB Journal
As in other mammals, domestic cats have specific taste preferences that can be influenced by macr... more As in other mammals, domestic cats have specific taste preferences that can be influenced by macronutrient composition and physical characteristics of food as well as the presence or absence of spe...
Animals
One of the liver functions is copper storage, which can be toxic when in excess. The objective of... more One of the liver functions is copper storage, which can be toxic when in excess. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the relationship between hepatic copper and pathology conditions in stored samples from 55 post-mortem dogs (37 Beagles, 12 Labrador Retrievers, and 6 Labrador Mixes). The analyses evaluated data from blood chemistry and complete blood count (CBC) that were measured immediately before euthanasia, and liver biopsies which were harvested at necropsy and frozen at −80 °C. Slides for microscopic evaluation were prepared, and liver copper and plasma metabolites were measured. Hepatic copper was correlated (p ≤ 0.001) with monoacylglycerols, 13-HODE + 9-HODE (13-hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid + 9-hydroxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid), and stearoyl-arachidonoyl-glycerophosphocholine. This indicates lipid metabolism modification and cell membrane oxidation. However, hepatic copper was not related to liver histopathology severity or altered liver biomar...
Animals
The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased ... more The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased water intake, thus lowering the risk of urolithiasis in cats. Twelve healthy adult cats were fed pre-trial standard dry maintenance food for 1 week and then randomized into two groups for the study phase. The cats continued to receive the same food but were provided either control (deionized) water or viscous (1% methylcellulose) water for two months and then switched to the other water type for two months in a cross-over study design with repeated measures. Complete blood counts, serum chemistry profiles, and urinalysis were performed at the initiation of the study and again at 1, 2, 3, and 4 months. Daily water consumption and energy intake for each cat were recorded. Body weights were assessed weekly. Cats consuming 1% methylcellulose water with increased viscosity had increased water intake (p < 0.001; 25% and 21% higher at 28 and 56 days, respectively). Increased consumption of w...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives Evaluate the interaction of dietary betaine and two different sources of dietary polyu... more Objectives Evaluate the interaction of dietary betaine and two different sources of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA): alpha-linolenate (ALA) and combined eicosapentaenoate (EPA) and docosahexaenoate (DHA) on subsequent circulating single carbon metabolism and metabolomics. Methods This study was a complete factorial with or without added betaine and 3 levels of PUFA. Sixty four dogs with an average age of 5.9 years (range 1–12) were used in this study. All dogs were assigned to a prefeed period (14 days), then assigned to one of the six treatment foods: control (0.05% betaine, no measurable EPA or DHA, and 0.25% 18 : 3 omega 3), control with 0.81% ALA (flaxseed used to increase ALA), control with 0.47% betaine and 0.85% ALA (flax added to increase ALA), control with 0.28% EPA&DHA combined (added fish oil as a source), control plus 0.55% betaine and 0.28% EPA&DHA (fish oil added as a source), and control with 0.58% betaine. All treatment foods were fed for sixty days. Blood...
Microorganisms
Age-related changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with the increased risk ... more Age-related changes in the gut microbiota and metabolites are associated with the increased risk of detrimental conditions also seen with age. This study evaluated whether a test food with potential anti-aging benefits results in favorable changes in plasma and fecal metabolites and the fecal microbiota in senior cats. Forty healthy domestic cats aged 8.3–13.5 years were fed a washout food for 30 days, then control or test food for 30 days. After another 30-day washout, cats were switched to the other study food for 30 days. Assessment of plasma and fecal metabolites showed lower levels of metabolites associated with detrimental processes (e.g., uremic toxins) and higher levels of metabolites associated with beneficial processes (e.g., tocopherols) after cats consumed the test food compared with the control food. A shift toward proteolysis with the control food is supported by higher levels of amino acid metabolites and lower levels of carbohydrate metabolites. Operational taxonomic...
Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, 2021
Simple Summary Increasing water intake and decreasing urine concentration are recommended for cat... more Simple Summary Increasing water intake and decreasing urine concentration are recommended for cats that form stony concretions in the bladder or urinary tract. The purpose of this study is to determine if water with increased viscosity results in increased water intake in cats by taking advantage of the unique anatomy of the cat’s tongue. Cats delicately dip their tongue into water, pull their tongues back up to their mouths, and capture the water that follows. Lapping occurs by fluid adhesion to the dorsal part of the tongue’s tip and by lifting a liquid column through the tongue’s upward motion before jaw closure. Cats have the ability to balance gravity and water surface tension to ingest the maximum amount of water per lap. This observation led us to question whether changing the properties of water in a way that allows cats to lift more water per lap is possible. Increasing the viscosity of water was accomplished with 1% methylcellulose, an ingredient that is palatable to cats....
Microorganisms
The objective of this study was to assess whether diets with increased resistant starch (RS) had ... more The objective of this study was to assess whether diets with increased resistant starch (RS) had a positive effect on markers of colonic health in dogs. Three identical diets were extruded with high, medium and low shear (HS, MS and LS) to incrementally increase RS, and fed to 24 dogs in a replicated 3 × 3 William’s Latin square design for 28-day periods. Fasting blood and fresh feces were collected on the last week of each period. Fecal quality was maintained among treatments. Gut integrity markers were measured by ELISA. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were measured by LC MS/MS. In addition, the microbiota of dogs was determined from fresh feces by 16s rRNA high throughput sequencing. Untargeted metabolomics of both feces and serum were determined by UPLC. Data were analyzed using mixed models. There were no treatment effects on satiety hormones or gut integrity markers. Dogs fed LS or MS diets had marginal evidence (p < 0.10) for decreased fecal pH and for higher concent...
Animals
This study was designed to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on the glutathione status in... more This study was designed to determine the effect of alpha-lipoic acid on the glutathione status in healthy adult dogs. Following a 15 month baseline period during which dogs were fed a food containing no alpha-lipoic acid, dogs were randomly allocated into four groups. Groups were then fed a nutritionally complete and balanced food with either 0, 75, 150 or 300 ppm of alpha-lipoic acid added for 6 months. Evaluations included physical examination, body weight, food intake, hematology, serum biochemistry profile and measurements of glutathione in plasma and erythrocyte lysates. Throughout, blood parameters remained within reference ranges, dogs were healthy and body weight did not change significantly. A significant increase of 0.05 ng/mL of total glutathione in red blood cell (RBC) lysate for each 1 mg/kg bodyweight/day increase in a-LA intake was observed. In addition, a significant increase was observed for GSH, GSSG and total glutathione in RBC lysate at Month 6. We conclude that ...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives The relationship between gut microbiome and obesity is known; this study focused on gu... more Objectives The relationship between gut microbiome and obesity is known; this study focused on gut microbiome changes during weight loss in obese dogs fed three different foods Methods Control and two test foods formulated with a mean of 3153 kcals/kg SD ± 107.8. All foods were similar in their as fed protein (30.7% SD ± 0.73), carbohydrate (32.0% ±1.25) and fat (11.7% ±0.86) levels but differed in crude fiber (CF), total dietary fiber (TDF) and n-3FAs. Soluble: insoluble fiber (SF: IF) and n-3FAs: n-6FAs ratio were 0.13 and 0.07 in control and 0.27 and 0.62 in test foods. The study used 22 healthy adult dogs except their obese condition with a fat mass of >37% in a cross-over design. Control food was fed in pre-feed (28d) and washout period (28d) and two test foods were fed during treatment phases (phase 1 and 2, 56d each). All dogs were fed based on their body weight. DEXA was performed at the end of pre-feed, phase 1 and phase 2. Fecal samples were collected at the end of pre-...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives Inflammation is a key component in the initiation and progression of chronic kidney di... more Objectives Inflammation is a key component in the initiation and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can contribute to renal fibrosis and a gradual loss of renal function. Inflammasomes are multiprotein immune complexes and their activation contributes to inflammation. While inflammasome-related protein including NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) is important in acute and chronic kidney disorders in rodent models, the role of inflammasomes in renal disorders in canines is not clear. Methods We assessed gene expression levels of inflammatory markers, in the blood of dogs clinically diagnosed with CKD, post-mortem. Pathology reports indicated interstitial inflammation, fibrosis, and thickening of the Bowman's capsule. RNA was extracted from blood collected at necropsy from dogs with CKD (n = 6; 11–15 yr) and controls (n = 6; 10–14 yr). Gene expression was investigated using the NanoString nCounter® platform, and results analyzed using the nSol...
Current Developments in Nutrition
Objectives Aging is characterized by increased blood concentrations of several age-related host a... more Objectives Aging is characterized by increased blood concentrations of several age-related host and microbial metabolites associated with inflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of various fiber sources on age-related metabolites and the gut microbiome in senior cats. Methods Forty cats between the age of 8 and 14 were fed a pretrial food for 4 weeks and then randomly assigned to receive a control or a test food for 4 weeks each. The test food contained 1.3% crude fiber mainly from oat groats, broccoli powder, pea and tomato pomace. The control food contained 1.4% crude fiber mainly from whole wheat, beet pulp, flax seed and oat fiber. Cats were given the pretrial food again as a washout for 4 weeks before the crossover was performed. Cats initially fed the test food were then switched to the control food for remaining 4 weeks. Similarly, cats fed the control food were switched to the test food for 4 weeks. Blood, urine and fecal samples were colle...
Metabolites
The objective was to determine the effects of feeding different fiber sources to cats with chroni... more The objective was to determine the effects of feeding different fiber sources to cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared with healthy cats (both n = 10) on fecal metabolites. A cross-over within split-plot study design was performed using healthy and CKD cats (IRIS stage 1, 2, and 3). After cats were fed a complete and balanced dry food designed to aid in the management of renal disease for 14 days during a pre-trial period, they were randomly assigned to two fiber treatments for 4 weeks each. The treatment foods were formulated similar to pre-trial food and contained 0.500% betaine, 0.586% oat beta glucan, and either 0.407% short chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS) fiber or 3.44% apple pomace. Both treatment foods had similar crude fiber (2.0 and 2.1% for scFOS and apple pomace, respectively) whereas soluble fiber was 0.8 and 1.6%, respectively. At baseline, CKD had very little impact on the fecal metabolome. After feeding both fiber sources, some fecal metabolite concentr...
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Forty Eight cats were used to measure the effects of feeding a traditional adult cat food supplem... more Forty Eight cats were used to measure the effects of feeding a traditional adult cat food supplemented with either arachidonic acid (ARA), a botanical mix (botanicals) or both on circulating biochemical parameters and inflammatory cytokines. The cats were healthy adults (mean age, 3.0; range, 1.3–6.4 years). The adult cats were fed one of four foods (n = 12 per group) for 84 days (dietary changes reported as fed): a traditional adult cat food (control, 0.05% ARA no added botanicals), or control food supplemented with arachidonic acid from chicken liver (0.13% ARA when supplemented), control food supplemented with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%), and control plus ARA (0.13% as fed) with botanicals (green tea 0.5%, fenugreek 0.05%, and tulsi 0.003%). Response variables were compared between treatments: initially, and at 84 days (end of study). The measurements were standard complete blood counts and chemistries as well as circulating cytokines. Botanical...
Metabolites
Renal diets are recommended for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study examined the e... more Renal diets are recommended for dogs with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study examined the effects of foods with added betaine and fiber on the plasma and fecal metabolome and fecal microbiome in dogs with early stage CKD. At baseline, several metabolites differed between healthy dogs and those with CKD. Dogs with CKD (n = 28) received a control food, low soluble fiber plus betaine food (0.5% betaine, 0.39% oat beta-glucan, and 0.27% short-chain fructooligosaccharides (scFOS)), or high soluble fiber plus betaine food (0.5% betaine, 0.59% oat beta-glucan, and 0.41% scFOS) each for 10 weeks in different sequences. Consumption of test foods led to several favorable, significant changes in the plasma metabolome, including decreases of several uremic toxins and other deleterious metabolites, and increases in favorable metabolites compared with the control food. Only 7 fecal metabolites significantly changed with consumption of the test foods compared with the control food, largely i...
Animals
There is a normal variation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the foods consumed both by t... more There is a normal variation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the foods consumed both by the domestic cat and wild felines. This variation may lead to specific changes in metabolites and circulating fatty acids that influence health and response to disease. Therefore, in order to evaluate the response to these changes in dietary PUFA three foods were formulated: a complete and balanced control food (COF) with no enhanced source of added PUFA (ARA = 0.08%, EPA & DHA = 0.01%), Test food 1 (E&DF) like the COF with added eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (E&D = 0.36%)) from menhaden fish oil, and Test Food 2 (ARAF) like the COF with added arachidonic acid (ARA = 0.16%) from liver. All test foods had similar protein concentrations and similar vitamin and mineral concentrations while the PUFA supplemented foods had slightly higher fat concentrations. Cats (n = 36) were fed a pre-trial food for 28 days and then assigned to a group fed either the control, E&DF or...
Toxins
The optimal ranges of protein for healthy adult dogs are not known. This study evaluated the impa... more The optimal ranges of protein for healthy adult dogs are not known. This study evaluated the impact of long-term consumption of foods containing low, medium, and high levels of protein on serum, urine, and fecal metabolites, and gut microbiome in beagles. Following maintenance on a prefeed food for 14 days, dogs (15 neutered males, 15 spayed females, aged 2–9 years, mean initial weight 11.3 kg) consumed the low (18.99%, dry matter basis), medium (25.34%), or high (45.77%) protein foods, each for 90 days, in a William’s Latin Square Design sequence. In serum and/or urine, metabolites associated with inflammation (9,10-dihydroxyoctadecanoic acid (DiHOME)), 12,13-DiHOME) and kidney dysfunction (urea, 5-hydroxyindole sulfate, 7-hydroxyindole sulfate, p-cresol sulfate) increased with higher protein levels in food, while one-carbon pathway metabolites (betaine, dimethylglycine, sarcosine) decreased. Fecal pH increased with protein consumed, and levels of beneficial indoles and short-chain...
Animals, Dec 13, 2018
The liver is a vital organ involved in numerous physiological functions. Maintaining its health i... more The liver is a vital organ involved in numerous physiological functions. Maintaining its health is vital to the wellbeing of the dog. Copper is a transition metal that can cause cell oxidation when stored in excess. This surplus storage in the liver may happen due to breed genetics, or excess dietary copper consumption. The objective of this work was to determine relationship between hepatic copper and liver pathology severity with plasma metabolites, complete blood count, and blood chemistry. Copper accumulation was not related to either liver pathological condition nor to an increase in liver biomarkers in the selected dog population. However, an increasing copper concentration suggested oxidation and cell membrane stress. Liver pathology severity was related to increased liver enzymes, and some cholestasis. Further, liver neoplasia was correlated with biomarkers that suggest rapid cell division and increased energy metabolism.