Positive Health Online

Abstract

JEWELL and COLLEAGUES,  (1)Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA; (2)Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS, USA.(3) Compana Pet Brands, St. Louis, MO, USA. conducted  a study to determine the effect of a combination of dietary antioxidants on DNA damage and antioxidant status in dogs and cats.

Background

Alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) is an antioxidant that is largely involved in immune defence and enhancing the ability of biological systems to respond to oxidative stress. During the process of free radical scavenging, vitamin C supports the regeneration of vitamin E. Although the functions of antioxidants and their importance have been widely studied, the intricate interplay between antioxidants has yet to be fully elucidated, especially in dogs and cats.

Methodology

As such, the objective of the present study was to determine the effect of a combination of dietary antioxidants on DNA damage and antioxidant status in dogs and cats. Forty adult mixed-breed dogs and 40 adult domestic shorthair cats were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups per species. Dogs and cats remained in these groups for the 84-d duration of the study. The food differed in antioxidant supplementation with the control food meeting all of the Association of American Feed Control Officials requirements for complete and balanced nutrition, including sufficient vitamin E to exceed the published minimum. The treatment diets were targeted to include either 500, 1,000, or 1,500 IU vitamin E/kg as well as 100 ppm of vitamin C and 1.5 ppm of β-carotene in the food. The effect of vitamin E supplementation level on serum vitamin E concentration, DNA damage, and total antioxidant power was evaluated.

Results

Feeding diets enriched with antioxidants resulted in an increased (P < 0.05) circulating vitamin E concentration, increased (P < 0.05) immune cell protection, reduced (P < 0.05) DNA damage in dogs, and an improved (P < 0.05) antioxidant status. Overall, these data demonstrated that feeding a dry kibble with an antioxidant blend inclusive of vitamin E, vitamin C, and β-carotene enhanced cell protection and improved antioxidant status in dogs and cats.

Conclusion

Plain Language Summary: Animals have an impressive array of defences to excessive reactive oxygen species in the body. The antioxidant defence system is complex and sophisticated. Vitamin E, vitamin C, and β-carotene are known to scavenge free radicals that are created during times of oxidative stress. To evaluate the effect of the various antioxidants, dogs and cats were fed one of four diets for 84 d. Diets included a control group that had vitamin E concentrations that exceeded regulatory minimums and four treatment groups that were targeted to include 500, 1,000, or 1,500 IU vitamin E/kg as well as 100 ppm of vitamin C and 1.5 ppm of β-carotene in the food. To assess the effectiveness  of the different vitamin E concentrations provided in the foods, circulating vitamin E, DNA damage, and total antioxidant power were assessed. Results from the parameters assessed showed that dogs and cats benefit from supplementing their diet with a blend of antioxidants targeted to include 100 ppm of vitamin C, 1.5 ppm of β-carotene, and have varying benefits to increased vitamin E/kg in the food. © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. Conflict of interest statement: All authors are current or former employees of  Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

References

Jewell DE(1), Motsinger LA(2), Paetau-Robinson I(3). Effect of dietary antioxidants on free radical damage in dogs and cats.  J Anim Sci.;102:skae153. doi: 10.1093/jas/skae153. Jan 3 2024.