Dogs and cats benefit daily from the advances made in the
field of veterinary nutrition. Because of the knowledge
uncovered by researchers, companion animals are now living
longer, healthier and more enriched lives. So, just what kinds
of research are being conducted currently? Is the petfood
industry helping or hampering the advancement of nutrition?
Petfood Industry
asked some of the leaders in the field their opinion on topics
such as this. Their answers follow.
Hazewinkel
: We continue working on the influence of vitamin D on
endochondral ossification and the significant difference in
vitamin D metabolism between small breed and large breed dogs
during growth and development. In addition, we are
investigating the influence of nutraceuticals on the clinical
effects of osteoarthrosis. We perform molecular genetic
research, too.
Kirk:
I collaborate with Dr. Joe Bartges here at the University of
Tennessee, and we have varied projects. My three main research
areas include: obesity in dogs and cats, with a special
interest in factors associated with insulin resistance;
nutritional influence on lower urinary tract disease in cats,
specifically calcium oxalate urolith formation; and nutritional
regulation of feline diabetes.
Swanson:
My laboratory is currently focused on three primary areas of
research, including intestinal health and disease, appetite
regulation and obesity and geriatric nutrition. For example, we
are studying biomarker detection of adipotoxicity in dogs and
effects of dietary manipulation on gene expression profiles of
geriatric and young adult dogs.
Hazewinkel:
In my own research group, the discovery that vitamin D (which
can reach a high level in homemade and commercial petfoods)
disturbs endochondral ossification even before it influences
calcium metabolism. This makes it worthwhile for commercial
petfood companies to consider measuring and indicating a
guarantee for maximum vitamin D content of petfoods, as has
been done for the calcium content in diets for fast-growing
dogs.
Kirk:
I have been most impressed with the body of work by Drs.
Zicker, Milgram and colleagues describing the impact of
oxidative stress on canine cognition and learning. Their
studies defining how increased antioxidants help reverse
cognitive dysfunction and prevent cognitive decline were well
designed, novel and sound. Also, the fact that there is such
strong "translational" value (application to humans and other
species) was important.
Finally, these studies lend more credence to
the newer nutritional paradigm that we must move beyond simply
meeting basic nutrient requirements and start defining optimal
nutritional status within various lifestages and animal
populations.
Swanson:
I think one of the most important findings was recently
published in
Nature
by Jeffrey Gordon's lab at Washington University, St. Louis,
Missouri, USA. Turnbaugh et al. (2006) performed several
experiments using gnotobiotic animal models and DNA-based
microbial analyses, the results of which suggest that the gut
microbiota are a contributing factor to the pathophysiology of
obesity. Given the incidence of obesity and intestinal disease
in the pet population, these findings are directly applicable
to the petfood industry.
Hazewinkel:
Nutraceuticals are a key issue since they open up new ways of
influencing health via supplementation of the daily ration and
through marketing by commercial food companies without the
interference of the pharmaceutical industry. The effects can be
very subtle and very species-specific; what works in a rat
might not work in the human or canine species. This notion is
growing but not widespread yet. Since the dog genome became
known, the influence of the environment on the expression of
potential diseases is of growing interest, especially the
influence of the diet. Nutritional components may either
prevent or stimulate disease progression. I expect growing
interest in this field, since it can have a major impact on
canine health.
Kirk:
The overriding issue, in my opinion, is how to prevent obesity
in our canine and feline population. The number of
obesity-related health problems identified in dogs and cats
suggests the overall impact on health and longevity is huge.
Owners are footing the bill to manage health problems that are
largely preventable. Thus, maintaining the human-animal bond
associated with feeding pets without promoting obesity and
impairing health will be a huge challenge. Learning the factors
that affect appetite and satiety is one facet of the problem.
Genomic response to breed, lifestage, nutrients, energy intake
and activity will be another.
Swanson:
Due to their importance in maintaining health and preventing
and treating disease, the following areas are currently on the
forefront, in my opinion:
1. Understanding microbe-host interactions.
2. Identifying gene-nutrient interactions of
importance.
3. Applying new technologies to nutritional
science, including genomic biology, imaging methods, nanotools,
etc. These tools and techniques are not only important for
research purposes, but are also important for advancements in
clinical diagnostics.
Hazewinkel
: A growing number of petfood companies do not (or not anymore)
perform research in animals, but just copy the findings
of the leading companies, or are more focused on
marketing their product rather than on improving it. The
concept that companies work together with universities to
research new nutrition strategies seems to be decreasing.
Kirk:
Yes, I think the major petfood companies are indeed up-to-date
and actively involved in all aspects of research. I have to put
my personal kudos in to these companies because I feel that
they are good citizens of pet nutrition research. They conduct
millions of dollars worth of nutritional research annually,
fund grants for academic research and their scientists stay
abreast and often lead the current research trends. Smaller
companies without nutrition scientists or boarded nutritionists
vary in their expertise, in my opinion. I find it very
concerning when I call a company for nutritional information on
a product and learn they can't give me basic information that
would be used to establish nutritional adequacy (i.e., an AAFCO
profile).
Swanson:
The short answer is yes, I think most petfood manufacturers are
aware of current research findings. However, I don't think that
should overshadow the current problems pertaining to research
in this industry. First, companies are likely aware of all the
findings that are published in peer-reviewed journals. Despite
the great number of abstracts presented at scientific meetings,
however, very few are ever published in such journals.
Abstracts are of little help to those in industry or
academia.
The term "research" has dramatically changed
over the past decade. At least from my perspective, it appears
that a lot of traditional research funds have been shifted from
fundamental research to marketing research, or to items that
are only for altering public perception. These areas are
important, but are self-serving.
Lastly, the current funding opportunities in
canine and feline nutrition research are very limited. Large
research grants (e.g., NIH or USDA) are only possible when
using dogs and cats as animal models. While many non-profit or
private organizations fund canine and feline research, most do
not fund grants large enough to sustain a research program. If
continued research advances in this field are expected, the
current research climate must change.
Although my comments here may be somewhat
depressing, it is not all bad. While the leaders in the petfood
industry are commonly the target of criticism, I think many of
them can be commended when it comes to funding and publishing
research. Everybody in the industry should be very appreciative
of the few companies that still perform fundamental canine and
feline research. Advances in the field will not occur without
them.