Effects in dogs with behavioural disorders of a commercial nutraceutical diet on stress and neuroendocrine parameters.

Vet Rec. January 2017;180(1):18.

S Sechi¹, A Di Cerbo², S Canello³, G Guidetti⁴, F Chiavolelli⁵, F Fiore⁶, R Cocco⁷

¹ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology and Veterinary Clinic Section, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.; ² Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Specialization in Clinical Biochemistry, "G. d'Annunzio" University, Via dei Vestini 31, 66100 Chieti, Italy.; ³ Research and Development Department, Forza10 USA Corp., 10142 Canopy Tree Ct. 32836 Orlando, Florida, USA.; ⁴ Research and Development Department, Forza10 USA Corp., 10142 Canopy Tree Ct. 32836 Orlando, Florida, USA.; ⁵ Department of Diagnostic Medicine, Clinical and Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/A, 41125 Modena, Italy.; ⁶ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology and Veterinary Clinic Section, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.; ⁷ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Pathology and Veterinary Clinic Section, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

British Veterinary Association.

Abstract

The well-being of dogs can be affected by changes in human lifestyle, eating habits and increased stressors that lead to behavioural disorders including fear, hyperactivity and anxiety, followed by negative affective moods and poor welfare. This randomised, controlled clinical evaluation involved 69 dogs, 38 males and 31 females, of different breeds, with behavioural disorders related to anxiety and chronic stress. They were fed a control diet or a nutraceutical diet (ND group) for 45 days. Neuroendocrine (serotonin, dopamine, β-endorphins, noradrenaline and cortisol) and stress (derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP)) parameters related to behavioural disorders were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study period. Results showed a significant increase in serotonin, dopamine and β-endorphins plasma concentrations (*P<0.05, *P<0.05 and **P<0.01, respectively) and a significant decrease in noradrenaline and cortisol plasma concentrations in the ND group (*P<0.05). dROMs significantly decreased in the ND group (*P<0.05) while BAP was not affected. This study demonstrated for the first time that a specific diet significantly and positively affected neuroendocrine parameters and dROMs. These results open significant perspectives concerning the use of diet and nutraceuticals in the treatment of behavioural disorders.

Keywords

Neuroendocrine parameters*; anxiety*; behavioral disorders*; chronic stress*; nutraceutical diet*; stress parameters*;

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Comment In Vet Rec. 2017 May 13;180(19):476
Comment In Vet Rec. 2017 May 13;180(19):476-477

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