Impact of Dietary Polydextrose on Clinical Signs of Canine Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Problem statement:Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory joint disease associated with loss of cartilage matrix. There is suggestive evidence that the intake of polydextrose fiber has anti-inflammatory activity. It was reasoned that polydextrose may have a positive influence on canine osteoarthritis. Approach: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with privately owned dogs was carried out to assess the efficacy of STA-LITE® polydextrose in the treatment of osteoarthritis. With the use of a questionnaire, five clinical signs were evaluated by the owners. For a period of 8 weeks, the dogs received a complete dry food without or with 3% polydextrose. There were 16 control and 19 test dogs. Results:The baseline values of clinical scores for swelling of joints, stiffness and lameness indicated that the severity of osteoarthritis was much less in test dogs than in the controls. The initial scores for activity and pain were similar in two groups. Comparing the changes in clinical scores over time between control and test dogs would be biased by the difference in baseline severity of osteoarthritis. On strict terms, a maximum number of pairs of matched control and test dogs was formed for each clinical sign. It was found that all five clinical signs showed more group-mean improvement in the dogs fed the diet containing polydextrose than in those given the control diet. The difference between the pooled group-mean changes of the control and test dogs was statistically significant. As an overall index of the improvement of osteoarthritis, the sum of changes for the five clinical variables was calculated. Polydextrose was found to induce a marked improvement of osteoarthritis: The polydextrose-mediated increase in the osteoarthritis improvement index was 57%. Conclusion: Polydextrose can be considered safe and it is suggested that a dose of 3% in a dry food can be beneficial for dogs with osteoarthritis.

Effect of Dietary Polydextrose on Feces Consistency and Macronutrient Digestibility in Healthy Dogs

“…The evidence that consumption of polydextrose elicits anti-inflammatory activity (Fava et al, 2007;Peuranen et al, 2004) and the observed beneficial effect on canine osteoarthritis (Beynen et al, 2011) could be a basis for the application of polydextrose in petfoods. Polydextrose may be added to dog foods with claims on preventing and/or treating the condition of osteoarthritis.…”

“…The symptoms of osteoarthritis are chronic pain, lameness and decreased mobility which is explained by loss of cartilage matrix and synovitis (Henrotin et al, 2005). On the basis of literature data (Fava et al, 2007;Peuranen et al, 2004), we have suggested that the ingestion of polydextrose fiber mediates an antiinflammatory effect, leading to improvement of osteoarthritis in dogs (Beynen et al, 2011). Polydextrose has an inhibitory effect on cyclooxygenase-2 (Makivuokko et al, 2005;Fava et al, 2007).…”

“…In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial we have obtained evidence for a beneficial effect of dietary STA-LITE ® polydextrose on the clinical signs of osteoarthritis in dogs (Beynen et al, 2011). The symptoms of osteoarthritis are chronic pain, lameness and decreased mobility which is explained by loss of cartilage matrix and synovitis (Henrotin et al, 2005).…”

“…In the clinical trial on canine osteoarthritis, a dry dog food containing 3% polydextrose was used as test diet (Beynen et al, 2011). Prior to the application of polydextrose in dog foods, it is relevant to assess the effects of polydextrose, if any, on the acceptance of food, food intake, body weight, feces consistency, fecal odor, fecal bacteria and apparent digestibility of macronutrients and minerals.…”

Polydextrose in Lipid Metabolism

“…Consumption of polydextrose promotes the growth of beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacilli while preventing the growth of harmful ones, such as clostridia [17,18]. It has been suggested to possess anti-inflammatory actions and to improve the signs of osteoarthritis in canines [19], to increase IgA amount in the rat cecum [20], to reduce cyclooxygenase 2 expression in pigs distal colon, and to reduce lesions in rat colitis model [21]. Furthermore, it has been suggested to improve the absorption of magnesium, calcium [22][23][24][25] and iron [26].…”