Influence of a Polyherbal Choline Source in Dogs: Body Weight Changes, Blood Metabolites, and Gene Expression

Abstract

Choline chloride is used to provide choline in dog foods; however, in other domestic species, it has been replaced with a polyherbal containing phosphatidylcholine. A polyherbal containing Achyrantes aspera, Trachyspermum ammi, Citrullus colocynthis, Andrographis paniculata, and Azadirachta indica was evaluated in adult dogs through body weight changes, subcutaneous fat thickness, blood metabolites, and gene expression. Forty dogs (4.6 ± 1.6 years old) who were individually housed in concrete kennels were randomly assigned to the following treatments: unsupplemented diet (377 mg choline/kg), choline chloride (3850 mg/kg equivalent to 2000 mg choline/kg diet), and polyherbal (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg) for 60 days. Blood samples were collected on day 59 for biochemistry, biometry, and gene expression analysis through microarray assays. Intake, final body weight, and weight changes were similar for the two choline sources. Feed intake variation among dogs (p = 0.01) and dorsal fat (p = 0.03) showed a quadratic response to herbal choline. Dogs that received the polyherbal diet had reduced blood cholesterol levels (Quadratic, p = 0.02). The gene ontology analysis indicated that 15 biological processes were modified (p ≤ 0.05) with implications for preventing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancer prevention, inflammatory and immune response, and behavior and cognitive process. According to these results that were observed in a 60 day trial, the polyherbal form could replace choline chloride in dog diets at a concentration of 400 mg/kg.

Effects of an Herbal Source of Choline on Diet Digestibility and Palatability, Blood Lipid Profile, Liver Morphology, and Cardiac Function in Dogs

“…There were also lower total cholesterol and serum triglycerides concentrations in dogs fed the diet containing the herbal source of choline at the end of the trial, in comparison to the control group. This lower concentration in serum cholesterol was also observed in dogs supplemented with increasing levels of the same herbal source of choline in the study of Mendoza-Martínez et al [ 5 ]. In broilers, a reduction in cholesterol, triglycerides, and serum ALT was observed in animals fed an herbal source of choline [ 25 ].…”

“…Furthermore, dogs fed an herbal source of choline showed modulation of the expression of genes involved in the signaling pathway of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) [ 5 ], which are important for modulating cholesterol and acting on dyslipidemia [ 26 , 27 ]. Without an adequate supply of choline for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, triglycerides are accumulated in the body, which can lead to liver disorders such as steatosis [ 28 ].…”

“…However, some of its properties, such as high hygroscopicity and corrosiveness, limit its practical use [ 4 ]. Consequently, it is difficult to manipulate during animal food or premix production, impairing its premixing with other micro-ingredients and causing the loss of vitamins [ 5 ], making the study of alternative sources of choline for pet food necessary.…”

“…The plants Trachyspermum ammi , Citrullus colocynthis , Achyranthes aspera , and Azadirachta indica present the conjugated form of choline—with high concentrations of phosphatidylcholine—and are potential alternative sources to the chloride [ 4 ]. In addition to not having the same undesirable properties as choline chloride, these herbal additives have functional metabolites that benefit animals’ health [ 5 , 6 ]. Furthermore, they can be used in organic foods or in those with a ‘natural’ advertising appeal [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…In these studies, six breeds were used (Beagle, Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, Dachshund, Airedale Terrier, and Jack Russell) for around 17 to 60 days. They recommend one unit of herbal source (400 mg/kg of diet) for 5 units of choline (2000 mg/kg of diet) from chloride [ 5 , 11 ]. Nevertheless, the authors observed that higher dietary concentrations of choline herbal source (800 mg/kg) resulted in additional beneficial effects on the body, such as modulation of gene expression of factors related to cardiovascular and metabolic disease prevention, without causing any adverse result [ 5 ].…”