Protein digestibility in dog. Effect of the quantity and quality of dietary fat (virgin olive oil and sunflower oil)

Abstract

Protein digestibility has been estimated in dog when fed on two similar diets except their lipid quality (virgin olive oil and sunflower oil) from weaning up to 6 months of life. Experiments were carried out at 60, 105 and 150 days of adaptation to either diet. In dog, age does not seem to affect the protein digestive and metabolic utilization when fed on a high lipid content diet. A higher dietary fat percentage led to an increase of the mentioned parameters which could be caused to a delayed gastric emptying due to fat. As far as the fat quality is concerned, an improved protein digestive and metabolic utilization was evidenced in adult animals fed on olive oil. On the other hand, the weight progress was normal in both experimental groups. These results suggest that olive oil may have beneficial effects on protein digestibility as compared to sunflower oil.

Hydroxytyrosol: from laboratory investigations to future clinical trials

“…Moreover, diets with olive oil have been shown to lower the exocrine pancreatic secretion in dogs, while enhancing utilization of certain nutrients, such as proteins. 78,79 This effect is related to the action of oleic acid with respect to the stimulation-inhibition balance of pancreatic secretion, 80 and to other benefits at the gastrointestinal level. 81 The health-promoting effects of olive oil consumption have been related traditionally to its high oleic-acid content.…”

“…Olive oil also reduces hypertension, 69 improves thrombogenic conditions, 72,73 prevents or improves diabetes, 74 reduces inflammatory processes, 75,76 and alleviates intestinal inflammatory illness, 77 in addition to promoting effects related to the MUFA (oleic acid) content. Moreover, diets with olive oil have been shown to lower the exocrine pancreatic secretion in dogs, while enhancing utilization of certain nutrients, such as proteins 78,79 . This effect is related to the action of oleic acid with respect to the stimulation‐inhibition balance of pancreatic secretion, 80 and to other benefits at the gastrointestinal level 81 …”

Influence of Olive Oil on Pancreatic, Biliary and Gastric Secretion

“…The secretion of bicarbonate, total protein, amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin followed the same pattern as the pancreatic flow rate. Parallel experiments conducted in these very same animals during the adaptation period revealed that, while there were no differences between groups VOO and SO in fat digestibility (Ballesta et al, 1990b), an improved protein digestive and metabolic utilization was actually evidenced in VOO animals (Ballesta et al, 1991). Hence, pancreatic adaptation to diets containing olive oil as dietary fat source seems to represent a key advantage in terms of exocrine pancreatic economy, at least in this species.…”