Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Saliva protein changes in overweight beagles after weight loss
By Lucena, S et al.·Published in Domestic animal endocrinology·2020·Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Changes in the salivary proteome of beagle dogs after weight loss.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Five overweight beagle dogs were put on a strict low-fat diet for three months to help them lose weight. During this time, their body weight, body condition, and certain blood markers were monitored weekly. After the weight loss, researchers found significant changes in their saliva, including increased levels of proteins linked to immune function and metabolism. These findings suggest that monitoring saliva could help track health improvements in dogs as they lose weight. The dogs likely experienced better overall health after shedding the extra pounds.
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Abstract
Being overweight or obese represents an important health issue in humans and pets. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the salivary proteome of overweight beagles after induced weight loss to better understand the physiological changes involved in this process. Five overweight/obese neutered males of pure breed beagles were evaluated. During the 3-mo period of weight loss, each animal received a strictly controlled amount of a low fat commercial diet per day. Body condition scores (BCS), body weight (BW), and serum biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and C-reactive protein) were assessed weekly. Quantitative proteomics analysis by SWATH was used to evaluate the salivary proteome changes induced by weight loss treatment. BCS, BW, serum total cholesterol concentration, and abundances of 23 salivary proteins differed significantly between before and after treatment. Some of the altered protein amounts, namely of peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase C, and 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein, increased after weight loss. These proteins are related with the immune system, inflammatory status, oxidative stress, and glucose metabolism. The results obtained suggest a potential use of salivary proteins in monitoring physiological changes in dogs subjected to weight loss. Moreover, the type of changes identified reinforces the postulated physiological improvements, which weight loss induces. Further research is needed to determine whether the changes observed in this study are due to weight loss, dietary changes, or a combination of both.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32361424/