Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Leucine and pyridoxine help obese dogs lose weight and keep muscle
By Murphy, Maryanne et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2020·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of a Leucine/Pyridoxine Nutraceutical on Caloric Intake and Body Composition of Obese Dogs Losing Weight.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 24 healthy, 2-year-old beagles that were overweight participated in a study to see if a special supplement containing leucine and pyridoxine could help them lose weight while keeping their muscle. Over 12 weeks, some dogs received the supplement with their regular diet, while others got a placebo or a special weight loss diet. The dogs that received the supplement or the weight loss diet lost similar amounts of weight and fat, while those on the placebo lost much less. This suggests that the supplement could be a good option for helping dogs lose weight safely without needing to change their diet drastically.
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Abstract
The aim of this 29-week randomized, positively and negatively controlled study was to investigate whether a nutraceutical containing 1 g leucine and 13 mg pyridoxine can enhance weight loss while maintaining lean muscle mass in obese dogs. Twenty-four healthy, 2-year-old beagles were initially divided into obesification (= 18) or ideal body weight groups (= 6). After obesification, the 18 dogs were divided into three weight loss groups and fed one of the following over 12 weeks: nutraceutical with canned adult diet (CAD; ObN), placebo with CAD (ObP), or a canned therapeutic weight loss diet (WLD). Dogs in the ideal body weight (IBW) group were fed maintenance calorie requirements with CAD over 12 weeks. Based on MANOVA, ObN and WLD lost similar amounts of total weight (3.6 ± 0.9 vs. 4.4 ± 1.1 kg, respectively) and fat mass (3.1 ± 0.6 vs. 3.9 ± 0.8 kg, respectively) after 12 weeks of treatment, and more than ObP (1.1 ± 1.2 kg weight; 0.9 ± 1.0 kg fat;< 0.0001). These data show the nutraceutical is a promising option for successful weight loss in dogs. Maintenance levels of CAD were able to induce weight loss without risk of hypo- or anorexia, or the need to switch diets or restrict energy intake.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33195491/