Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Weight loss effects on blood and heart health in obese dogs
By Piantedosi, Diego et al.·Published in Frontiers in veterinary science·2020·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, Italy·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of a Weight Loss Program on Biochemical and Immunological Profile, Serum Leptin Levels, and Cardiovascular Parameters in Obese Dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Eleven obese dogs were put on a weight loss program to see how it would affect their health. After six months, the dogs lost weight, which led to lower levels of a hormone called leptin and reduced inflammation markers in their blood. While their blood pressure remained stable and some heart measurements improved, the immune system changes did not fully return to normal. Overall, the weight loss program helped these dogs become healthier, but more research is needed to understand the long-term effects of obesity on their hearts and immune systems.
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Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of a weight loss program (WLP) on biochemical and immunological profile, and cardiovascular parameters in a cohort of dogs with naturally occurring obesity. Eleven obese dogs [body condition scoring (BCS), ≥7/9] were enrolled into the study and underwent clinical and cardiovascular examination, and blood testing before (T0) and after 6 months (T1) of WLP. Eleven normal weight (BCS, 4/5) healthy dogs were used as a control (CTR) group. Compared to the CTR group, at T0 obese dogs expressed higher serum leptin concentrations (< 0.0005) that significantly decreased after weight loss (< 0.005) but remained higher than the CTR group. Furthermore, obese dogs showed considerably lower levels (< 0.0005) of regulatory T cell (Treg) compared to the CTR group, but they did not change after weight loss at T1. In obese dogs, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 concentrations were substantially reduced at T1 (< 0.0001 and< 0.005). Regarding the cardiovascular parameters, only one obese dog was hypertensive at T0, and systolic blood pressure values showed no significant differences at the end of the WLP. The ratio of interventricular septal thickness in diastole to left ventricle internal diameter in diastole (IVSd/LVIDd) was significantly greater in obese dogs at T0 than in the CTR group (< 0.005). It decreased after weight loss (< 0.05). In obese dogs, troponin I level significantly reduced with weight loss (< 0.05), while endothelin-1 level did not differ statistically. The results suggest that the immune dysregulation in the presence of high leptin levels and reduced number of Treg could affect obese dogs as well as humans. Based on our findings, we may speculate that a more complete immune-regulation restore could be obtained by a greater reduction in fat mass and a longer-term WLP. Finally, left ventricular remodeling may occur in some obese dogs. However, in canine species, further studies are needed to investigate the impact of obesity and related WLP on cardiovascular system.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32851001/