Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How omega-3 and body fat affect blood hormones in healthy dogs
By Mazaki-Tovi, Michal et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2012·Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, United States·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and body condition on serum concentrations of adipokines in healthy dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study involving 62 healthy adult dogs found that a specific omega-3 fatty acid called docosapentaenoic acid may help improve certain health markers. Higher levels of this fatty acid were linked to increased levels of adiponectin and leptin, which are beneficial for metabolism, and lower levels of triglycerides, which can indicate better heart health. The research suggests that including omega-3 fatty acids in your dog's diet could support their overall health by positively affecting these important substances in their blood.
People also search for: omega-3 for dogs · dog triglyceride levels · how to improve dog metabolism · healthy dog diet omega-3
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between serum concentrations of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids or body condition and serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, or triglyceride in healthy dogs. ANIMALS: 62 healthy adult client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES: Body condition score and percentage of body fat were determined. Blood samples were collected after food was withheld for 12 hours. Serum was harvested for total lipid determination, fatty acid analysis, and measurement of serum concentrations of adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, and triglyceride. Associations between the outcome variables (adiponectin, leptin, insulin, glucose, and triglyceride concentrations) and each of several variables (age, sex, percentage of body fat, and concentrations of total lipid, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid) were determined. RESULTS: Serum concentrations of docosapentaenoic acid were significantly positively associated with concentrations of adiponectin and leptin and negatively associated with concentrations of triglyceride. Serum concentrations of α-linolenic acid were significantly positively associated with concentrations of triglyceride. No significant associations were detected between serum concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid or docosahexaenoic acid and any of the outcome variables. Percentage of body fat was significantly positively associated with concentrations of leptin, insulin, and triglyceride but was not significantly associated with adiponectin concentration. Age was positively associated with concentrations of leptin, insulin, and triglyceride and negatively associated with concentrations of adiponectin. Sex did not significantly affect serum concentrations for any of the outcome variables. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Docosapentaenoic acid may increase serum concentrations of adiponectin and leptin and decrease serum triglyceride concentration in healthy dogs.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22849688/