Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Weight loss effects on immune and metabolism in overweight dogs
By Vitger, A D et al.·Published in Domestic animal endocrinology·2017·Department of Veterinary Clinical and Animal Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Immunometabolic parameters in overweight dogs during weight loss with or without an exercise program.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of overweight dogs participated in a 12-week weight loss program, either with a diet and exercise plan or just a diet. Both groups lost weight and showed some improvements in their health markers, like lower levels of certain inflammatory substances and insulin resistance. However, there were no significant differences between the dogs that exercised and those that didn't, suggesting that simply losing weight can help improve health, regardless of physical activity levels. Both groups seemed to benefit from the weight loss, but adding exercise didn't provide extra health improvements.
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Abstract
The influence of physical activity on metabolic health in overweight dogs is unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate biomarkers of immunometabolic health in relation to changes in physical activity and adiposity. Client-owned overweight dogs participated in a 12-wk intervention based on caloric restriction combined with a training program (fitness and diet [FD] group, n = 8), or caloric restriction alone (diet-only [DO] group, n = 8). Physical activity was monitored by accelerometry. All dogs were fed the same diet and achieved similar weight loss. Fasting blood samples were collected before and after 6- and 12-wk intervention. Insulin resistance was evaluated from plasma insulin and C-peptide as well as homeostasis model assessment. Inflammation and dyslipidemia were evaluated from circulating leptin, adiponectin, C-reactive protein (CRP), monocyte chemoattractant factor-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and cholesterol. Accelerometer counts in both groups were high compared with previous reports of physical activity in overweight dogs. No difference in blood parameters was evident between groups, evaluated by linear mixed-effects model (P > 0.05). Within the groups, the following changes were significant by t-test (P < 0.05): leptin decreased in both groups. Within the FD group, IL-8, MCP-1, and CRP decreased at 6 wk and IL-8 and cholesterol at 12 wk. Within the DO group, C-peptide and HOMA decreased at 6 wk and C-peptide at 12 wk. We conclude that, for both groups, weight loss resulted in minor indications of improved immunometabolic health, whereas this level of physical activity did not add further benefits.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27951413/