Page 102 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

102 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

Table 5-21. Fatty acid composition of commercial fats and oils.*
VetBooks.ir Fatty Chicken Fish Corn Sunflower Soybean Olive

acid
<0.1
0.1
0.5
<0.1
4.2
0.1
Myristic
8.4
14:0 Name Butter** Tallow** Lard*** fat*** oil*** oil** oil** oil** oil**
2.6
1.4
16:0 Palmitic 21.3 7.4 24.1 20.4 16.2 9.9 6.3 10.1 11.4
16:1 Palmitoleic 1.1 1.9 3.5 7.6 11.6 0.1 0.1 <0.1 0.1
18:0 Stearic 8.9 24.2 12.2 4.4 2.4 2.1 3.8 1.4 2.4
18:1n-9 Oleic 18.8 13.8 42.8 37.6 10.9 25.6 20.9 20.4 65.5
18:2n-6 Linoleic 1.0 3.9 11.7 12.3 1.2 53.1 62.3 51.8 10.4
18:3n-3 Alpha-linolenic 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.2 1.0 0.1 7.3 0.5
18:3n-6 Gamma-linolenic 0.2 <0.1 0.1 0.2 0.4 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1
20:4n-6 Arachidonic 0.7 0.6 0.1 0.2 0.4 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1
20:5n-3 Eicosapentaenoic <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 14.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1
22:6n-3 Docosahexaenoic <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 11.9 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1
*All values are expressed as g/100 g.
**Adapted from Hyvonen L, Lampi AM, Varo P, et al. Fatty acid analysis, TAG equivalents as net fat value, and nutritional attributes of
commercial fats and oils. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis 1993; 6: 24-40.
***Unpublished data, generally in agreement with published standards (Handbook 8, USDA, Washington, DC).
and at least 0.02% DM arachidonic acid. Neurologic Development
Studies with primates have shown that 22:6n-3 (DHA) In children, during periods of early growth, DHA is needed
is essential for the normal development of nervous tissue to support retinal and auditory development (Pawlosky et al,
and the retina (Neuringer et al, 1984). Studies with piglets 1997; Birch et al, 2002; Diau et al, 2003). DHA enhancement
have shown that dietary omega-3 fatty acids influence of visual and auditory development has also been demonstrat-
developing brain and retina (Arbuckle and Innis, 1992). ed in other species. These enhancements reflect a general
The eicosanoids resulting from omega-3 fatty acid metab- improvement in neurologic development overall, as a result of
olism are less immunologically stimulating than those dietary supplementation of DHA during growth. Further-
resulting from omega-6 fatty acids (Figure 5-18). Thus, more, brain development and learning ability are enhanced in
feeding omega-3 fatty acids has been recommended in sit- infants supplemented with DHA (Birch et al, 2002; Hoffman
uations in which a reduced inflammatory response is et al, 2003). Because of these studies and others, it is now
desired such as: 1) before and after surgery, 2) after trauma, accepted that human infant formulas need supplemental
injury, burns and some types of cancer and 3) to assist in DHA for proper brain development (Uauy and Mena, 2001;
control of dermatitis, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease Birch et al, 2000).
and colitis (Hansen et al, 1995; Ogilvie et al, 1995; Similar to findings in other species, inclusion of fish oil as a
Kinsella et al, 1990). source of DHA in puppy foods improved trainability (Kelley et
Fatty acids of the omega-3 family, when compared with al,2004).Conversion of short-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids
those in the omega-6 family, have been shown, in some to DHA is an inefficient process in mammals. Thus, there is a
cases, to decrease platelet aggregation and increase bleeding need to consider the essentiality of adding a source of DHA for
time (Leaf and Weber, 1988). Dietary omega-3 fatty acids growing puppies and kittens. The need for DHA supplemen-
slightly depressed platelet activity in rats and people; how- tation during growth in kittens may be even more important
ever, this finding is usually not a practical problem in healthy than in puppies considering the cat’s reduced ability to convert
animals (Goodnight, 1989). Healthy adult dogs fed 7% of shorter chain fatty acids to DHA.
the food DM as omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, over a
period of two months, showed no problems with activated Osteoarthritis and Cartilage Health
partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, buccal Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation associated with
mucosal bleeding time clotting or platelet aggregation arthritis. Recent work suggests that incorporating EPA into
(Myers et al, 1996). canine cartilage models reduced the amount of glycosamino-
Although more research with omega-3 fatty acids in com- glycan release when challenged with a stimulant compared to
panion animals needs to be done, it is prudent to conclude that culturing with arachidonic acid (Chapter 34). Addition of EPA
omega-3 fatty acids will be shown to be essential for normal to dog food suppresses production of proinflammatory
function of the retina and brain as well as for physiologic home- cytokines and cartilage degradative enzymes (Yamka et al,
ostasis. At this time there are no conclusive data proving the 2006a). Another study further demonstrated improved mobili-
optimal level or relationship of omega-3 fatty acids to omega- ty and reduced cartilage degradation biomarkers. These data
6 fatty acids for any species at any specific lifestage. The opti- demonstrate the antiinflammatory effect of EPA in dogs, and
mal relationship will likely depend on many individual param- the importance of omega-3 lipids for enhanced mobility.
eters and differ depending on individual physiologic function Similarly, in cats, cartilage health can be enhanced by omega-
(Boxes 5-7 and 5-13). 3 fatty acid supplementation as in dogs (Yamka et al, 2006b).