# Exploring the effects of quercetin-added pancreatic diet on metabolic homeostasis in dogs via metabolomics

## TL;DR

This study shows that adding quercetin to a dog's diet improves metabolic processes, especially related to fats and amino acids, without harmful side effects.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates quercetin's role in enhancing pancreatic metabolism and its safety in dogs.

## Key findings

- Quercetin-added diet increased plasma lipase levels in dogs after 8 weeks.
- Quercetin improved fatty acid, amino acid, and bile acid metabolism in dogs.
- Metabolomics analysis showed activation of ABC transport and arginine/proline pathways.

## Abstract

To investigate the role of quercetin-added pancreatic prescription food in regulating metabolic homeostasis in dogs.

The experimental dogs were divided into a control diet group and a prescription diet group. The control group was fed regular food, while the prescription group was fed pancreatic prescription food (3.9 g of quercetin was added in per 1 kg of food) for 8 weeks. Canine physical examination, complete blood count, and serum biochemical tests were conducted at 0 w, 4 w, and 8 w. Non-targeted metabolomics tests were performed using plasma samples at 0 w and 8 w.

Dogs that received a quercetin-added pancreatic diet supplemented with quercetin showed no changes in the body weight, fasting blood glucose, body condition score, the indexes of whole blood program of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and most blood biochemical indexes, but increased lipase levels in plasma at 8 w. Quercetin significant improved in metabolic homeostasis, especially in fatty acid, amino acid, and bile acid metabolism. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that quercetin activates ABC transport and arginine/proline pathways, suggesting potential benefits for pancreatitis in large animals, while maintaining comparable safety parameters.

Quercetin-added prescription food enhances fatty acid and amino acid metabolism, demonstrating its potential to promote pancreatic function and sustain metabolic homeostasis.