The fecal metabolomic signature of a plant-based (vegan) diet compared to an animal-based diet in healthy adult client-owned dogs

TL;DR

This study compares the fecal metabolomic effects of a plant-based diet versus an animal-based diet in dogs, finding distinct metabolic differences favoring the plant-based diet.

Contribution

The study provides novel insights into the fecal metabolomic signature of plant-based diets in dogs compared to animal-based diets.

Findings

Dogs on a plant-based diet showed increased metabolites related to carbohydrate fermentation, such as acetic and propanoic acid.

The fecal metabolic signature of dogs fed a plant-based diet was distinct from those fed an animal-based diet despite similar nutrient profiles.

Only two metabolites changed in the animal-based diet group over time, while 46 changed in the plant-based diet group.

Abstract

Despite the rising popularity of plant-based (vegan) diets for dogs, the metabolic effects of plant-based diets in dogs have not been thoroughly investigated. Evaluating the impact of a vegan diet on the fecal metabolome in dogs could offer valuable insight into the effects on gastrointestinal and overall health. This study evaluated the fecal metabolic signature of an experimental extruded vegan diet (PLANT) compared to a commercial extruded animal-based diet (MEAT) in healthy adult dogs. Sixty-one client-owned healthy adult dogs completed a randomized, double-blinded longitudinal study consisting of a 4-wk acclimation period, where all dogs received the MEAT diet, followed by a 12-wk experimental period where they either continued with the MEAT diet or switched to the PLANT diet. Fecal collections occurred at baseline (after 4-wk acclimation) and exit (after the experimental period). Fecal metabolites were quantified using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Multiple mixed model gamma linear regression was used to evaluate the association of metabolite concentration against age, sex, and body weight, along with an interaction between diet and time. Sixty-six metabolites were quantified. Only 2/66 metabolites differed between groups at baseline and within the MEAT diet group over time. In contrast, 46/66 metabolites differed in concentrations over time in response to feeding the PLANT diet. At the exit time-point, dogs fed the PLANT diet had increased metabolites related to carbohydrate fermentation, such as acetic (P < 0.01) and propanoic (P < 0.01) acid and increases in sugar metabolites when compared to the MEAT group. These findings indicate that the fecal metabolic signature of dogs fed a plant-based diet is distinct from dogs fed an animal-based diet, even if both diets have a similar nutrient profile and are processed similarly.

The study evaluated the impact of a plant-based (vegan) diet on the fecal metabolome of healthy adult dogs in comparison to a commercial animal-based diet. Sixty-one client-owned dogs completed a randomized, double-blinded longitudinal study where they either consumed an animal-based or plant-based diet exclusively for 12 wk. Fecal collections occurred at 2 time points (baseline and exit) and were analyzed using 1H NMR spectroscopy where results revealed changes in the fecal metabolic signature of dogs, highlighting distinct metabolic responses between plant and animal diets.

Graphical Abstract

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