# Effects of a Low-Fat Diet Supplemented with Plant Extract on Lipid Metabolism, Antioxidant Capacity, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota in Healthy Beagles

## TL;DR

A low-fat diet with plant extract improved lipid metabolism, gut health, and inflammation in healthy dogs more effectively than a low-fat diet alone.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel dietary strategy combining low-fat diets with plant extract to enhance lipid metabolism and gut microbiota in dogs.

## Key findings

- Low-fat diets reduced triglycerides, LDL, and bile acids in dogs.
- Plant extract supplementation increased antioxidant capacity and reduced inflammation markers.
- The combination diet enriched beneficial gut bacteria like Lactobacillus and increased metabolites like GABA and glutamine.

## Abstract

Obesity is a common and serious health problem in pets. This study aimed to investigate whether a low-fat diet, with or without supplementation of a specific plant extract blend, could improve lipid metabolism in healthy dogs. In an 8-week animal trial, three dietary regimens were compared: a conventional diet, a low-fat diet, and a low-fat diet supplemented with the plant extracts. The results showed that both low-fat diets regulated lipid metabolism. Furthermore, the low-fat diet with plant extract supplementation enhanced antioxidant capacity, improved intestinal barrier function, modulated the relative abundance of beneficial gut bacteria, and increased beneficial metabolites in beagles. In conclusion, while a simple low-fat diet was effective, its combination with plant extracts provides a more comprehensive dietary strategy.

Obesity has become a major disease in dogs and cats. Dietary management is a preventive measure because controlling energy intake (e.g., portion size and diet energy density) helps maintain an ideal BCS and reduces the likelihood of progressive weight gain and associated metabolic abnormalities. This study evaluated a low-fat diet, with or without plant-extract supplementation, and its effects on serum biochemistry, lipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and metabolic profiles in healthy beagles. Thirty beagles were randomly divided into three groups (n = 10 per group): a conventional diet (Group A), a low-fat diet (Group B), and a low-fat diet supplemented with plant extract (Group C). The experiment lasted for a total of 9 weeks, comprising an adaptation period of one week and an experimental period of eight weeks. Results showed that, compared with Group A, the low-fat diet interventions (Groups B and C) significantly reduced serum levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and total bile acids (p < 0.05). Furthermore, superoxide dismutase activity was significantly higher in Groups B and C than in Group A (p < 0.05). Compared with both Groups A and B, Group C exhibited significantly lower malondialdehyde levels, reduced proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6; p < 0.05), and decreased serum diamine oxidase activity and lipopolysaccharide levels (p < 0.05). The gut microbiota analysis revealed that Group C had a significantly increased relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis further indicated that beneficial metabolites, including γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamine, were significantly upregulated in Group C (p < 0.05). In conclusion, while a low-fat diet effectively regulated serum lipids in healthy dogs, the supplementation of a blended extract from Atractylodes lancea, Magnolia officinalis, and Citrus reticulata Blanco demonstrated broader efficacy. It further improved lipid metabolism, systemic antioxidant status, and intestinal barrier function, while attenuating inflammation and enriching beneficial gut microbes (Lactobacillus) and metabolites (GABA and glutamine). These findings suggest that while a low-fat diet alone is beneficial, its combination with plant extract provides a novel dietary strategy for promoting lipid metabolism and potentially reducing obesity-related disease risk in dogs.