title: Nutritional Interventions that Slow the Age-Associated Decline in Renal Function in a Canine Geriatric Model for Elderly Humans.
abstract: To determine the effects of feeding traditional and renal protective foods (RPF) supplemented with functional food bioactives on glomerular filtration rate (GFR), lean body percent (LB%), and selected circulating biomarker and metabolite concentrations in a geriatric dog model.
  
  
  
  Randomized block design and cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. dog colony.
  
  
  
  Eighty-one geriatric dogs (mean age, 10.4; range, 7.9-14.2 years) and 30 mature-adult dogs (mean age, 5.0; range, 3.3-6.9 years).
  
  
  
  Geriatric dogs were fed one of three foods (n = 27 per group) for 6 months: a traditional RPF (control) that was energy dense and mildly protein-restricted, or control food supplemented with increasing amounts of functional food bioactives: fish oil, lipoic acid, fruits and vegetables, and higher quality protein sources [functional foods one (FF1) and two (FF2)]. Geriatric dogs were compared before and after the feeding trial with mature adult dogs.
  
  
  
  Renal function was assessed by GFR, LB% was determined by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and circulating biomarkers and metabolites were measured in blood.
  
  
  
  Before the feeding trial, GFR (+28.2%), LB% (+18.6%), and serum total protein (+10.0%) were higher in mature versus healthy geriatric dogs (all P<0.001). Geriatric dogs consuming all three foods increased (P<0.001) GFR over time; group averages ranged from 13.0-16.9%. Dogs fed the highest supplemented level of bioactives (FF2) had lower (P<0.001) symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) concentrations (-14.3%). Feeding functional foods did not alter body weight, but increased (P<0.001) serum protein concentration (+6.7%).
  
  
  
  Supplementation with functional food bioactives can temporarily reverse the age-associated decline in renal function and serum total protein.
authors.affiliation: Jean A. Hall, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Dryden Hall 206, Corvallis, OR 97331-4802. Phone (541) 737-6537; FAX (541) 737-2730; E-mail Jean.Hall@oregonstate.edu.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yerramilli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Obare
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yerramilli
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Panickar
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bobe
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Jewell
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight; D002331:Carnitine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005395:Fish Oils / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D005638:Fruit; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D014675:Vegetables
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005395:Fish Oils; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D001120:Arginine; D002331:Carnitine