Functional ingredients as a natural support for weight management in pets

Pet owners’ concerns drive demand

Numbers of overweight and obese dogs have steadily increased over the last few decades and exceed 50% in Western countries.¹ Excessive weight is linked to metabolic and skeletal associated disorders and impacts the quality of life of both dog and owner.

This is reflected in pet owners’ interest in tackling such issues: A recent global survey conducted by FMCG Gurus on behalf of BENEO showed that 3 in 4 pet owners worldwide were concerned with their pet’s weight² and around 4 in 5 agreed that an on-pack claim about helping to control their pet’s weight naturally affects their purchase intention of a pet food product to some extent.³

Here, nutrient choice has an important role to play, especially in regards to which carbohydrate is used. Firstly, because overweight or obese pets are at risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance.

Secondly, low glycaemic diets have been shown to support weight loss and improve metabolic health in both humans and dogs.⁴ Therefore, finding functional ingredients that can help with weight and blood glucose management is key.  

Insights into isomaltulose’s potential in canine nutrition

A series of in-vitro and in-vivo studies initiated by BENEO and conducted by Corbee et al⁵, have evaluated the digestion of isomaltulose, as well as its glycaemic and insulinaemic effects in dogs, compared to other relevant carbohydrate sources.

The study results demonstrate that isomaltulose is a suitable low glycaemic ingredient for use in dog food, triggering a lower blood glucose rise after consumption. This property makes it a particularly interesting solution with the potential to support metabolic health and weight management.

In total, three studies were carried out by the teams from universities in Utrecht and Wageningen. The first, an in-vitro study of small intestinal tissue samples from three dogs, evaluated the small intestinal hydrolysis of isomaltulose compared to sucrose, maltose, maltodextrin, lactose and ɑ-trehalose.

The aim was to confirm if dogs have the ability to digest isomaltulose, as well as compare it with other carbohydrate sources. The findings showed that it can be digested by canine intestinal enzymes, with a lower enzyme activity compared to high glycaemic carbohydrates, indicating a slower rate of hydrolysis.

The second and third studies compared the effects of isomaltulose, sucrose and maltodextrin in an in-vivo set-up. One of the studies assessed the glycaemic effects of the three carbohydrates in nine dogs and using a 3×3 Latin-square design⁶.

After an overnight fast, the blood glycaemia and insulinaemia were measured 0-180 minutes after the administration of a single dose of either isomaltulose, sucrose or maltodextrin. The results showed that isomaltulose significantly lowered blood glucose and insulin responses in the dogs, compared to maltodextrin or sucrose.

The goal of the final study was to assess the glycaemic properties of isomaltulose in dogs, after continuous intake. This was based on the assumption that the abilities to digest isomaltulose might evolve through adaptation, so that its impact on blood glucose levels would get closer to the other carbohydrates.

In this study, 18 dogs received a 50:50 mix of isomaltulose and sucrose (1g per kg bodyweight) daily for two weeks. They were then split into three equal groups which each received a single dose of either isomaltulose, sucrose or maltodextrin after an overnight fast. Following this, the dogs’ blood glucose and insulin responses were measured. Even after continuous intake over two weeks, the low glycaemic and insulinaemic properties of isomaltulose were confirmed.

Moving towards enhanced pet nutrition

Commenting on the findings, Dr Maygane Ronsmans, Product Manager Animal Nutrition at BENEO says:

“This research is of great importance as it offers the first comprehensive characterisation of isomaltulose with respect to its digestibility and metabolic effects in dogs. The low glycaemic properties of isomaltulose already shown in other species, including humans, pigs and rodents, have now been confirmed in dogs. The combined results of this study suggest that isomaltulose would be a suitable energy source in dog food, which contributes to a more stable blood glucose response, and may improve the dog’s metabolic profile and overall health.”

Isomaltulose is a disaccharide which occurs naturally in honey. It is composed of glucose and fructose, characterised by a stronger glycosidic bond than that of usual sugar. Isomaltulose is a direct source of energy that generates a more balanced blood glucose response, distinguishing it from high glycaemic energy sources, such as heat treated cereals and conventional sugars (e.g., dextrose). BENEO derives isomaltulose from sugar beet at its production plant for functional carbohydrates in Offstein, Germany.

The proven power of chicory root fibres

Other functional ingredients that enable blood sugar management in dogs⁷⁻¹⁰, as well as weight management in pets¹¹⁻¹³ are BENEO’s natural chicory root fibres Orafti® Inulin and Oligofructose. These inulin-type fructans belong to the very few scientifically proven prebiotics¹⁴, that support a pet’s intestinal health and are linked with nutritional benefits that go beyond the gut. For example, studies show that including Orafti® Inulin and Oligofructose in a pet’s diet can curb their appetite, improve satiety and hence decrease voluntary food intake.¹⁵⁻¹⁷ In doing so, chicory root fibres can help to maintain the healthy condition of a pet’s body. 

Additionally, since inulin-type fructans are non-digestible carbohydrates and dietary fibres, they do not trigger a rise in postprandial blood glucose or insulin concentrations. As a result, they support blood sugar management in dogs.

What’s more, studies in dogs have shown that feeding them with chicory prebiotics can allow for a lower blood sugar response after a meal¹⁸⁻²⁰, and this benefit can extend to a subsequent meal taken hours later, even if that meal doesn’t include chicory root fibres;²⁰⁻²¹ which is called the second meal effect. 

With more and more companion animals struggling with being overweight or obese, it is no wonder that pet food producers are turning to functional ingredients, such as BENEO’s, to help owners resolve these issues. By choosing the right ones, it is now possible to support weight and blood sugar management in pets more naturally, whilst supporting their long-term health.

BENEO-Animal Nutrition offers a broad range of natural ingredients with nutritional benefits. The product range is comprised of vegetable proteins, digestible carbohydrates, prebiotic chicory root fibres and specialty rice ingredients. BENEO-Animal Nutrition extends BENEO´s unique expertise in human food to the world of pet food, livestock feed and aqua feed.

BENEO, a division of the Südzucker Group, employs more than 1000 people and has production units in Belgium, Chile, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands. 

For further information on BENEO and its ingredients, please visit: www.beneo.com.

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