Senior Manager Clinical Trials Nestle Purina PetCare Company St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Abstract:
Background: Digestive health benefits of fibers and prebiotics are dependent on host microbiome fermentation ability. In vitro fermentation can be used to predict ingredients that provide a health benefit and reduce the number of animal tests conducted. Hypothesis/
Objectives: To use species-specific intestinal in vitro fermentation studies to determine potential digestive health benefits of the combination of pumpkin and inulin. Animals: Fresh fecal inoculum was collected from colony-housed healthy dogs and cats.
Methods: Fibers evaluated were inulin, pumpkin, and the combination of pumpkin and inulin (PI). In vitro fermentation studies were conducted under anaerobic conditions. Incremental measures of microbial fermentation and metabolic activity were evaluated following 12-h of fermentation.
Results: An indication of fermentation (pH decrease) was lowest for inulin and PI for both species. Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus were increased with all substrates, with the largest increase with PI in both species. Total short-chain fatty acids were increased with all substrates for canine, the largest increase was observed for PI. Acetate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acids were increased with pumpkin and PI for feline. Total branched-chain fatty acids were decreased with pumpkin and PI for canine and all substrates for feline, with the largest decrease with PI. Conclusions and clinical importance: In dogs, inulin and pumpkin improved digestive health measures when evaluated individually; however, the combination of the two performed best. In cats, pumpkin and PI improved digestive health measures. Bacteria shifts were greatest with PI for both species.
