This document discusses the relationship between canine nutrition and behavior. It notes that as humans become more invested in their pets' health and longevity, their interest in pet nutrition has also increased. However, the document questions whether consumer perceptions of healthy pet diets are supported by scientific research. It reviews several studies that found nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy and lactation can negatively impact offspring development and behavior in ways that persist into adulthood. The document suggests nutrients are important for regulating behavior, and that more research is still needed to fully understand these connections.
Infant Feeding And Feeding Transitions During The First Year Of LifeBiblioteca Virtual
This document summarizes infant feeding patterns during the first year of life based on data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Key findings include:
1) While 83% of infants were breastfed in the hospital, 42% of these infants also received formula supplementation. By 3 months, 61% of infants received formula.
2) Solid foods were introduced earlier than recommended, with 40% of infants consuming cereal and 17% consuming fruits/vegetables by 4 months of age.
3) Early introduction of solids was associated with discontinuing breastfeeding earlier and consuming more fatty/sugary foods by 12 months.
Genetically modified foods are foods that have been altered at the genetic level using genetic engineering techniques. While some argue GM foods could pose risks to human health and the environment, others believe they could help address issues like malnutrition. However, there is still a lack of long-term research on the health impacts of consuming GM foods. Additionally, widespread adoption of GM foods could negatively impact small farmers if unable to keep up with the technology. Overall, there are ongoing ethical debates around both the benefits and risks of GM foods for human health, societies, and the agricultural industry.
This document discusses genetic modification of food. It outlines some of the potential pros and cons. Among the pros discussed are improving nutrition and making crops more resistant to diseases. Among the cons discussed are risks of antibiotic resistant genes transferring to bacteria, negative health effects seen in animals fed GM foods including tumors and reproductive issues, and increased risk of cancers from growth hormones in GM dairy. The conclusion is that long term effects are unknown and it may be better to avoid risks to human health and DNA by growing food naturally rather than genetically modifying it.
The study examined the effect of dam dominance on kid growth in domestic goats. It found that litter size and sex had a greater influence on growth than dam dominance. Single kids gained more weight than twins or triplets. Males also gained more weight on average than females. Ultimately, dam dominance did not significantly impact kid growth rates.
POSTER Influence of breastfeeding on infant allergy developmentAnya Guy
This document discusses the influence of breastfeeding on infant allergy development. It finds that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and any breastfeeding for 1 year is most beneficial for decreasing food allergy risk. Components in breast milk like food antigens, antimicrobial peptides, and cytokines provide immunoprotective effects that help infants digest potentially allergenic foods. The duration of breastfeeding is correlated with decreased infant allergy development.
The document summarizes a community food security report conducted in Brown County, Wisconsin in 2009. It describes the history and purpose of the report, which was to assess food security among at-risk households and compare results to previous years. It outlines the preparation process, which included forming an advisory committee and training social work students to administer a translated survey assessing food security. Key findings are presented on the demographics of food pantry users surveyed, including that 69% were female, most common ages were 26-59, and over half had a high school education or less.
Long term flavor recognition in humans with prenatal garlic experience - quee...BARRY STANLEY 2 fasd
Prenatal exposure to garlic influenced the food preferences of 8-9 year old children. Children whose mothers consumed garlic during pregnancy ate significantly more garlic-flavored potato and more total potato compared to a control group without prenatal garlic exposure, especially during a second trial one month later. This demonstrates that prenatal sensory experiences can impact behavior into childhood.
Three key factors contribute to children's desire to eat excess calories: 1) social desirability bias and lack of awareness of environmental eating cues can influence a child's eating behavior more than an adult's; 2) without adult guidance, a child is unable to properly monitor their energy intake; 3) binge eating large amounts of calories at once plays a significant role in childhood obesity development and maintenance. The document discusses reward systems, parental examples, and offering options as ways to motivate healthy food choices in children.
Infant Feeding And Feeding Transitions During The First Year Of LifeBiblioteca Virtual
This document summarizes infant feeding patterns during the first year of life based on data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study II. Key findings include:
1) While 83% of infants were breastfed in the hospital, 42% of these infants also received formula supplementation. By 3 months, 61% of infants received formula.
2) Solid foods were introduced earlier than recommended, with 40% of infants consuming cereal and 17% consuming fruits/vegetables by 4 months of age.
3) Early introduction of solids was associated with discontinuing breastfeeding earlier and consuming more fatty/sugary foods by 12 months.
Genetically modified foods are foods that have been altered at the genetic level using genetic engineering techniques. While some argue GM foods could pose risks to human health and the environment, others believe they could help address issues like malnutrition. However, there is still a lack of long-term research on the health impacts of consuming GM foods. Additionally, widespread adoption of GM foods could negatively impact small farmers if unable to keep up with the technology. Overall, there are ongoing ethical debates around both the benefits and risks of GM foods for human health, societies, and the agricultural industry.
This document discusses genetic modification of food. It outlines some of the potential pros and cons. Among the pros discussed are improving nutrition and making crops more resistant to diseases. Among the cons discussed are risks of antibiotic resistant genes transferring to bacteria, negative health effects seen in animals fed GM foods including tumors and reproductive issues, and increased risk of cancers from growth hormones in GM dairy. The conclusion is that long term effects are unknown and it may be better to avoid risks to human health and DNA by growing food naturally rather than genetically modifying it.
The study examined the effect of dam dominance on kid growth in domestic goats. It found that litter size and sex had a greater influence on growth than dam dominance. Single kids gained more weight than twins or triplets. Males also gained more weight on average than females. Ultimately, dam dominance did not significantly impact kid growth rates.
POSTER Influence of breastfeeding on infant allergy developmentAnya Guy
This document discusses the influence of breastfeeding on infant allergy development. It finds that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and any breastfeeding for 1 year is most beneficial for decreasing food allergy risk. Components in breast milk like food antigens, antimicrobial peptides, and cytokines provide immunoprotective effects that help infants digest potentially allergenic foods. The duration of breastfeeding is correlated with decreased infant allergy development.
The document summarizes a community food security report conducted in Brown County, Wisconsin in 2009. It describes the history and purpose of the report, which was to assess food security among at-risk households and compare results to previous years. It outlines the preparation process, which included forming an advisory committee and training social work students to administer a translated survey assessing food security. Key findings are presented on the demographics of food pantry users surveyed, including that 69% were female, most common ages were 26-59, and over half had a high school education or less.
Long term flavor recognition in humans with prenatal garlic experience - quee...BARRY STANLEY 2 fasd
Prenatal exposure to garlic influenced the food preferences of 8-9 year old children. Children whose mothers consumed garlic during pregnancy ate significantly more garlic-flavored potato and more total potato compared to a control group without prenatal garlic exposure, especially during a second trial one month later. This demonstrates that prenatal sensory experiences can impact behavior into childhood.
Three key factors contribute to children's desire to eat excess calories: 1) social desirability bias and lack of awareness of environmental eating cues can influence a child's eating behavior more than an adult's; 2) without adult guidance, a child is unable to properly monitor their energy intake; 3) binge eating large amounts of calories at once plays a significant role in childhood obesity development and maintenance. The document discusses reward systems, parental examples, and offering options as ways to motivate healthy food choices in children.
Autism: unlocking a generation features - ScotsmanIvan Consiglio
Dr. Martha Herbert believes that autism has been wrongly categorized as a genetic, lifelong psychiatric condition. She argues that autism is actually a treatable whole-body condition caused by a breakdown in calcium channels due to genetics, toxins, or both. She advocates treating autism by addressing nutrient deficiencies through a healthy diet of fermented and probiotic foods, regular exercise, and establishing good sleeping patterns. If these elementary lifestyle changes were implemented, Dr. Herbert believes that the vast majority of autism cases could potentially be eradicated.
This study examined the relationship between infant temperament and formula intake and weight gain in 3-month-old infants in the Philippines. The researchers administered the Carey Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire to mothers of 222 healthy formula-fed infants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of infant formulas. Multivariate regression models controlling for confounders found inverse relationships between several temperament traits (adaptability, mood, distractibility, manageability) and both the frequency and total daily intake of formula. This suggests that infants with more difficult temperaments received more formula feeds and intake, which could lead to excessive weight gain. The study was the first to demonstrate an association between infant temperament and feeding practices.
This document provides information about vegetarians and vegetarianism. It defines vegetarians and vegans, and discusses some of the main reasons people choose these diets, including ethics, health, religion and the environment. Demographic data is presented on the number of vegetarians in the UK and US, broken down by age, gender and over time. Some popular vegetarian food companies and products are described. The document also notes foods and ingredients that may not be suitable for vegetarians due to containing animal products.
This document provides a literature review of 14 studies related to infant feeding behaviors and early childhood obesity prevention. The studies examined factors like maternal physical activity, pre-pregnancy BMI, breastfeeding duration, introduction of solids, screen time, childcare characteristics, parental influences, and built environmental factors in relation to infant weight gain and risk of obesity. Methodologies included prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, questionnaires, food records, accelerometers, and statistical analysis. Overall, the research sought to understand influences on infant diet and activity patterns in order to inform obesity prevention strategies.
Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Examine Post-food Consumption Affect...Yue Liao
We used smartphone app to prompt brief electronic surveys to assess a sample of mothers' eating behaviors and feelings randomly throughout their daily lives.
This article challenges the hypothesis that the modern genetic predisposition to obesity has arisen through random genetic drift following predation release. The authors present evidence to support the hypothesis that famines and seasonal food shortages in the post-agricultural era have exerted natural selection favoring fat storage, mediated through fertility selection. The authors conclude that genetic and bioinformatic methods will soon provide a definitive resolution to the long-standing debate over the "thrifty gene" theory of obesity.
1) The document discusses how neonatal exposure to conserved microbial antigens can permanently alter the natural antibody repertoire directed against those antigens through clonal expansion and increased antibody levels.
2) It notes that some natural antibodies recognize epitopes found on both pathogenic bacteria and common environmental allergens.
3) Mouse studies show that neonatal immunization with bacterial polysaccharide vaccines results in attenuated allergic airway responses to common allergens, suggesting antibody-mediated immunoregulation of allergy.
Association Of Breastfeeding Intensity And Bottle Emptying Behaviors At Early...Biblioteca Virtual
This study examined the relationship between breastfeeding intensity, bottle emptying behaviors, and risk of excess weight in infants. The study found:
1) Infants who were breastfed at low (20% of milk feeds) or medium (20-80% of milk feeds) intensities in early infancy were over twice as likely to have excess weight in late infancy compared to infants breastfed at high (80% of milk feeds) intensities.
2) Infants who often emptied bottles in early infancy were 69% more likely to have excess weight in late infancy than infants who rarely emptied bottles.
3) Mothers' encouragement of bottle emptying was negatively associated with infants' risk of
This document discusses research on how parenting styles and feeding styles influence children's eating behaviors and risk of obesity. It finds that an authoritarian parenting style and an indulgent feeding style are associated with less optimal child eating and higher risk of obesity. The research is based on studies of low-income minority families. Observational research confirms that indulgent parents are more detached during meals, while authoritarian parents show more negative behaviors like scolding. This research aims to better understand family dynamics during mealtimes that influence children's eating habits and weight outcomes.
The document summarizes a study that analyzed over 1,400 Instagram posts using the hashtag #babyledweaning to identify foods associated with this approach to introducing solid foods to infants. The most common foods identified were cheese, banana, chicken, rice, pasta, yogurt, potato, milk, toast, and egg. While these foods represent a variety of tastes and textures, some like cheese and yogurt may contribute to high saturated fat intake. More research is needed on the nutritional quality of foods offered to infants following the baby-led weaning approach.
Evolutionary medicine helps explain many mysteries of the human body by considering how our bodies have evolved in response to environmental pressures. It provides insight into why we are vulnerable to diseases and medical issues. For example, it explains why early reproduction occurs even if it leads to lower birth weight offspring, as this represents an evolutionary trade-off. The document also discusses how the battle between mother and fetus for glucose and the hygiene hypothesis help explain medical issues. Overall, evolutionary medicine combined with modern medicine can help discover new treatment options and improve current ones.
ADHD in America: A Bioecological Analysisworldwideww
This document discusses ADHD from a bioecological perspective using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. It argues that changes in American parenting practices over the last century, including decreased breastfeeding rates and earlier weaning ages, have disrupted the mother-child relationship and altered child development. Specifically, it suggests that reduced breastfeeding has decreased oxytocin levels in mothers and altered their perceptions and behaviors towards their children. This framework challenges the current medical model of ADHD by arguing that normal child behaviors have become pathologized due to changes in family and cultural systems over time.
The document analyzes Instagram posts containing the hashtag #HealthyKids to identify common topics. Through natural language processing and qualitative analysis, several key themes emerged, including references to specific foods, food qualities, eating occasions, and family. Notably, words related to weight status like overweight and obese did not appear. The prevalence of first-person statements suggests childhood obesity interventions should take an individualized approach to increase personal relevance for caregivers.
Hw499 c evans u4 power point on probiotics final Cynthia Evans
This document discusses probiotic supplements. It begins by defining probiotics as living microorganisms that are similar to the "good bacteria" naturally found in the body. Probiotics are found in foods like yogurt, milk, and kimchi and can also be taken as supplements. They are believed to help with digestion and support immune function. The document reviews research on using probiotics to treat various gastrointestinal issues and urinary tract infections. It provides tips on finding an effective probiotic supplement and notes that side effects are usually mild but potentially more serious for critically ill individuals.
Encouraging Appropriate Infant Feeding Practices in Slums: A Positive Devian...Siddharth Agarwal
Abstract:
Nutritional Positive Deviant (PD) infants grow ‘bigger’ and ‘faster’ than other infants living in a similarly socio-economically deprived environment. Certain positive feeding and care giving practices adopted by mothers of PD infants enable them rear better nourished and active infants. Limited data is available on using PD mothers as counselors encouraging appropriate and feasible infant feeding practices (IFP) in India. Hence, the present study was undertaken. The study was conducted in a slum of Delhi (India). Twenty-Five infants aged 6-12 months were weighed. Three infants with normal weight for age status (as per Gomez classification) were classified as PD infants. A PD inquiry (PDI) was conducted on current IFP
in these families to identify PD behaviours adopted and determinants for the same. PD behaviours identified
included:feeding modified family pot (energy dense) complementary food at least two times a day,
supervised bowl feeding by the mother and father support to the mother in infant feeding and care giving.
Two,of these three PD mothers volunteered to discuss the benefits of PD behaviours they had been
practicing with the other 22 members of the group. The strategy promoted collective dialogue and discussion
to try the PD behaviours through weekly group discussions over a period of four weeks. After four weeks,
feeding modified family pot food with addition of 1 tea spoon of ghee (milk fat) in food (10/22), feeding an extra
mid-day cereal snack (12/22) were PD behaviours adopted by other members of the group (22). It can be
concluded that i) behaviours requiring least preparation time were easily adopted and ii) PD mothers can
be effective counselors to encourage appropriate IFP
This directed study examines the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on ingestive and sexual behaviors in Syrian hamsters. The hypothesis is that NPY regulates these behaviors by inhibiting reproduction and stimulating food intake via separate receptor pathways in the hypothalamus. The study will inject NPY into the brains of female hamsters and measure effects on scent marking, lordosis reflex, food intake, hoarding, and interaction with males. Results may provide insights into how peptides influence energetically expensive processes like reproduction and diseases of energy dysregulation like obesity.
An extensive literature review on Nutrigenetics -A new trajectory in obesity...nutritionistrepublic
Obesity is a multifactorial disease influenced by genes and environment. Various genes involved in appetite, metabolism, and fat storage have been identified that can cause differential responses to diet. Nutrigenetics examines how genetic variations affect the interaction between diet and disease, with the goal of developing personalized diets. One study found that patients who received nutrigenetic testing and were given a personalized diet based on their genetic profile lost more weight and better maintained reductions in BMI and blood glucose levels over time compared to a control group without genetic testing. While nutrigenetics shows promise for developing targeted weight loss strategies, challenges remain in fully characterizing gene-diet interactions and implementing testing in clinical practice.
This document provides menu options for meals, snacks and drinks to help improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. For breakfast, it recommends oatmeal with honey and cinnamon to boost serotonin levels. It suggests nuts like pistachios, almonds and walnuts as well as seeds like sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds for snacks due to their nutritional benefits. The menu includes vegetable curry, leafy greens and omega-3 foods for lunch/dinner which contain nutrients to aid mood. Fruits high in antioxidants like bananas, blueberries and yogurt are also included. The document lists green tea, warm milk, water and valerian root tea as soothing drink options and notes the relaxing properties of dark chocolate.
5 myths you should know about dog and cat foodsTom Musbach
Webinar on dog and cat nutrition featuring Dr. Roger Welton, a veterinarian on Pearl.com.
The slide show addresses common myths and offers tips for selecting the right pet food.
This document summarizes the key findings from a survey about veganism. The survey found that most respondents knew a little about veganism and wanted to know more about the health, environmental, and animal welfare reasons for being vegan. Common barriers to adopting a vegan diet included not knowing alternative foods and finding it difficult to give up meat. Most respondents said social media and word of mouth were effective ways to learn about veganism and indicated they would try a vegan diet for one month. The survey results will help focus the content in an informational booklet about veganism to potentially increase interest in adopting a vegan lifestyle.
This document discusses veganism and some of the questions and debates surrounding it. It notes that while veganism has grown in popularity, some are skeptical of whether it can provide adequate nutrition compared to diets including animal products. It outlines potential questions about veganism's health impacts and effects on industries and the environment. Sources of research on veganism from databases and organizations are listed, as are specific studies. Challenges in researching long-term vegan diet effects and finding consensus on "healthy" are raised. The relevance of understanding veganism is discussed.
Autism: unlocking a generation features - ScotsmanIvan Consiglio
Dr. Martha Herbert believes that autism has been wrongly categorized as a genetic, lifelong psychiatric condition. She argues that autism is actually a treatable whole-body condition caused by a breakdown in calcium channels due to genetics, toxins, or both. She advocates treating autism by addressing nutrient deficiencies through a healthy diet of fermented and probiotic foods, regular exercise, and establishing good sleeping patterns. If these elementary lifestyle changes were implemented, Dr. Herbert believes that the vast majority of autism cases could potentially be eradicated.
This study examined the relationship between infant temperament and formula intake and weight gain in 3-month-old infants in the Philippines. The researchers administered the Carey Early Infant Temperament Questionnaire to mothers of 222 healthy formula-fed infants enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of infant formulas. Multivariate regression models controlling for confounders found inverse relationships between several temperament traits (adaptability, mood, distractibility, manageability) and both the frequency and total daily intake of formula. This suggests that infants with more difficult temperaments received more formula feeds and intake, which could lead to excessive weight gain. The study was the first to demonstrate an association between infant temperament and feeding practices.
This document provides information about vegetarians and vegetarianism. It defines vegetarians and vegans, and discusses some of the main reasons people choose these diets, including ethics, health, religion and the environment. Demographic data is presented on the number of vegetarians in the UK and US, broken down by age, gender and over time. Some popular vegetarian food companies and products are described. The document also notes foods and ingredients that may not be suitable for vegetarians due to containing animal products.
This document provides a literature review of 14 studies related to infant feeding behaviors and early childhood obesity prevention. The studies examined factors like maternal physical activity, pre-pregnancy BMI, breastfeeding duration, introduction of solids, screen time, childcare characteristics, parental influences, and built environmental factors in relation to infant weight gain and risk of obesity. Methodologies included prospective cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, questionnaires, food records, accelerometers, and statistical analysis. Overall, the research sought to understand influences on infant diet and activity patterns in order to inform obesity prevention strategies.
Using Ecological Momentary Assessment to Examine Post-food Consumption Affect...Yue Liao
We used smartphone app to prompt brief electronic surveys to assess a sample of mothers' eating behaviors and feelings randomly throughout their daily lives.
This article challenges the hypothesis that the modern genetic predisposition to obesity has arisen through random genetic drift following predation release. The authors present evidence to support the hypothesis that famines and seasonal food shortages in the post-agricultural era have exerted natural selection favoring fat storage, mediated through fertility selection. The authors conclude that genetic and bioinformatic methods will soon provide a definitive resolution to the long-standing debate over the "thrifty gene" theory of obesity.
1) The document discusses how neonatal exposure to conserved microbial antigens can permanently alter the natural antibody repertoire directed against those antigens through clonal expansion and increased antibody levels.
2) It notes that some natural antibodies recognize epitopes found on both pathogenic bacteria and common environmental allergens.
3) Mouse studies show that neonatal immunization with bacterial polysaccharide vaccines results in attenuated allergic airway responses to common allergens, suggesting antibody-mediated immunoregulation of allergy.
Association Of Breastfeeding Intensity And Bottle Emptying Behaviors At Early...Biblioteca Virtual
This study examined the relationship between breastfeeding intensity, bottle emptying behaviors, and risk of excess weight in infants. The study found:
1) Infants who were breastfed at low (20% of milk feeds) or medium (20-80% of milk feeds) intensities in early infancy were over twice as likely to have excess weight in late infancy compared to infants breastfed at high (80% of milk feeds) intensities.
2) Infants who often emptied bottles in early infancy were 69% more likely to have excess weight in late infancy than infants who rarely emptied bottles.
3) Mothers' encouragement of bottle emptying was negatively associated with infants' risk of
This document discusses research on how parenting styles and feeding styles influence children's eating behaviors and risk of obesity. It finds that an authoritarian parenting style and an indulgent feeding style are associated with less optimal child eating and higher risk of obesity. The research is based on studies of low-income minority families. Observational research confirms that indulgent parents are more detached during meals, while authoritarian parents show more negative behaviors like scolding. This research aims to better understand family dynamics during mealtimes that influence children's eating habits and weight outcomes.
The document summarizes a study that analyzed over 1,400 Instagram posts using the hashtag #babyledweaning to identify foods associated with this approach to introducing solid foods to infants. The most common foods identified were cheese, banana, chicken, rice, pasta, yogurt, potato, milk, toast, and egg. While these foods represent a variety of tastes and textures, some like cheese and yogurt may contribute to high saturated fat intake. More research is needed on the nutritional quality of foods offered to infants following the baby-led weaning approach.
Evolutionary medicine helps explain many mysteries of the human body by considering how our bodies have evolved in response to environmental pressures. It provides insight into why we are vulnerable to diseases and medical issues. For example, it explains why early reproduction occurs even if it leads to lower birth weight offspring, as this represents an evolutionary trade-off. The document also discusses how the battle between mother and fetus for glucose and the hygiene hypothesis help explain medical issues. Overall, evolutionary medicine combined with modern medicine can help discover new treatment options and improve current ones.
ADHD in America: A Bioecological Analysisworldwideww
This document discusses ADHD from a bioecological perspective using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory. It argues that changes in American parenting practices over the last century, including decreased breastfeeding rates and earlier weaning ages, have disrupted the mother-child relationship and altered child development. Specifically, it suggests that reduced breastfeeding has decreased oxytocin levels in mothers and altered their perceptions and behaviors towards their children. This framework challenges the current medical model of ADHD by arguing that normal child behaviors have become pathologized due to changes in family and cultural systems over time.
The document analyzes Instagram posts containing the hashtag #HealthyKids to identify common topics. Through natural language processing and qualitative analysis, several key themes emerged, including references to specific foods, food qualities, eating occasions, and family. Notably, words related to weight status like overweight and obese did not appear. The prevalence of first-person statements suggests childhood obesity interventions should take an individualized approach to increase personal relevance for caregivers.
Hw499 c evans u4 power point on probiotics final Cynthia Evans
This document discusses probiotic supplements. It begins by defining probiotics as living microorganisms that are similar to the "good bacteria" naturally found in the body. Probiotics are found in foods like yogurt, milk, and kimchi and can also be taken as supplements. They are believed to help with digestion and support immune function. The document reviews research on using probiotics to treat various gastrointestinal issues and urinary tract infections. It provides tips on finding an effective probiotic supplement and notes that side effects are usually mild but potentially more serious for critically ill individuals.
Encouraging Appropriate Infant Feeding Practices in Slums: A Positive Devian...Siddharth Agarwal
Abstract:
Nutritional Positive Deviant (PD) infants grow ‘bigger’ and ‘faster’ than other infants living in a similarly socio-economically deprived environment. Certain positive feeding and care giving practices adopted by mothers of PD infants enable them rear better nourished and active infants. Limited data is available on using PD mothers as counselors encouraging appropriate and feasible infant feeding practices (IFP) in India. Hence, the present study was undertaken. The study was conducted in a slum of Delhi (India). Twenty-Five infants aged 6-12 months were weighed. Three infants with normal weight for age status (as per Gomez classification) were classified as PD infants. A PD inquiry (PDI) was conducted on current IFP
in these families to identify PD behaviours adopted and determinants for the same. PD behaviours identified
included:feeding modified family pot (energy dense) complementary food at least two times a day,
supervised bowl feeding by the mother and father support to the mother in infant feeding and care giving.
Two,of these three PD mothers volunteered to discuss the benefits of PD behaviours they had been
practicing with the other 22 members of the group. The strategy promoted collective dialogue and discussion
to try the PD behaviours through weekly group discussions over a period of four weeks. After four weeks,
feeding modified family pot food with addition of 1 tea spoon of ghee (milk fat) in food (10/22), feeding an extra
mid-day cereal snack (12/22) were PD behaviours adopted by other members of the group (22). It can be
concluded that i) behaviours requiring least preparation time were easily adopted and ii) PD mothers can
be effective counselors to encourage appropriate IFP
This directed study examines the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on ingestive and sexual behaviors in Syrian hamsters. The hypothesis is that NPY regulates these behaviors by inhibiting reproduction and stimulating food intake via separate receptor pathways in the hypothalamus. The study will inject NPY into the brains of female hamsters and measure effects on scent marking, lordosis reflex, food intake, hoarding, and interaction with males. Results may provide insights into how peptides influence energetically expensive processes like reproduction and diseases of energy dysregulation like obesity.
An extensive literature review on Nutrigenetics -A new trajectory in obesity...nutritionistrepublic
Obesity is a multifactorial disease influenced by genes and environment. Various genes involved in appetite, metabolism, and fat storage have been identified that can cause differential responses to diet. Nutrigenetics examines how genetic variations affect the interaction between diet and disease, with the goal of developing personalized diets. One study found that patients who received nutrigenetic testing and were given a personalized diet based on their genetic profile lost more weight and better maintained reductions in BMI and blood glucose levels over time compared to a control group without genetic testing. While nutrigenetics shows promise for developing targeted weight loss strategies, challenges remain in fully characterizing gene-diet interactions and implementing testing in clinical practice.
This document provides menu options for meals, snacks and drinks to help improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. For breakfast, it recommends oatmeal with honey and cinnamon to boost serotonin levels. It suggests nuts like pistachios, almonds and walnuts as well as seeds like sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds for snacks due to their nutritional benefits. The menu includes vegetable curry, leafy greens and omega-3 foods for lunch/dinner which contain nutrients to aid mood. Fruits high in antioxidants like bananas, blueberries and yogurt are also included. The document lists green tea, warm milk, water and valerian root tea as soothing drink options and notes the relaxing properties of dark chocolate.
5 myths you should know about dog and cat foodsTom Musbach
Webinar on dog and cat nutrition featuring Dr. Roger Welton, a veterinarian on Pearl.com.
The slide show addresses common myths and offers tips for selecting the right pet food.
This document summarizes the key findings from a survey about veganism. The survey found that most respondents knew a little about veganism and wanted to know more about the health, environmental, and animal welfare reasons for being vegan. Common barriers to adopting a vegan diet included not knowing alternative foods and finding it difficult to give up meat. Most respondents said social media and word of mouth were effective ways to learn about veganism and indicated they would try a vegan diet for one month. The survey results will help focus the content in an informational booklet about veganism to potentially increase interest in adopting a vegan lifestyle.
This document discusses veganism and some of the questions and debates surrounding it. It notes that while veganism has grown in popularity, some are skeptical of whether it can provide adequate nutrition compared to diets including animal products. It outlines potential questions about veganism's health impacts and effects on industries and the environment. Sources of research on veganism from databases and organizations are listed, as are specific studies. Challenges in researching long-term vegan diet effects and finding consensus on "healthy" are raised. The relevance of understanding veganism is discussed.
Characteristics Of Breastfeeding Practices Among Us MothersBiblioteca Virtual
1) More than half of breastfeeding mothers exclusively breastfed (breast milk only) until 4 months of age, after which exclusive breastfeeding declined sharply. Formula supplementation peaked at 42% at 1 month and declined to 15% at 1 year.
2) Around 6% of mothers reported exclusively pumping breast milk rather than directly breastfeeding.
3) Maternal reports showed considerable variation in behaviors related to common breastfeeding advice on frequency, duration, and intervals of feedings over the infant's first year.
1) A study found that increased junk food intake at age 4 1/2 was associated with hypersensitivity at age 7, even after adjusting for confounding factors.
2) Junk food refers to cheap, calorie-dense food with little nutritional value. It can contribute to increased risk of obesity, heart disease, and other health issues when consumed frequently.
3) Fast food and junk food consumption is rising globally, including in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Pakistan, often as a result of westernization, urbanization, and busy lifestyles. However, frequent junk food intake can negatively impact health.
Pet obesity is a rapidly growing problem. The behaviour of owners towards their pets is a major factor. Four pet owner types are identified with advise on how veterinarians can work with each to manage food intake in cats and dogs.
This document defines vegetarians and vegans, provides demographic information on their numbers in the UK, and discusses reasons for adopting vegetarian or vegan diets. Some key points:
- Vegetarians do not eat meat, while vegans also avoid other animal products like dairy and eggs.
- Demographic surveys found the number of vegetarian children and adults in the UK rose between 2010-2012, though one report found the total number of vegetarians fell from 2001-2011.
- More females than males follow a vegetarian diet, while more males than females are vegan according to one 2007 study.
- Reasons for being vegetarian/vegan include ethics, health, religion and environmental concerns
This document provides information on vegan diets for dogs. It discusses why some choose vegan diets for their dogs, including ethical reasons to avoid harming animals, environmental concerns about the impacts of meat production, and potential health benefits. It then reviews canine nutrition, discussing the nutritional needs of dogs and how a vegan diet can meet those needs. It addresses common concerns about vegan diets for dogs and provides a recipe for a homemade vegan dog food.
Weight management in pets 2014 How we can help them feel better & live longer!Ken Lambrecht
This document summarizes a presentation by Dr. Ken Lambrecht on preventing and managing pet obesity. It discusses how up to 59% of pets are overweight, which can reduce longevity and quality of life. Excess weight leads to various health issues. Veterinarians need to become experts in nutrition to advise clients. Organizations also need to work together to address this growing problem. The veterinary team plays a key role in nutritional counseling and monitoring pet weight.
This document provides information about vegetarianism and vegetarian diets. It defines vegetarians as people who do not eat meat and sometimes other animal products. Demographic data shows the number of vegetarians in the UK has risen in recent years, especially among children, and that more females than males typically follow a vegetarian diet. Reasons for becoming vegetarian include ethical concerns about animal welfare, health benefits, environmental reasons, and religious beliefs. The document discusses vegetarian substitutes provided by companies like Quorn and Linda McCartney Foods. It also notes foods like soup, salad dressing, and tortillas that sometimes contain non-vegetarian ingredients that vegetarians need to be aware of.
This document discusses oxytocin and its role in breastfeeding. It notes that oxytocin controls milk expulsion and production, redistributes heat to warm the baby, helps release stored nutrients, increases the mother's ability to extract nutrition, reduces blood pressure and stress hormones, and creates calm in breastfeeding women. Oxytocin also makes mothers more interested in close relationships and induces social memory and calmness in babies. Breastfeeding mediated by oxytocin provides nutrition and allows mothers to manage stress more effectively.
This document provides information about vegetarianism and veganism. It defines vegetarians as those who do not eat meat, fish, or animal products that cause harm to animals. Vegans are defined as those who do not eat any animal products, including dairy and eggs. A typical vegan meal may include foods like tofu, nuts, chickpeas, rice, lentils, soy and oat milk. Some reasons why people choose a vegetarian diet are concerns about animal welfare, health benefits, environmental impacts, and religious beliefs. The document also provides statistics about vegetarian demographics in the UK and US.
This document discusses feeding regimens for dogs. It notes that while wild canines had to expend energy hunting for food, domestic dogs are provided reliable nutrition. It then examines dogs' behaviors around eating such as rapid consumption, eating in groups, and hoarding. The document recommends portion-controlled feeding to allow monitoring of intake and prevent overeating. It also discusses factors to consider like nutrients, appealing food forms, and long-term health impacts of different feeding styles like free-choice versus scheduled meals.
This document discusses innovation in Royal Canin and how they develop new products. It summarizes two new studies: one on hyperuricosuria in dogs from scientific research, and another on weaning diarrhea in puppies from observational data collected by veterinarians. The second study developed a new fecal scoring system for puppies that takes into account age and breed size to better evaluate intestinal health issues. A follow up study then evaluated the effects of a psyllium-enriched diet on chronic constipation in cats and found it significantly improved fecal quality and consistency over a two month period.
Nutritional Status of School Age Children in Private Elementary Schools: Basi...IJAEMSJORNAL
Department of Education (DepEd) organizes nutritional programs to improve the health status of children in public schools. Likewise, the researcher believes that health awareness must be raised in private schools as well. This study aimed to affect the community to be aware and more knowledgeable about nutrition. Specifically, this study focused on the nutritional status of school age children in private elementary schools in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija. It sought to determine the profile of the learners, anthropometrics, clinical data and the knowledge of the learners as to dietary and the significant relationship between the profile of the learners and the nutritional status of the school aged children. With all the data gathered a meal management program was proposed. The study employed the quantitative description design. The study manifests that majority of the respondents were not yet aware of what they eat. In addition, age, greatly affects the respondent’s anthropometrics as to height. More so, age, number of siblings and family income, greatly affect the respondents’ anthropometrics as to weight. The researcher adopted the Nutritional Guidelines for Filipino program that was developed by the DOST- FNRI.
Nutritional status, care giving and feeding practices of infant
Effects of Diet on Canine Behavior Consumer Perception versus Scientific Research
1. Effects of Diet on Canine Behavior;
Consumer Perceptions versus Scientific Research
Heather McEwan
The debate over the nutritional influence on dog behavior is an extensive topic.
As humans become more invested in the length and quality of life of their pets,
their interest in what their pet family members are eating and how they co-exist
with us becomes more important. The synergistic relationship between dogs and
humans has become more complex as the diseases affecting humans are more
commonly seen reflected in our canine partners. Obesity is now a pet epidemic in
North America. The Association for Pet Obesity Prevention reported 55% of dogs
in the United States were overweight or obese in 2010
1
. In Canada, Statistics
Canada estimates the number at 35%.
2
Canine Cognitive Dysfunction, a
condition similar to dementia in humans, is now commonly associated with the
aging pet population
3
. Studies on the behavioral effects of poor diet in young
children has led to a clearer understanding of the importance of diet on maternal
behavior and the implications to young animals.
4
By exploring the connection
between what we eat and how it affects our behavior, we can’t help but wonder if
there is a similar connection for our canine partners. Does our understanding of
human nutrition influence how we feed our pets and how does this
misinformation affect their behavior? It is a natural progression to connect “what
is good for us, is good for them” without regard to physiological differences or
consultation with the person most cognizant of these differences; the
veterinarian. But are our perceptions about what is healthy for our dogs
supported by scientific research?
1
Association For Pet Obesity Prevention, Feb 2011.
2
Statistics Canada 2010 Report
3
Landsberg G and Araujo JA. “Behavior Problems in Geriatric Pets.” The Veterinary Clinics Small Animal
Practice. 2005. Vol 35. p. 675 – 698.
4
Gallo PV et al. “Protein Restriction during Gestation and Lactation: Development of Attachment
Behavior in Cats.” Behavioral and Neural Biology. 1980. Vol 29, p. 216-223.
2. Pet food consumers have been trained since the 1980’s to read ingredient panels
and make their own judgments about the appropriateness of the ingredients for
their pets. Pet food companies attempting to break into the very competitive pet
food market, used ingredients as a marketing tool to differentiate their product
from the competition. It was cheaper and more convenient to ask the Pet
Professional at the pet food store their opinion on nutrition than to pay for an
appointment with the Veterinarian and “just get sold the food paying to line the
Vet’s pockets”. Consumers didn’t ask for educational credentials to justify these
opinions because the logical explanations offered by the Pet Professionals
appealed to our understanding of wholesome nutrition. Anecdotal reports of
changes in behavior replaced scientific research and experiments. Our pets are
our family, so if you wouldn’t feed it to your family why would you feed it to your
pet?
The problems with this approach to canine nutrition are as varied as the
differences to our behavior. Dogs are not humans. Although we are both
omnivores we have different dietary requirements. We are both social mammals
but our understanding of appropriate social communication is different. Behavior
is regulated by neurotransmitters and hormones. Changes in the availability of
these chemicals influence behavior. Unfortunately the effects of nutrients on
behavior are largely unknown. There are few nutritional behavior studies
available to us. In those studies we must determine what constitutes a behavioral
change and how we determine if the change was a direct result of a nutrient
deficiency or excess rather than an environmental factor? Consumers need to be
re-educated to look at the nutrients their pet’s food provides rather than the
ingredients, understand the importance of life stage nutrition and learn how
behavior can be affected by nutrients.
A pet food is the sum of its parts. Ingredients should be selected for nutrient
quality but no single ingredient makes a quality pet food. As ingredient quality
3. increases, so does the bioavailability of the nutrients. Feathers contain protein
but they are not the most bioavailable source of protein. There are six essential
nutrients for optimal health; proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals and
water. Nutrient needs vary according to an animal’s age, activity level,
environment, health and reproductive status.
5
Isn’t it logical for nutrients to affect
behavior if they affect every other part of life?
According to a commissioned survey by Iams in October of 2010 only 11% of pet
owners consider age to be the most important factor when determining what pet
food to buy their pets.
6
The nutrition a puppy receives during its first year of life
helps establish a foundation for the rest of their life. However, many owners
neglect the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. Malnutrition
can occur either directly to the puppy or thru a malnourished mother. In a
recently published study (Kumon et al 2010), a deficiency in calories was
demonstrated to impact behavior in lactating mice.
7
Restricted mothers were fed
70% of the daily ration of the control mothers for 21 days after parturition. The
resulting offspring were not only smaller in body weight and brain weight but
showed reduced locomotor activity and anxiety behavior leading to the
researchers concluding the effect of maternal malnutrition on lactation was more
significant than the effect on pregnancy.
8
Although all nutrients are essential for development, only protein restriction has
been studied in association with behavior and development. In a study published
by Gallo in 1980 on the development of attachment behaviors in kittens and
protein restricted mothers, cats were fed a diet gradually decreasing from 30%
5
Roudebush, P. et al Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 4th
Edition. Missouri. Walsworth Publishing
Company. 2000.
6
Ipsos Reid Poll commissioned October 2010 of U.S. households of 1006 randomly selected adults over
age 18.
7
Kumon M, Yamamoto K et al. “Maternal Dietary Restriciton during lactation influences postnatal growth
and behavior in the offspring of mice.” Neurochemistry International. 2010. Vol 57. p. 43 – 50
8
Kumon M, Yamamoto K et al. “Maternal Dietary Restriciton during lactation influences postnatal growth
and behavior in the offspring of mice.” Neurochemistry International. 2010. Vol 57. p. 43 – 50
4. protein on Day 43 of gestation, to 24% on Day 50, and finally to 18% on Day 57.
The cats were not started at 18% protein because previous studies had found
this resulted in a large number of abortions. Litters were culled to 2 – 3 kittens
with the lowest birth weight kittens removed in an attempt to keep the size
constant. Researchers found kittens born to restricted mothers cried more
regardless of mother proximity. This difference continued after the kitten
matured. Researchers concluded these kittens were more emotionally
responsive in stressful situations because they had not received comfort during
an important developmental period.
9
Food is a source of comfort for many
species, not just humans.
The restricted kittens also gained less weight after birth. The lack of weight gain
was significant because it was believed prior to this that a mother fed a diet
deficient in a specific nutrient would produce less milk but the quality of the milk
would remain the same. This study indicates both quantity and quality of milk are
affected.
10
Another interesting finding from this study was the response to the kittens by the
protein restricted mothers. Researchers noticed protein restricted mothers often
walked past their kittens when they were returned and crouched in a corner
alone. The restricted mothers also remained upright when a kitten did navigate
their way to them rather than lying on their side to expose the mammary area. If
nipple attachment did occur, it was brief because the mother repositioned herself.
This behavior by the mother increased the kittens’ emotional reactivity and
vocalizations.
11
Nutritional deficiencies affect the socialization process of
developing mammals by increasing the stress levels of both the mother and her
offspring. Not only do animals deprived of the proper nutrients for growth and
development become delayed in physical milestones such as walking, climbing
and body size but they have many behavioral problems. They are more vocal,
9
Gallo PV et al. “Protein Restriction during Gestation and Lactation: Development of Attachment Behavior
in Cats.” Behavioral and Neural Biology. 1980. Vol 29, p. 216-223.
10
Gallo PV et al. “Protein Restriction during Gestation and Lactation: Development of Attachment
Behavior in Cats.” Behavioral and Neural Biology. 1980. Vol 29, p. 216-223.
11
Ibid Gallo et al.
5. more easily stressed, less exploratory, and more anxious when separated from
their social group. In an unpublished study by Purina in 1979, researchers
studied the effects of malnutrition on maternal behavior and lactation. Kittens
whose mothers were fed 45g of Purina Cat Chow per day (half of the daily
required amount) during pregnancy were fostered to mothers that were not
deprived. Although the kittens eventually reached the same body weight as
control kittens they were significantly delayed in many “normal“cat behaviors
such as washing, lapping and using the litter pan. They also exhibited many
antisocial behaviors such as abnormal posturing and alternating dominant or
submissive behaviors.
12
The effect of DHA on the trainability of puppies has been well documented.
(Hoffman, et al. 2008). High DHA nourished puppies were significantly more
trainable than low DHA nourished puppies. They were also less destructive,
more sociable in the family environment and quicker to grasp obedience
challenges.
13
DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is an important component of the
nervous system. It is transferred across the placental barrier, present in milk and
accumulates in the brain and retina during fetal and perinatal development. In
adult animals, DHA can be synthesized by the liver but in young animals
synthesis is often insufficient.
14
Common sources of DHA in pet foods are eggs,
organ meat and fish. Recent studies have shown DHA levels in puppies are
highly dependent on the mother and her levels during the last third of her
pregnancy and initial postnatal period so bitches should be supplemented during
pregnancy also.
15
When we think of nutritional behavior problems and our pets we don’t usually
think of obesity and yet it is the number one health issue in veterinary clinics.
12
Worden, AN. “Nutritional Factors and Abnormal Behaviors” Ralston Purina, St Louis, MO. 1979.
13
Hoffman L., Kelley R. Waltz D. “For Smarter More Trainable Puppies: Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid
on Puppy Trainability.” Iams Symposium. 2008.
14
de la Presa Owens S. Innis SM. “Docosahexaenoic and arachadonic acid reverse changes in
dopaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitters in piglets frontal cortex caused by linoleic and alpha
linolenic acid deficient diet.” Journal of Nutriion. 1999. vol 129. p. 2088- 2093.
15
Hoffman L., Kelley R. Waltz D. “For Smarter More Trainable Puppies: Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid
on Puppy Trainability.” Iams Symposium. 2008.
6. Food and love are very closely linked in human society. We use food as a form
of communication with our pets. We communicate our acceptance, guilt and love
through food rewards. We share our table food as a way to socialize with our
pets. When you ask a pet owner what their pet’s worst behavior problem is, not
many say overeating! Yet the health problems associated with pet obesity are
multiple; arthritis, breathing difficulties, diarrhea, congestive heart failure,
diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, mammary tumors, skin disease and
urinary incontinence.
1617
There are also many behavior problems that can be
attributed to obesity; food stealing, elimination problems, begging and many
other attention seeking behaviors.
18
We need to educate pet owners not only to
modify the pet’s diet by increasing the fiber thus improving satiety
19
but to keep
track of calories provided from sources such as treats and table scraps.
Every person who has ever wanted to lose weight has been told “Just eat fewer
calories!” In a study on the effect of caloric restriction on the behavior of dogs,
39 dogs were split into four groups for weight loss. The dogs were mixed
according to breed, sex and initial body condition scores. The groups were
restricted from 0, 25, 40 or 50% of the total caloric energy requirements for their
size. Dogs were removed from the restricted diet when they reached their target
weight or at the completion of a 16 week period, whichever came first. Eighteen
dogs did not reach their target weight. All of the dogs were videotaped for
behavioral responses. Some of the results were to be expected. Severely
restricted dogs also severely restricted their activities. Dogs on milder restriction
remained more active. This suggests severe caloric restriction to be counter
productive to weight loss. Barking increased at the beginning of the study but
16
Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 4th
ed., Topeka, KS, Mark Morris Instititute, p. 402- 403. 2004
17
German AJ. “The Growing Problem of Obesity in Dogs and Cats.” The Journal of Nutrition. 2006. Vol
136. p. 1940 -1946.
18
Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM et al. “Effects of Diet Restriction on Lifespan and Age-Related
Changes in Dogs.” Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association. 2002. Vol 220. p. 1315 - 1320.
19
Crowell-Davis SL, Barry K et al. “The Effect of Caloric Restriction on the Behavior of Pen Housed
Dogs: Transition from Unrestricted to Restricted Diet.” Applied Animal Behavior Science. 1995. Vol 43. p.
27 – 41.
7. there was a subsequent decrease after the dogs received no reward for their
barking.
20
Pet owners should be cautioned to prepare for an increase in barking
when putting their dog on a diet.
Some of the results offered further insight into dog behavior. There was an
increase in mouthing and object manipulation, indicating a need for objects to
chew on. Aggression did not increase in most dogs even though they were
severely restricted. Most interestingly, there was no increase in coprophagia.
Although many breeds and sizes of dogs were represented in this study, the
differences in gastric emptying time were not taken into account. Large breed
dogs have a longer large intestinal transit time.
21
Future research could look at
the breed differences in behavior and satiety in relation to dietary fiber.
Often pet owners think the solution to an obese pet is to increase the vegetables
in their diet and supplement the dog’s food with carrots. Pet owners should be
discouraged from this practice as the sugar in carrots increases the dog’s
hunger. If the owner feels the need to supplement the dog with a “natural” fiber,
suggest canned pumpkin. It is a natural form of cellulose and adds to the feeling
of satiety by absorbing moisture in the intestines like a sponge and helping to
slow intestinal transit time.
22
Studies are also being conducted on Carnitine as a
supplement for weight control. Carnitine is a water soluble vitamin that plays a
key role in burning fat and maintaining muscle by helping to convert fatty acids
into energy. It has been shown to improve heart function in dogs, help maintain a
healthy liver and lose weight while maintaining lean muscle mass
23
. Pet owners
should be encouraged to engage in non-food related bonding activities with their
dogs such as leash walks, swimming in a lake or pool, fetch or other interactive
20
Crowell-Davis SL, Barry K et al. “The Effect of Caloric Restriction on the Behavior of Pen Housed Dogs:
Transition from Unrestricted to Restricted Diet.” Applied Animal Behavior Science. 1995. Vol 43. p. 27 –
41.
21
Weber MP, Hernot D, Nguyen PG, et al. “Effect of size on Electrolyte Absorption Rates and
Fermentative activity in dogs.” Journal of Animal Physiology Anim Nutr. 2004. Vol 88. p. 356 – 365.
22
Hills Veterinary Consult line. www.hillsvet.com
23
Gross, KL., Wedekind, KJ, Kirk CA. et al. “Effect of dietary carnitine and chromium on weight loss and
composition of obese dogs” Journal of Animal Science. 1998. Vol 76. Hills Science and Technology
Centre, Topeka, KS.
8. games.
24
Owners could also be encouraged to provide their pets with puzzle
toys, such as a Kong or Tug a Jug to encourage the dog to problem solve to get
his food or use a portion pacer or specialty food bowl to slow down their eating.
Canine aggression is the most common behavior problem seen by
veterinarians.
25
There are two studies hypothesizing a direct link between protein
and aggression in dogs. Dodman et al. (1996) studied the effect of protein levels
on aggressive behavior and found a reduction in protein reduced territorial
behavior associated with fear but did not affect other types of aggression.
26
DeNapoli et al (2000) studied the effect of high and low protein diets with or
without tryptophan supplementation on dominance aggression, territorial
aggression and hyperactivity. They felt a low protein diet and tryptophan might
reduce aggression because tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, the
neurotransmitter associated with resting and digesting. Tryptophan is found in
low concentrations in most protein sources. Increasing dietary tryptophan
increases serotonin levels. The results demonstrated dominant dogs fed high
protein (30%) diets without tryptophan were more aggressive than the dogs fed
the other three diets. Dogs fed the low protein (18%) diet with tryptophan were
the least territorially aggressive. There were no dietary effects on dogs with
hyperactivity or fearfulness.
27
Raw food proponents provide anecdotal support of their diets despite the lack of
scientific research supporting them. Claims of less aggression, a cure for
24
LaFlamme DP. “Understanding and managing Obesity in Dogs and Cats.” The Veterinary Clinics Small
Animal Practice. 2006. Vol 36. p. 1283- 1295.
25
Bamberger, M, Houpt, KA. “Signalment factors, comorbidity and trends in behavior diagnoses in
Dogs:1644 cases (1991-2001). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2006. Vol 229. p.
1591- 1601.
26
Dodman NH, Reisner I, Shuster L et al. “Effect of Dietary Protein Content on Behavior in Dogs.”
JAVMA. 1996. Vol 208. p. 376 – 379.
27
DeNapoli JS, Dodman NH, Shuster L et al. “Effect of Dietary Protein Content and Tryptophan
Supplementation on Dominance Aggression, Territorrial Aggression and Hyperactivity in Dogs.” JAVMA.
2000. Vol 217. p. 504- 508.
9. arthritis, no doggy odor, smaller stools, a decreased or non existent vet bill, no
allergies, and a longer life for your dog can be found all over the internet. . To
date there has been no scientific studies to back up any of these claims. Most of
the diets contain excessive protein because of the perception a dog is a
carnivore. Many of the diets do not utilize organ meat and advocate large
portions of bones and rice. Consequently many of the diets have inverse calcium
to phosphorous ratios as high as 1:10.
28
The only study on raw food not related
to contamination was a survey related to the owner’s source of the recipe for
their diet. Fifty four owners were surveyed. Sixteen owners reported using a
recipe specifically designed for dogs. Of these recipes, eight were from a
Veterinarian, three were from the Internet and five were from other sources.
29
Raw food diets are claimed to mirror a more natural wild diet. This is one area
where the owners recognize the dog as a separate species but lack the scientific
understanding to make healthy choices for their pet. Human nutritionists advise
us to eat a variety of foods from a variety of food groups. Carbohydrates are an
essential energy source but many raw food websites claim “Grains will kill your
dog!” Homemade diets are rarely balanced for minerals (iron, copper, zinc,
iodine) or vitamins because owners feeding these diets often think over the
counter pet vitamin-mineral supplements are complete and use these instead.
OTC supplement products were designed as treats and not meant to replace the
recommended daily allotment provided in nutritionally balanced commercial
foods. They are not regulated by AAFCO because they fall under the treat
category and do not have regulated standards. The only supplements specifically
designed to balance homemade diets must be sold only by veterinarians
(BalanceIT supplements) because they do not come with dosing instructions and
are meant to be calculated by vets for the animal’s body weight. However the
majority of owners using these diets do not consult a vet to determine if the diet
28
Streiff EL, Zwischenberger B. et al. “A Comparison of the Nutritional Adequacy of home-prepared and
commercial diets for dogs.” J Nutr. 2002. Vol 132. p. 1698 – 1700.
29
LaFlamme DP, Abood, SK, Fascetti AJ et al. “Pet feeding practices of dog and cat owners in the United
States and Australia.” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2008. Vol 232(5) p. 687 –
694.
10. is balanced. To date there is no evidence for any of the claims made by the raw
food advocates and both the FDA and CVM advise against feeding raw meat or
seafood to pets.
30
,
31
Perhaps the most important research on the effects of diet on behavior was in
the area of aging pets and dietary enrichment. The aging process affects every
part of the body. Canine cognitive dysfunction was initially thought to be just a
natural side effect of aging. Pet owners’ anecdotal evidence was attributed to
other disease functions and old age. Researchers at the University of Toronto
(Milgram et al. 2001) saw the anecdotal evidence from owners and found four
common complaints; disorientation and confusion (not recognizing family
members or familiar surroundings), interaction changes, sleep or activity changes
(including pacing) and housetraining accidents.
32
,
33
They incorporated these
complaints into a study on the effect of diet on aging behaviors. Diets were
enriched with the antioxidants vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, and beta carotene,
fatty acids DHA and EPA, lipoic acid, and carnitine. Only dogs 7 years of age or
older with at least two of the clinical signs participated in the study. Dogs were
excluded if they had any other disease conditions that could impact the clinical
signs. Many different breeds and both sexes of dogs were included. A total of
125 dogs completed the double blind trial, 61 fed the antioxidant enriched diet
b/d and 64 fed the control diet. Dogs were tested using a Landmark
discrimination test
34
for problem solving abilities and an Oddity Discrimination test
(sort of like Sesame Street for dogs, one of these things is not like the other
30
FDA. Guidance for Industry. Manufacturer and Labeling of Raw Meat Foods for Companion and Captive
Noncompanion Carnivores and Omnivores.
31
CVM Update. Tips for preventing food-borne illness associated with pet food and pet treats. July 2007
32
Landsberg G and Araujo JA. “Behavior Problems in Geriatric Pets.” The Veterinary Clinics Small
Animal Practice. 2005. Vol 35. p. 675 – 698.
33
Neilson JC, Hart BL, Cliff KD, and Ruehl WW. “Prevalence of Behavioral Changes Associated with
Age-related Cognitive Impairment in Dogs.” JAVMA. 2001. Vol 218. No. 11. p. 1787 – 1791.
34
Milgram NW, Head EA, Muggenburg B et al. “Landmark discrimination learning in the dog; Effects of
age, an antioxidant fortified food and cognitive strategy”. Neuroscience Biobehavior Review. 2002. Vol
26(6). P. 679 – 695.
11. using 3 items). The dogs were given food rewards for correct responses. The
results were significant. Dogs fed the antioxidant enriched diet showed significant
improvement in 13 of the 15 individual behavioral categories. Dogs fed the
control diet only showed significant improvement in 4 out 15 of the same
categories. Even more significantly, dogs in the antioxidant enriched group
continued to improve after the 60 day trial period indicating the benefits are long
term.
35
The humanization of the pet food market has resulted in misconceptions about
the influence of diet on dog behavior. Pet owners are bombarded with opinions
masquerading as fact on the internet, in the pet food store and in the media
about what is good for their dog. Misinformation about nutrition and normal dog
behavior clouds our perception of what is healthy for our dogs. Anecdotal reports
have replaced clinical research in the minds of dog owners. Pet owners need to
be educated by veterinarians about the importance of life stage nutrition and how
good nutrition affects behavior. Pet owners need to trust the veterinarian as a
source of good information not a money grabbing pet industry. There is a lot of
room for research on diet and behavior. Specific breed research could be
conducted in the areas of obesity and satiety. Do smaller dog breeds become
obese because of inactivity or less satiety due to faster intestinal transit time? Is
there a difference between breeds and the effects of fiber on satiety? What are
the optimum levels of nutrients in milk replacer for less anxious orphan puppies?
Does diet have an effect on separation anxiety? What is the optimum level of fat
and antioxidants to reduce stress and improve performance in working dogs? I
know many police officers would love a study on how to decrease stress related
disorders in police dogs through diet. Raw food supporters would love a study to
prove or disprove the benefits and disadvantages of raw food diets on behavior.
Do raw food diets actually decrease aggression? Are pica and coprophagia
related to nutrient deficiency or is it strictly a behavioral issue? What is the effect
of obesity on aggression; Are obese dogs less aggressive because their
35
Milgram NW, Zicker SC, Head EA et al. “Dietary Enrichment counteracts age associated cognitive
dysfunction in Canines. Neurobiology of Aging. 2002. Vol 23. p. 737 – 745.
12. neurotransmitters are hyper stimulated? The questions are endless. Until we
have a better understanding of the link between diet and behavior the questions
and misconceptions will continue.