Problem statement: There are indications for a beneficial effect of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans on the clinical signs of dogs with osteoarthritis. Data from a controlled trial were necessary to prove or disprove the indications. Approach: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with privately owned dogs was carried out to assess the efficacy of a preparation of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans in the treatment of osteoarthritis. With the use of a questionnaire, the clinical signs were evaluated by the owners. For a period of 8 weeks, the test dogs daily received a complete dry food without or with 800 ppm beta-1,3/1,6-glucans. There were 23 dogs per experimental group. Results: When compared with the baseline values, the administration of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans significantly improved activity (vitality) and significantly reduced stiffness, lameness and pain. In the placebo group there only was a significant change in the clinical signs of stiffness. When the changes over time for the two groups were compared, there were no statistically significant differences, but the test group showed greater numerical improvement as to the scores for activity, stiffness, lameness and pain. Conclusion: Beta-1,3/1,6-glucans can be considered safe and it is suggested that a dose of 800 ppm in a dry food would be beneficial for dogs with osteoarthritis.
Problem statement:Osteoarthritis is an inflammatory joint disease associated with loss of cartilage matrix. There is suggestive evidence that the intake of polydextrose fiber has anti-inflammatory activity. It was reasoned that polydextrose may have a positive influence on canine osteoarthritis. Approach: A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with privately owned dogs was carried out to assess the efficacy of STA-LITE® polydextrose in the treatment of osteoarthritis. With the use of a questionnaire, five clinical signs were evaluated by the owners. For a period of 8 weeks, the dogs received a complete dry food without or with 3% polydextrose. There were 16 control and 19 test dogs. Results:The baseline values of clinical scores for swelling of joints, stiffness and lameness indicated that the severity of osteoarthritis was much less in test dogs than in the controls. The initial scores for activity and pain were similar in two groups. Comparing the changes in clinical scores over time between control and test dogs would be biased by the difference in baseline severity of osteoarthritis. On strict terms, a maximum number of pairs of matched control and test dogs was formed for each clinical sign. It was found that all five clinical signs showed more group-mean improvement in the dogs fed the diet containing polydextrose than in those given the control diet. The difference between the pooled group-mean changes of the control and test dogs was statistically significant. As an overall index of the improvement of osteoarthritis, the sum of changes for the five clinical variables was calculated. Polydextrose was found to induce a marked improvement of osteoarthritis: The polydextrose-mediated increase in the osteoarthritis improvement index was 57%. Conclusion: Polydextrose can be considered safe and it is suggested that a dose of 3% in a dry food can be beneficial for dogs with osteoarthritis.
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