Royal Canin Nutritional Information

Royal Canin Nutritional Information

Key Points to Remember: Role of Nutrition in Osteoarticular Diseases

The growth phase of large-breed and giant-breed puppies is an important period: the puppy multiplies its birth weight eighty to a hundredfold in less than 2 years and most bone growth occurs in the first few months. (© Psaila/Lanceau).

• The daily weight gain is at a maximum between 3 and 5 months of age in a large-breed puppy, although it does continue to be rapid until 8 months. It is advisable to closely monitor the puppy's weight development, which must not exceed 50% of estimated adult weight at 5 months of age. If it does, the ration will have to be reduced and/or a less energy dense diet will have to be chosen. There is a significant correlation between energy overconsumption and a heightened incidence of osteoarticular complaints.
• Before 6 months a puppy is unable to protect itself from calcium excess: it passively absorbs at least 50% of the calcium ingested. The calcium content in the food can be compared on the basis of its energy density. The quantity of calcium consumed per kg of body weight is the only reliable value. There is no ideal calcium content for a given age, but there is a safety zone: at 5 months the optimal calcium content for a large-breed puppy is 210 - 540 mg/kg/day. Excess calcium is a factor that promotes osteochondrosis.
• Vitamin supplements should not be prescribed when the puppy consumes a complete food for growth. An excess of vitamin D does not promote skeletal growth, but increases bone resorption and leads to severe cartilage maturation abnormalities with a heightened risk of osteochondrosis.
• Glucosamine and chondroitin belong to the family of glycosamino-glycans (GAG), which are natural cartilage components. After oral administration these molecules concentrate in the synovial fluid. Their role is to promote regeneration and to curb enzymatic degradation of the cartilage. Glucosamine and chondroitin participate in maintaining the cartilage's water absorption capacity, an essential requirement to fulfill its role in shock absorption.
• Green-lipped mussel extract (GLM) exhibits interesting properties within the framework of prevention and treatment of arthrosis.

It helps limit inflammation, preserve the integrity of the cartilage and combat oxidative lesions.

The effects appear to be due to synergy between the different components of GLM including GAGs, omega 3 fatty acids, glutamine, antioxidants and trace elements. Several clinical studies show a reduction in pain and an improvement in joint mobility in arthritic dogs during administration of GLM.

Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation causes a decrease in degradative aspects of chondrocyte metabolism, which may have a beneficial effect in degenerative joint diseases.

Focus on: Green Lipped Mussel Extract (GLM)

New Zealand green-lipped mussel.

Origin and Composition

The GLM powder used by Royal Canin is an extract of Perna Canaliculi or New Zealand green lipped mussel. It is obtained from the mussel's flesh in a procedure carried out at low temperature (< 30°C) to protect the quality of the components.

The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University (RMIT University) in Australia has been studying the lipidic fraction of Perna Canaliculi for 15 years to isolate the fatty acids. Eight to ten different sterols of marine origin are present, as well as at least 10 different essential fatty acids.

GLM is a concentrated source of omega 3 fatty acids, which inhibit some inflammatory mediators. Omega 6 fatty acids account for 5.2% of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and omega 3 fatty acids 41%. The omega 6/omega 3 ratio is therefore 0.1. The two main PUFA of the long-chain omega 3 series are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which account for 35% of the PUFA.

The mussels harvested along the New Zealand coast benefit from a permanently renewed supply of marine nutrients brought by ocean currents. The mussels act as a seawater sieve, tending to retain essential nutrients. That is why GLM contains a large number of substances that are potentially active in the fight against arthritis:

• Glycosaminoglycans (GAG) (e.g., chondroitin)
  Natural components of cartilage and synovial fluid that participate in the lubrication of joints and preserve the integrity of cartilage.
• Eicosatetraenoic acid (ETA)
  Omega 3 fatty acid exclusively found in GLM, which is able to inhibit the cascade of metabolites with inflammatory properties derived from arachidonic acid.
• Glutamine (amino acid)
  Glutamine is a precursor of glucosamine (GAG)
• Antioxidants (vitamin E and vitamin C)
  These vitamins play a role in combating oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Epidemiological Basis

The mussels of New Zealand were traditionally an integral part of the coastal Maori population's basic diet. It has been known for a long time that there were more cases of arthrosis among the island's interior population than among the coastal population, which had been consuming fresh, raw mussels for generations.

In 1970 American researchers started studying the question and the anti-inflammatory properties of the mussel were soon revealed. It also became clear that the conditions under which the mussel's flesh was harvested and transformed were critical. The lipidic fraction is highly sensitive to oxidation, so extreme precautions are necessary to preserve the therapeutic qualities.

The New Zealand green lipped mussel is now widely used throughout the world.

Multicentric Trial

Royal Canin recently conducted a study to validate, in field conditions, the efficacy of a GLM-supplemented diet in osteoarthritic dogs.

85 clinically-confirmed arthritic and privately owned adult dogs, seen at 25 veterinary clinics, completed the multicenter trial. All sizes of dog were represented: 7 giant (>45kg), 46 large (26 - 45kg), 20 medium (11 - 25kg) and 12 small (<10kg) breed dogs. The dogs did not suffer from any other disease and were not overweight.

Dogs were fed the GLM diet for 50 days. Evaluation of osteoarthritic signs were carried out at day 0 (baseline) and at day 50 by veterinarians. All parameters were scored from 0 to 3 (0: no sign; 1: slight ; 2: moderate; 3: severe). An initial score was given for the dog's general mobility during walking, trotting and climbing steps. Individual joints of each limb were clinically scored for degree of pain, swelling, crepitus and reduction in range of movement. Summation of the previous scores provided a Total Arthritic Score (T.A.S.) for each dog. Statistical comparisons between the initial and final arthritic states were made using a repeated-measure ANOVA Test.

Figure 24. Percentage of changes in arthritic signs (MEAN ± SEM) after 50 days on the GLM diet (N = 85 dogs). Visual assessment of mobility improved, crepitus and total arthritic score (TAS) were significantly reduced by 36% at the end of the study compared with the initial state (p< 0.05).