Functional foods and nutrition:

from pets to HUMANSPalmieri B, Canello S, Guidetti G, Iannitti T, Di Cerbo A

University of Regensburg15th International Conference of FFC - Third International Symposium of ASFFBC:

 Mental, Neurological and other Chronic Disorders:  Bio-markers, Bioactive Compounds, and Functional Foods

May 10-11, 2014

Why FUNCTIONAL food ?

“…provide health benefits beyond the provision of

essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, if

consumed regularly at effective levels and as part of a

varied diet...” (Hasler, 2000)

genomic

proteomic

PETS

STUDIES

HUMANS

Almost 10 years ago…

AIRMO Research CenterEndorsed by Unimo e Unina

Network of Human and Vet comparative: oncology,

inflammation and neurodegeneration physiopathology,

health maintenance, nutrition prevention and treatment

Focus on oncology with pet animals as sentinels of human

diseases and potentital recognition of health imbalances

especially in old seek people

To match animals vs humans on a common pathophysiological and therapeutical basis and

furthermore to comparatively explore the human/pet common background for more effective strategies in

human health and disease

WELL BALANCED

OMEGA 3/OMEGA 6

RATIO

FUNCTIONAL FOOD FORMULA

METALS AND

POLLUTANTS

VEGETAL AND FRUIT EXTRACTS,

MICRONUTRIENTS, ATIOXIDANTS, ETC…

PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS

Might any of these formulas be

routinely used in prevention and

early disease treatment for

humans and animals?

WORK HYPOTHESIS OF OUR INVESTIGATION

1st STUDY

Seventy-one dogs of different breeds (mean age ± SEM; 6.01 ± 0.11 yr and

mean weight ± SEM; 35.04 ± 1.04 Kg; 54% males, 46% females) with food

related dermatitis symptoms (flush, itch, dandruff, skin malodour, dry fur, skin

lesions) were supplied with a regular amount of nutraceutical product (a

standardized mixture of fish, potato and natural compounds such as: Aloe Vera,

Arctium lappa, Malva sylvestris and Ribes nigrum) named FORZA10 Dermo

Active over a 20 days period

BEFORE AFTER

ON THE HUMAN SIDE…Arctium lappa: Lappaol F, diarctigenin and arctigenin, found in the seeds or

leaves, induce expression inhibition iNOS, NO production, pro-inflammatory

cytokine expression suppression, NF-kB pathway inhibition, antioxidant enzymes,

free radicals scavenging activation and apoptosis (Chan, 2011).

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: Diuretic, diaphoretic and blood purifying agent

Malva silvestris: phenolic acids such as: pyrogallol, Chrisin, Synergic, Gallic

and Vanillic, tannins, saponins, resins, terpenes, flavonoids and carbohydrates

have an antioxidant effect (malondialdehyde formation inhibition) (Sello, 2011)

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: skin disorders, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory

Ribes nigrum: cassis polysaccharide (CAPS, polysaccharide-rich substance

which consist of rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose and glucose in a

molar ratio of 11.3:0.9:54.1:29.8:2.0:1.9), with macrophage-stimulating activity.

(Takata, 2005)

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: antiinflammatory activity

Tocopherols (vitamin E), ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and essential fatty

acids (such omega-3 and omega-6) (Gasparetto, 2012), whose deficiency is

known to be responsible for AD-like pruritic skin inflammation (Fujii, 2013)

enhances the benefits of this functional food administration.

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: skin diseases

Aloe vera: anthrone, chromone, aloe verasin, and hydroxyaloin,

antiinflammatory activity (Hu, 2003); immune stimulation by polyglucans,

lectins (Aloctin 1) which significantly support the formation of specific and

nonspecific antibodies (Boudreau and Beland, 2006, Akev 2007); Glucmannan

and acemannan accelerate wound healing, activate macrophages,

antineoplastic and antiviral effects (Zhang, 1996; Ramamoorthy, 1996)

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: rejuvenating, healing, and soothing properties

One hundred seven dogs of different breeds (mean age ± SEM; 6.03 ± 0.15 yr and

mean weight ± SEM; 32.01 ± 1.17 Kg; 54.2% males, 45.8% females) with evident

clinical chronic otitis symptoms received a regular amount of nutraceutical food (a

standardized mixture of fish proteins, natural compounds such as: Melaleuca

alternifolia, Echinacea purpurea, Tilia platyphyllos scapoli et cordata, Allium

sativum L., Rosa canina L. and chelated Zinc and S. salivarius K12) named

FORZA10 Oto Active over a 30 days period.

2nd STUDY

EAR BEFORE EAR AFTER

ON THE HUMAN SIDE… Clinical reports

8 children otitis media (OM) received 1 teaspoon of lemon-flavored cod liver oil

(eicosapentaenoic acid and vitamin A) and 1 half-tablet of a chewable

multivitamin-mineral tablet per day. A reduced antibiotic administration span

than before supplementation was observed, suggesting a moderate preventive role

for nutritional supplements for otitis media (Linday, 2002).

45 children with recurrent pathology received daily, for 90 days, an oral slow-

release tablet containing 5 x 109 CFU of S. salivarius K12. A 6-month follow-

up period defined a 40% reduction in the episodes of acute otitis media and a 65%

of the incidence of ear infections (Di Pierro, 2012).

Zinc supplementation can reduce both incidence of OM in healthy children under

the age of five years and mean number of episodes (Gulani, 2012)

Sixty dogs of different breeds (mean age ± SEM; 6.08 ± 0.14 yr and mean weight

± SEM; 32.05 ± 1.12 Kg; 55% males, 45% females) with clinical gastrointestinal

disturbs (dehydration, appetite loss, regurgitation, emesis, abdominal pain,

flatulence, borborygma, diarrhea, weight loss, stool consistency, blood and mucus

presence in the stool) were supplied with a regular amount of nutraceutical

product (fish proteic hydrolysates, corn and a standardized mixture of

Enterococcus faecium DSM 10663-NCIMB 10415 (3.5 x 109 cfu), psyllium and

natural compounds such as: Castanea sativa, Origanum vulgare spp. Hirtum, Bio

mannan oligosaccharides (MOS), fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), Rosa canina L.

and electrolites) namely FORZA10 Intestinal Active over a 30 days period

3rd STUDY

ON THE HUMAN SIDE…

Psyllium: in commonly used for the treatment of constipation (by increasing stool

weight; Kumar, 1987), diarrhea (by increasing the bulk of stools; Belknap, 1997),

inflammation bowel diseases-ulcerative colitis (alleviating chronic constipation in

patients without slow colonic transit or disordered constipation; Fernandez-Banares,

1999), high cholesterol (binding of bile acids in the intestinal lumen and reduced risk of

coronary heart disease; Van Rosendaal, 2004) and diabetes (Water-soluble dietary fibers

decrease postprandial glucose concentrations and decrease serum cholesterol

concentrations to men with type 2 diabetes; Anderson, 1999; Florholmen, 1982).

Rosa canina: phytochemical compounds such as phenolic acids,

proanthocyanidins, tannins, flavonoids, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty

acids, phospholipids, minerals, galactolipids, and carotenoids relieve

inflammatory symptoms and defers blood glucose and cholesterol elevation in

HIV patients (Paydary, 2012)

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: viral infections and disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract

Origanum vulgare L. spp. Hirtum: polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid

and flavonoids (quercetin, eriocitrin, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, apigenin-7-O-

glucoside, luteolin, apigenin) a dose-dependent protective effect on the copper-

induced LDL oxidation (Kulisić, 2007)

EVIDENCE BEASED MEDICINE: N/D FOLK MEDICINE: disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, and nervous system

AVAILABLE FUNCTIONAL FOODS

vegetables

whole grains

fruits beverages

active principles

probiotics and prebiotics

What about Gut MICROBIOTA and

HEALTH STATUS?

DIET AGE

RACE

GUT MICROBIOTA AND HUMAN HEALTH

The gut absorption is a complex pathway with intrinsic healing properties related to gut horomones and liver secretion haemodynamics and lymphodyinamics, microcirculation activity, gut cellular and soluble immune systems cytokines, microbiota neural network and neutroransmietters

Gut microbiota: role in obesity

Changes in gut microbial ecology• Reduction in Bacteroidetes and proportional increase in Firmicutes• Dramatic fall of overall diversity• Bloom of a single class of Firmicutes: the Mollicutes

Alteration of metabolic potential• Enrichment for phosphotransferase systems• Enrichment for genes encoding beta-fructosidases

Consequences• Increased capacity to import “Western-diet”-typical carbohydrates • Increased capacity to metabolize imported sugars

Tilg H, Gatroenterology 2009

GUT microbiota and NASH

NASH patients have a higher prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth which is associated with enhanced expression of TLR-4 and release of IL-8

Abu-Shanab et al., Nat Rev Gast Hep 2011

Beyond the direct effect of natural ingredients into the daily food intake

the microbiota symbiontic function in human health and disease

can be also modified by long term administration of

functional food either in human or in animals

TAKE HOME MESSAGES

- Based on clinical evidences humans and pets might have a very intriguing borderline mutual benefit in the functional foods area

- The lesson of functional foods administration to the dog

potentially might be addressed to human beings. Chronic

food ingestion might infact modify the genetic background

and prevent or treat many diseases

- Humanization of domestic animals can be a valuable strategy for dietary interventions studies

- Gut microbiota modulation by probiotics/prebiotics

administration may reduce the risk of disease

- “…food will be your medicine…” (Hippocrates)

- Possible gaps in human nutrition: the taste of

functional foods might be a drawback to their prolongued

intake; in fact the turnover of varied menus is utmost

appealing for human nutrition

WORKS IN PROGRESS

HALITOSIS MANAGEMENT IN HUMANS AND DOGS BY MEANS OF

A NUTRACEUTICAL INTERVENTION

NUTRACEUTICAL APPROACH (Forza10 Immuno Active)

IN DOGS AFFECTED BY KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA

BEFORE TREATMENT AFTER 30 DAYS

THANK’S FOR YOUR

ATTENTION!