Spring 2009 - National Association of Professional Pet Sitters

Nutrition and Genes
By: Arden Moore
In the near future, cat owners may be shopping
with a greater purpose: selecting commercial
foods that nutritionally harmonize with their
pets' genetic makeup—maximizing their
health—and longevity.
The reason: an emerging field of science called
nutrigenomics.
A glimpse into such a future came recently at
an international conference in London, where
leading geneticists, nutritionists, veterinarians,
and scientists presented their findings about
the benefits of nutrigenomics for companion
animals.
Certain Foods Activate Genes
This new science demonstrates how some
foods can aid in treating or preventing certain
conditions in humans and pets. Specifically,
nutrigenomics explores how the interaction of
nutrients with specific genomes can affect the
action of genes.
It provides a molecular understanding as to
how common dietary substances influence the
health of a cat, or person’s, genetic makeup. In
essence, this nutrient-gene interplay can “turn
on” good genes and “turn off” harmful ones.
“The science of nutrigenomics gives us great
insight into understanding how and why certain
breeds are predisposed to particular conditions,”
says John Innes, BVSc, PhD, professor
of small animal surgery at the University of
Liverpool, England. “This gives us one more
tool in our ongoing quest to treat and prevent
illness.”
Rebecca Remillard, DVM, a board-certified veterinary
nutritionist at Angell Animal Medical
Center in Boston, concurs.
“I've not been directly involved in nutrigenomics
research, but I can say that it holds out
a hope for some diseases that nutrition, at
best, manages and often, manages poorly,” Dr.
Remillard says. “The first time I saw reports
about nutrition and gene expression was in
1993. I suspect that we will come up with better
answers to treat a host of diseases due to
continued research into gene expression.”
Jerold Bell, DVM, clinical associate professor in
the Department of Clinical Sciences at
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at
Tufts University, embraces what nutrigenomics
can provide to the health of companion animals.
“Nutritionists and geneticists have been working
together, especially at pet food companies,
on the relationship between nutrition and
genes,” says Dr. Bell, a geneticist who serves
as director of the Canine and Feline Breeding
and Genetics Conference recently hosted by
Tufts.
Both Dr. Remillard and Dr. Bell envision the day
that geneticists and nutritionists can identify
genes that cause certain breeds to be prone to
such health conditions as kidney stones,
epilepsy, and diabetes. Once identified, these
genes could essentially be “turned off” through
providing specific nutrients in the diet.
Utilizing the theory of nutrigenomics with clinical
studies, Hill’s Pet Nutrition recently unveiled
Prescription Diet Canine j/d for dogs with
arthritis and joint problems. Researchers spent
more than a decade and conducted clinical trials
with more than 50 practicing veterinarians
involving more than 500 dogs.
Their finding led them to include a specific
omega-3 fatty acid called eicosapentaenoic
acid (EPA) in the new j/d product. EPA’s high
concentrations of fish oil have been shown to
“turn off” a degenerative enzyme that causes
cartilage degradation. Studies indicated that
about one in five adult dogs suffer from arthritis,
making it the seventh most common ailment
reported to veterinarians worldwide.
Of the tested dogs, 82 percent were able to
walk without limping and demonstrated
increased range of motion after one month of
being put on the j/d diet. Of those dogs who
needed non-steroidal medications, dosages
were able to be decreased by 25 percent,
reports Debra Nichol, PhD, vice president of
product development for Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
Although j/d is the first gene-linked diet and
requires a veterinary prescription—experts in
the nutrigenomics field and veterinary nutrition
predict many more such DNA-influenced pet
foods will be showing tip on store shelves for
dogs as well as cats. Genetic engineering is
only in its infancy on the impact it can make on
the health of dogs, cats, and people.
Canine Research
Leads The Way
Canine research in this area is about 10 years
ahead of feline research, due to the formation
of the Canine Health Foundation established by
the American Kennel Club, Dr. Bell notes. He
said this foundation funds millions of dollars for
genetic research annually.
“The cat fancy people and feline researchers
started later than the dog world, but the quantity
of research in this field will certainly help
them catch up,” Dr. Bell says.
This “gene silencing” or “gene speaking” form
of science is being actively pursued by
researchers to benefit people. One recent study
published in the journal Nature Chemical
Biology, described how scientists were able to
efficiently shut down the expression of genes
by turning them on or off at the DNA level. This
study shows that chromosomal DNA is accessible
to and can be controlled by synthetic and
natural molecules.
Learning to Turn On, Off Genes
“With this information, one could easily turn on
or off gene expression, as well as think about
ways to correct genetic disease by changing
mutant gene sequences back to normal,” says
David Corey, PhD, professor of pharmacology
and biochemistry and one of the study’s
authors. “Virtually every disease starts at the
level of malfunctioning gene expression, or viral
or bacterial gene expression. This is an
approach that could theoretically produce a
drug for the treatment or cure of almost any
disease.”
In summary, experts predict a very healthy
future for people and pets.
“We are only beginning to learn how certain
foods can manipulate the genes we are born
with,” says Robert Pickard, PhD, director of the
British Nutrition Foundation. “We know the
‘addresses’ of genes. Now, we need to learn
their ‘occupations’ and what influence certain
foods have on modifying these genes.”
This article appeared in Catnip and was
reprinted with permission. ■
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