Vitamin A concentrations in commercial foods for dogs and cats

The vitamin A concentration was determined in 89 Australian brands of commercial foods for dogs and cats. It was found that 8% of the dog foods and 14% of the cat foods had concentrations of vitamin A below the minimum recommended 1.1 mg/kg dry matter (dm) for dogs and 1.8 mg/kg dm for pregnant or lactating cats. Canned and fish-labelled cat foods were the only varieties with less than the minimum recommended concentration of Vitamin A, of which 71% were the same brand. The minimum recommended concentration of vitamin A was exceeded in all canned dog food tested. Concentrations of vitamin A in dry (ca. 6% moisture) dog and cat foods and semi-moist dog foods (ca. 23% moisture) never exceeded 10 mg vitamin A/kg dm. In contrast, canned pet foods stated to contain liver or kidney showed vitamin A concentrations from 13 to 284 mg/kg dm.     

Maintenance of acquired immunity to Trichostrongylus colubriformis in Merino sheep that are losing weight

SUMMARY The effect of loss of weight on maintenance of acquired immunity to Trichostrongylus colubriformis in Merino sheep was assessed in 2 experiments. Adult Merino sheep with previously acquired immunity to T colubriformis were housed in individual pens. Sheep were infected 3 times weekly with 2000 T colubriformis larvae. A diet based on chopped oaten and lucerne hay (experiment 1) or a pelleted diet based on lucerne hay and grain products (experiment 2), was offered in amounts to sustain a moderate gain in body weight, or was reduced step-wise to cause a loss in body weight. Worm egg counts were determined weekly. The reduction in feed on offer resulted in a mean weight loss of 4.0 kg over 9 weeks (experiment 1) or 4.8 kg over 7 weeks (experiment 2). Based on worm egg counts, there was no indication of a change in immunity to T colubriformis in either of the experiments. These results suggest that acquired immunity to T colubriformis in adult sheep that are exposed to infection is maintained during periods of moderate loss of weight associated with inadequate nutrition.     

Supplementation with Phaseolus vulgaris Leaves Improves Metabolic Alterations Induced by High-Fat/Fructose Diet in Rats Under Time-Restricted Feeding

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Time-restricted feeding and food enriched in polyphenols are strategies to prevent or reduce metabolic disorders. Bean leaves (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are a...