Effects of omega 3 intake on glycemic control in diabetic dogs

• Grant number: 17/22580-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Márcio Antonio Brunetto
• Grantee: Vinicius Vasques de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrine disease in dogs, which causes hyperglycemia due to the lack of endogenous insulin. The constant hyperglycemia may cause various complications, such as sudden loss of vision by cataract, diabetic ketoacidosis, or even death whether there is no adequate intervention. Exogenous insulin administration and diet are the base of treatment for diabetic dogs. There is evidence that supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids from omega 3 series generates beneficial to humans with diabetes as glycemic control. There are no studies in the literature that have evaluated this effect for dogs with diabetes. Therefore, this project aims to evaluate the glycemic responses of dogs with DM naturally acquired after dietary supplementation of omega-3. Fifteen dogs with DM, male or female, of varying age groups, without other parallel affections will be selected in the routine of veterinary hospital of the School of Veterinary and Animal Science of the University of São Paulo. The animals will go through two experimental periods consisting of 12 weeks each, In which they will receive, in a cross-over, randomized and double-blind manner, a diet indicated for diabetic dogs, denominated as control, without omega-3, and the same food with the substitution of 2.8% of fat for fish oil, source of omega-3. The glycemic variables will be evaluated through curves in a continuous glucose measurement system. Parametric and non-parametric statistical tests will be used to compare the results. (AU)