Patrick Nguyen

École Nationale Vétérinaire, Agroalimentaire et de l'Alimentation Nantes-Atlantique | Oniris · Department of Biology, Pathology and Food Sciences

Obesity is a common problem in dogs and overconsumption of energy-rich foods is a key factor. This study compared the inflammatory response and fecal metabolome of dogs fed a high-fat vs. a high-starch diet. Ten healthy lean adult beagles were equally allocated into two groups in a cross-over design. Each group received two diets in which fat (hors...

Objectives From the authors’ experience, the consumption of a balanced prescription home-prepared diet that includes zucchini (courgette) benefits cats with recurrent urolithiasis, but there is no published evidence to support this. The aim was to study the effects on urinary parameters of (1) a balanced prescription home-prepared diet containing z...

Increased consumption of energy-rich foods is a key factor in overweight, obesity, and associated metabolic disorders. This would be, at least in part, related to microbiota disturbance. In rodent models of obesity, microbiota disruption has been associated with alteration of the intestinal barrier, endotoxemia, inflammation grade, and insulin sens...

Thymus atlanticus, an endemic plant of Morocco, is traditionally used as a liniment or a drink to treat various diseases. However, there are few available scientific data regarding its biological effects. In this connection, the present study aimed to investigate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of aqueous extract and polyphenol fraction o...

Individuals are more or less prone to excessive fat deposits and body weight. This could result from differences in the expression of gene involved in adipose tissue metabolism in early life. This study aimed to identify such possible differences in puppy dogs. Twenty-four 4-wk old females Beagle puppies were raised in the same environment, and fed...

Obesity and nutritional factors like high-fat diets (HFD) are associated with metabolic alterations, which result from the diet, bodyweight change or both. The objective was to determine the effects of HFD consumed either at maintenance or excess energy levels on BW, metabolic parameters, and colonic permeability markers. A HFD (35% fat as fed, 492...

L'objectif de cette étude était i) de vérifier, à l’aide d’une méthode fiable de mesure de production de lait, la méthode d’enrichissement isotopique à l’eau deutérée (D2O), que la restriction protéique périnatale entraine bien une diminution de la production de lait dans un modèle rongeur, ii) de déterminer si une supplémentation en citrulline ac...

Introduction Cats are a relevant small animal model for several spontaneous cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and systemic hypertension. In people, homocysteine is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Cats are obligate carnivores and have numerous metabolic peculiarities that may predispose them to alte...

Assessment of milk production is of utmost relevance for pediatricians and scientists interested in early life nutrition. The weight-suckle-weight (WSW) method, which consists of weighing babies before and after they suckle their mother, uses the difference in body weight as an estimate of milk intake. However, this is prone to many sources of erro...

Time course of D2O elimination in maternal plasma (linear plot and semi-log plot) in a representative dam. (TIF)

Data relative to experiment 1 (D2O method) (Pages 1 to 4) and experiment 2 (WSW method) (Page 5). Pages 1 and 2: Dam’s mass and food intake for NP and LP groups, respectively; Page 3: pup’s mass and relative mass gain (RMG) for NP and LP groups; Page 4: Water volume (g), K(2,1), and milk flow (g/h) for NP and LP groups; Page 5: Milk flow (g/h) betw...

Cellular oxidative damage is thought to be one of the key mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive impairment in dogs. Several nutritional interventions to limit cognitive decline are reported in the literature. To our knowledge, the association of grape and blueberry extracts has never been tested in aged dogs. Our objective was to evaluate the...

Background The risks during early growth on becoming overweight in adulthood are widely studied in humans. However, early-life predictive factors for canine adult overweight and obesity have not yet been studied.To identify factors that may help explain the development of overweight and obesity at adulthood in dogs, a longitudinal study of 2 years...

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in circulating insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in hyperthyroid cats, before and after thiamazole treatment. Methods Thirty-four hyperthyroid cats were retrospectively included. Plasma free thyroxine (fT4) and IGF-1 concentrations were measured at diagnosis and 3 mont...

Background Grape and blueberry extracts are known to protect against age-related cognitive decline. However, beneficial effects achieved by mixing grape and blueberry extracts have yet to be evaluated in dogs, or their bioavailability assessed. Of concern to us were cases of acute renal failure in dogs, after their ingestion of grapes or raisins. T...

High sodium levels in cat food have been controversial for a long time. Nonetheless, high sodium levels are used to enhance water intake and urine volume, with the main objective of reducing the risk of urolithiasis. This article is a review of current evidence of the putative risks and benefits of high dietary sodium levels. Its secondary aim is t...

Background Research in cats has shown that increased fermentation-derived propionic acid and its metabolites can be used as alternative substrates for gluconeogenesis, thus sparing amino acids for other purposes. This amino acid sparing effect could be of particular interest in patients with kidney or liver disease, where this could reduce the kidn...

Field observations on food tolerance have repeatedly shown that when fed an identical diet, large breed (>25 kg) dogs present softer and moister faeces than small breed ones (<15 kg). The purpose of this review is to highlight the findings of four PhD theses, carried out between 1998 and 2013, whose objectives were to investigate the anatomical and...

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was compared to gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC-C-IRMS) for measurements of cholesterol 13C enrichment after infusion of labeled precursor (13C1,2-acetate). Paired results were significantly correlated although GC-MS was less accurate than GC-C-IRMS for higher enrichment...

Aim: Nicotinic acid (NA) treatment decreases plasma triglycerides and increases HDL cholesterol, but the mechanisms involved in these change are not fully understood. A reduction in cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity has been advanced to explain most lipid-modulating effects of NA. However, due to the central role of CETP in revers...

Cobalamin concentrations were previously investigated in cats, but little information is available concerning the follow up of hypocobalaminemic cats. We aimed to assess the frequency of hypocobalaminemia within a large cohort of cats with gastrointestinal signs and describe the epidemiological, clinical, biological and follow-up characteristics of...

Obesity is a frequent condition of the dog, associated with many endocrine and metabolic disturbances leading to major organ dysfunctions. We therefore aimed to assess biochemical and hormonal profiles of a large cohort of obese dogs. 402 obese dogs were retrospectively included in the study, based on an overweight over 30% the ideal body weight (i...

Equations based on single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis at 50 kHz for determination of total body water content (TBW) have been previously validated in healthy non-sedated beagle dogs. We investigated whether these equations are predictive of TBW in various canine breeds by comparing the results of these equations with TBW values evalu...

Objective: To develop equations for prediction of total body water (TBW) content in unsedated dogs by combining impedance (resistance and reactance) and morphological variables and to compare the results of those equations with TBW content determined by deuterium dilution (TBW(d)). Animals: 26 healthy adult Beagles. Procedures: TBW content was...

Estimation of the quality of commercial diets is a topic of interest for the majority of dog owners. Recently, in a French consumer association magazine, an evaluation of eight dog commercial dry diets (from super-premium, basic-nutrition, private-label and economy brands) according to several nutritional criteria was published. The aims of the stu...

Major challenges with weight management using weight-loss diets include hunger and rapid consumption of food, both of which lead to poor owner compliance. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of increasing volume, by incorporating air, into dry expanded food, on satiety in dogs. Three studies have been performed. The first study...

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is considered to be the best indicator of overall kidney function. The major objectives of this study were to compare plasma exogenous creatinine clearance (PECC) with a reference method to establish reference intervals (RIs) for PECC and to assess the effects of indexation of GFR to bodyweight (BW) in cats. PECC wa...

Objective: Hypocobalaminemia is frequently associated with canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (cEPI). Few studies investigated prognostic factors in cEPI and prognostic value of the cobalamin concentration is controversial. We therefore aimed to assess cobalaminemia as a prognostic factor in cEPI. Design and method: 819 dogs with a diagnosis...

High salt dry expanded diets are commercially available for cats to increase water intake and urine volume, as part of the prevention or treatment of naturally occurring urinary stone formation (calcium oxalates and struvites). However, chronic high salt intake may have potential cardiovascular adverse effects in both humans, especially in aging in...

In cats, the incidence of obesity and diabetes is increasing, and little is known about specific aspects of the endocrine control of food intake in this species. Recent data suggest that ghrelin has an important role in the control of insulin secretion and vice versa, but this role has never been demonstrated in cats. Here we aimed to improve our u...

According to human research, the location of fat accumulation seems to play an important role in the induction of obesity-related inflammatory complications. To evaluate whether an inflammatory response to obesity depends on adipose tissue location, adipokine gene expression, presence of immune cells and adipocyte cell size of subcutaneous adipose...

The objective of this study was to determine whether: (1) lysozyme supplementation would influence coat quality in dog and (2) coat quality improvement would be related withh aematological parameters, fur composition and faecal quality. Eight dogs were divided into two groups and fed a diet supplemented with 0.2% lysozyme. Blood samples were analys...

The aim of this study was to investigate macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) in hamster, a CETP-expressing species, fed omega 3 fatty acids (ω3PUFA) supplemented high fat diet (HFD). Three groups of hamsters (n = 6/group) were studied for 20 weeks: 1) control diet: Control, 2) HFD group: HF and 3) HFD group supplemented with ω3PUFA (EPA...

Increasing salt intake to promote diuresis has been suggested in the management of feline lower urinary tract disease. However, high dietary salt intake might adversely affect blood pressure and renal function. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effects of increased salt intake on renal function in healthy aged cats. This study...

Across species obesity is associated with several disorders but in companion animals little information is available on the impact of chronic obesity on immune competence. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether weight gain and stable obese bodyweight affects the immune cell response. Obesity was induced in eight adult healthy beagl...

Among obesity-associated disorders, low-grade inflammation has been described. The putative therapeutic properties of citrus and curcumin polyphenols could be associated with their anti-inflammatory properties. Two diets supplemented either with hesperidin (0.05 %) and naringin (0.1 %) from citrus extract or with highly bioavailable curcumin from C...

The occurrence and severity of obesity- and insulin resistance-related disorders vary according to the diet. The aim of the present longitudinal study was to examine the effects of a high-fat or a high-fructose diet on body weight (BW), body fat mass, insulin sensitivity (IS) and lipid profiles in a rat model of dietary-induced obesity and low IS....

In dry-extruded canine diets, starch ileal digestibility varies with the starch source, amount and processing parameters. Starch that escapes duodeno-ileal digestion can affect faecal quality by stimulating colonic bacterial fermentation. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of various resistant starch (RS) sources and levels on th...

Glucose intolerance and dyslipidaemia are independent risk factors for endothelium dysfunction and CVD. The aim of the present study was to analyse the preventive effect of n-3 PUFA (EPA and DHA) on lipid and carbohydrate disturbances and endothelial dysfunction. Three groups of adult hamsters were studied for 20 weeks: (1) control diet (Control);...

Hannelore Van de Velde, Geert Janssens, Eric Cox, Lydia Tedin, Jürgen Zentek, Patrick Nguyen, Vincent Biourge, Myriam Hesta

Objectives Careful assessment of the nutritional needs of cats and dogs must be taken into consideration in order to maintain optimum health, be part of a treatment regimen for a diseased state, or to maximize the quality of life in all animals. The goal of these World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) Guidelines is that a nutritional ass...

Careful assessment of nutritional needs of dogs and cats must be taken into consideration in order to maintain optimum health, be part of a treatment regimen for a diseased state, or to maximise the quality of life in all animals. Therefore, the goal of these WSAVA Guidelines is that a nutritional assessment and specific nutritional recommendation...

Circulating insulin-like growth factor type 1 (IGF-1) concentrations in dogs have been correlated with standard breed bodyweight (SBBW or breed size). Thyroid and somatotropic functions, which have common effects and regulatory mechanisms, were investigated in hypothyroid dogs. IGF-1 was measured in 495 adult healthy dogs (N) and in 220 primary hyp...

Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) is an anti-atherogenic process by which cholesterol is effluxed from peripheral tissues by high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and returned to the liver for excretion into the bile and faeces. Dyslipidemia is thought to impair RCT through higher triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL), low HDL-cholesterol and higher activ...

In mammals, thyroid and somatotropic functions have common regulatory mechanisms and metabolic effects (Feldt-Rasmussen 2007, Miell 2008). Growth Hormone and IGF1 secretions have been investigated in dogs with primary hypothyroidism (Diaz-Espineira 2008, Lee 2001). Furthermore, weight gain and obesity have been frequently associated with primary hy...

In mammals, thyroid hormones have been shown to regulate IGF1. Furthermore, leptin and prolactin are known to be involved in thyroid dysfunction. We measured variations in free thyroxine (fT4), IGF1, prolactin and leptin in hyperthyroid cats, before and after treatment with methimazole. 151 hyperthyroid cats (fT4 >40 pmol/L) were included in the...

The propensity of diets of different composition to promote obesity is a current topic in feline medicine. The effects of three meals with different protein:fat ratios on hormones (insulin, acylated ghrelin and amylin) involved in the control of food intake and glucose metabolism were compared. Five lean (two females and three males, 28.6 (sd 3.4)...

Apolipoprotein B100 (apoB100) is an essential component of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), both independent markers of cardiovascular risk. Nicotinic acid (NA) is an efficacious drug for decreasing VLDL and LDL, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. For this purpose, six obese insulin-resistant dogs were...

Fed the same dry diet, large dogs show poorer fecal quality than small ones. A high colonic permeability could explain a low water and electrolyte net balance leading to high fecal water content. This experiment was conducted to evaluate colonic permeability in dogs varying in body size and to determine whether colonic permeability is related to fe...

The hyperenergetic-fed beagle dog model of obesity-associated insulin resistance has previously demonstrated lipoprotein abnormalities similar to those of obese insulin-resistant humans. The aim of this study was to check, in the insulin-resistant dog, the mechanism leading to abnormalities in the mass of apolipoprotein B-100 (apo B-100) containing...

As in man, canine obesity is associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia and other chronic diseases. This study was designed to examine the effects of a nutritional supplement (green tea) on insulin sensitivity and plasma lipid concentrations in an obese insulin-resistant dog model. We also determined mRNA expression of two transcription fact...