Open AccessA nutraceutical diet based on Lespedeza spp ., Vaccinium macrocarpon and Taraxacum officinale improves spontaneous feline chronic kidney disease
Author(s) -
Di Cerbo Alessandro,
Iannitti Tommaso,
Guidetti Gianandrea,
Centenaro Sara,
Canello Sergio,
Cocco Raffaella
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
physiological reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 39
ISSN - 2051-817X
DOI - 10.14814/phy2.13737
Subject(s) - cats , kidney disease , taraxacum officinale , creatinine , blood urea nitrogen , medicine , lespedeza , nutraceutical , kidney , vaccinium , biology , botany , pathology , dandelion , alternative medicine , traditional chinese medicine
Chronic kidney disease is characterized by structural and/or functional impairment of one or both kidneys persisting for more than 3 months. In cats, chronic kidney disease can frequently occur in animals aged over 9 years with an incidence of approximately 10%. Thirty‐four client‐owned, neutered cats, suffering from stage II ‐ III chronic kidney disease and diagnosed according to the International Renal Interest Society guidelines were randomly assigned to receive either a control diet ( n = 17) or a nutraceutical diet ( ND ; n = 17) for 90 days. Both diets were commercialized for management of CKD symptoms. The diets were identical except that the ND contained tablets that consisted of 60–80% hydrolysed proteins, 20–40% minerals and active substances, that are, Lespedeza spp. 0.0588%, Vaccinium macrocarpom 0.0371%, and Taraxacum officinale 0.0231%. No adverse effects were reported during this study. Both diets resulted in an improvement in CKD symptoms. After a 90‐day evaluation, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, total proteins, and aspartate aminotransferase significantly decreased in cats that received the ND . A significant decrease was also observed in urine turbidity score, color score, and total proteins in cats that received the ND . We have found that a ND based on Lespedeza spp ., Vaccinium macrocarpon , and Taraxacum officinale improves key indicators of renal failure in cats affected by chronic kidney disease.