A review recently published has remarked on the importance of fiber in animal diets, exploring its effects and benefits in various clinical settings, particularly in the management of gastrointestinal disorders.
Dietary fiber intake through the diet has extremely important benefits for the maintenance ofgastrointestinal tract ( GIT) homeostasis. Here, in fact, dietary fiber promotes the physical alteration of food during digestion, modulates the sensation of hunger and satiety, regulates the digestive process, and provides an available energy source for fermentative reactions of the intestinal microbial flora. The benefits are not limited to the GIT, but also extend to the systemic level, positively influencing animal health; therefore, evidence on the functions of fiber and the clinical impact of these molecules in dogs and cats may contribute significantly to their management.
A review, recently published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, compiled current knowledge on dietary fiber in order to inform practitioners about the evidence for these nutrients, promoting their optimal use in clinical practice.
Dietary fibers: classification and applications
Dietary fibers are nondigestible carbohydrates characterized by a wide variety of structures and sizes, which, in turn, result in different effects in the body; therefore, a classification based on functional properties such as fermentability, solubility, and viscosity is preferred. Evidence reports that as fiber fermentation rate increases, gastrointestinal transit time and stool volume decrease and fecal metabolite production increases. In addition, solubility and fermentability are correlated: rapidly fermentable fibers are also found to be the most soluble.
Despite the known benefits provided by fiber, these molecules are not considered essential nutrients because they are not digestible. Currently, theAAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) has not specified a minimum limit of fiber to be included in animal feeds, and excessive or reduced fiber intake is not considered a priority acclinical problem. The amount of these substances can, however, be calculated through different parameters, including CF (Crude Fiber), to date the most common, and TDF(Total Dietary Fibers); however, there are still limitations in comparing nutrient concentrations between feeds of different densities and between dry and wet foods.
Dietary fiber and therapeutic diets in dogs and cats
In fiber-enriched therapeutic diets, however, the concentrations of fiber are carefully calculated. The amount and type of administration, is calculated on the basis of experience, as there is still little evidence on this issue; however, this approach could result in a risk of nutritional imbalance, especially if fiber is not supplemented in a stepwise manner. Therefore, it is critical to recognize that single sources of fiber supplementation may not offer the same clinical benefits as diets with a variety of soluble, insoluble, and prebiotic fibers.
Physiological effects and benefits of diets with dietary fiber
The authors of the review reported the results of studies that evaluated the possible physiological effects of therapeutic diets with fiber; in particular, parameters such as transit time in the GIT, water concentrations and stool volume, and nutrient availability and digestibility were evaluated. In addition, the activity of fibers as substances with a prebiotic effect and their action in blood glucose control, their role inappetite and body weight control, veterinary geriatrics, and cardiovascular, immunological, and reproductive health.
Finally, the authors elaborated on the importance of fiber administration in the management of gastrointestinal disorders such as acute and chronic diarrhea, regurgitation of hairballs and constipation.
Conclusions
By comparing the results of the studies reported by the authors, it was found that fiber is an important component of the diet of domestic animals. Therefore, it is essential to know how to quantify their concentration in foods, understand their classification types and, most importantly, the benefits associated with their intake.
Fiber-enriched diets can promote effective management of patients with gastrointestinal diseases, offering advantages over alternative treatment options in many cases. However, the authors emphasize the need for further evidence regarding the efficacy of fiber in gastrointestinal disease; such studies will need to examine and investigate what specific types and amounts of dietary fiber should be used for the most appropriate management of disease. Finally, considering the reported benefits, the concentrations of fiber, as well as the manipulationsto which these substances go, should be factors to be careful about when planning treatment in companion animals exhibiting gastrointestinal disorders.
Reference
Moreno AA, Parker VJ, Winston JA, Rudinsky AJ. Dietary fiber aids in the management of canine and feline gastrointestinal disease. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2022 Oct 26;260(S3):S33-S45. doi: 10.2460/javma.22.08.0351.
