 |
|
Good health for both humans and their dogs is the result of a diet of good fresh healthy quality foods that have not been spoilt by sprays, irradiation, added preservatives and other chemicals, or storage.
|
IT is well known that our genes can potentially dictate which diseases we will be prone to. But scientific evidence is emerging that shows that the foods we eat can help treat and even prevent certain conditions.
The interplay between genes and how the nutrients found in certain foods could assist in the prevention of certain diseases is known as nutrigenomics and could, in the future, transform nutrition as we know it.
According to Dr David Sargan, a geneticist from Cambridge University, nutrigenomics potentially has enormous implications not only for human health but for pet health too.
"Just as certain human individuals are predisposed to specific diseases, certain breeds of dog are too, and much of my research has looked at unravelling the link between many of the genetic conditions we share with our canine companions," said Dr Sargan.
With around 450 canine genetic diseases identified, which vary according to breed, nutrigenomics has great potential to improve not only the health of our pets but also our own well-being, ranging from disease prevention to the relief of pain in certain conditions and in some cases prolonging life expectancy.
"My work in canine and human genetics has demonstrated that studying common canine conditions has provided us with vital information on ways to treat these diseases in humans. In addition, the enormous suffering caused by inherited diseases in pedigree dogs can be reduced significantly if treated using nutrigenomics as a tool, either as a stand alone or in addition to medication," he added.
One company leading the way in incorporating this new tool as part of its product development is Hill's Pet Nutrition. It has, for the first time, combined the theory of nutrigenomics with clinical proof for a product in the area of canine joint mobility.
A new Hill's product has recently been developed, containing the nutrient EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) which has been shown to alter the action of a degenerative enzyme that causes cartilage degradation. Clinical studies have shown that a diet rich in EPA helps to improve mobility and joint health in dogs.
Professor John Innes, from the University of Liverpool, one of the principal investigators in the development of this technology, believes the application of nutrigenomics heralds the beginning of a new way forward in the treatment of many chronic conditions, without the need for invasive surgery or the potential side effects of drug therapy.
"The science of nutrigenomics will give us further insight into understanding the onset and progression of many diseases, and gives us one more tool in our ongoing quest to treat and prevent illness," said Professor Innes.
"We know that the progression from a healthy state to a disease state occurs through changes in gene expression, which can be influenced through ingestion of dietary factors, and the introduction of pet foods based on these findings is an important step in helping to further explore the concept of nutritional therapy in the treatment of debilitating human and canine diseases," he added.
