Supplementation of tropical red seaweeds improved gut health indices, antioxidant status and immunity in adult dogs (2024, Animal Nutrition)
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Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654524000593
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Benefits claimed: At 3% supplementation (especially Gracilaria salicornia), it enhances gut health by increasing fecal Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus populations, lowering clostridial counts and ammonia, and improving volatile fatty acid profiles (e.g., higher lactate and VFA levels, P<0.05); boosts antioxidant status with higher reduced glutathione and lower lipid peroxides (P<0.05); and improves immunity with a tendency toward enhanced cell-mediated responses (P<0.10), outperforming lower doses or other seaweeds like Kappaphycus alvarezii.
Effects of supplemental seaweed extract on antioxidant properties, loose stools, gut microbiota, and its metabolite composition in adult dogs (2025, Animal Nutrition)
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Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405654525000885
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Benefits claimed: At 2% supplementation, it improves antioxidant properties by increasing serum antioxidase activities and decreasing malondialdehyde (P<0.05); reduces loose stools and enhances fecal consistency (P<0.05); modulates gut microbiota by boosting short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria like Bifidobacterium and Holdemanella, with higher fecal propionate (P<0.05); strengthens immune function via elevated IgA, IgM, and IL-10 levels (P<0.05); and supports intestinal barrier integrity by lowering inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-1β, CRP, TNF-α) and barrier damage indicators (e.g., d-lactate, LPS, P<0.05).
Effects of Edible Treats Containing Ascophyllum nodosum on the Oral Health of Dogs: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Single-Center Study (2018, Frontiers in Veterinary Science)
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Link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2018.00168/full
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Benefits claimed: Over 90 days, it reduces plaque accumulation (e.g., 40% lower plaque index at day 90, P<0.001) and calculus formation (e.g., up to 35% reduction at day 30, P=0.002); decreases volatile sulfur compounds for better breath (e.g., 46% lower at day 90, P<0.001); improves overall oral health index (up to 25% lower at day 90) and gingival bleeding (e.g., 67% lower at day 90, P<0.001); and aids long-term prevention of halitosis and maintenance of oral hygiene post-dental cleaning.