Canine obesity has become a growing global concern, with an estimated 40% to 60% of dogs world wide being overweight or obese. Excess weight not only compromises pets' quality of life but also serves as a primary risk factor for hyperlipidaemia, insulin resistance, and a range of metabolic disorders.
In the development of premium veterinary prescription diets, identifying functional ingredients that effectively regulate blood lipids while aligning with the "traditional grains" trend has become a key differentiator.
Oat beta‑glucan is a scientifically validated answer to this challenge.
A study published in 2018 conducted a 71-day feeding trial in adult dogs and yielded key findings:
Significant reduction in "bad cholesterol": Compared to the control group, dogs supplemented with oat beta‑glucan showed significant decreases in serum total cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‑c), and very‑low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL‑c) concentrations (P < 0.05).
Optimised nutrient absorption: The study confirmed that adding oat beta‑glucan extract at a dosage of 10 g/kg of feed is safe and effective in canine diets.
Furthermore, a 2022 study in obese dogs also indicated that beta‑glucan supplementation effectively reduces serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels. These data provide robust scientific support for the application of oat beta‑glucan in hyperlipidaemia prescription diets.
As a functional ingredient, oat beta‑glucan is typically recommended at inclusion levels of 0.5%–3% in dry pet foods. It not only contributes to cholesterol reduction and blood glucose regulation, but its efficacy is also recognised by authoritative health claims from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In addition, as a naturally sourced soluble prebiotic fibre, it promotes satiety and supports healthy digestion.
