Biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and inflammatory status in English Pointers fed a citrus molasses-supplemented diet

Exercise has been shown to increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in canine serum causing oxidative stress. Citrus molasses is a by-product of citrus juice production containing phytochemicals substances that contribute to health maintenance. Naringin and Hesperidin are the predominant flavanones in citrus fruits with antioxidant, lipid-lowering, hypoglycaemic and anti-in- flammatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of citrus molasses inclusion in the diet for hunting dogs on some biochemical parameters, oxidative and inflammatory status. Ten neutered adult English Pointers were divided into two groups homogeneous for sex (2 male, 3 females), age (>12 months old), initial body weight (CTR: 21kg ±1.50), BCS (4.25±0.5, score 1–9) and fed with the same commercial diet supplemented with (MOL group) and without (CTR group) of 2.5% as fed of citrus molasses (Antioxidant Pool Content: Hesperidin =3.3g/kg; Vitamin C = 0.4 g/kg; Pectin =28.3 g/kg). The trial lasted 4 weeks during which the dogs were used to train hunting twice a week for 1 h. Blood samples were withdrawn from the cephalic vein at the beginning (Day 0) and at the end of the trial (Day 28). All samples were taken from fasting dogs, in the morning, to evalu- ate: total cholesterol and triglycerides by a chemistry analyser Catalyst Dx (IDEXX Laboratories), d-ROM, OXY and BAP tests using reagents from Diacron International s.r.l. (Grosseto, Italy) and some cytokines expression (IL-1ß and IL-10) were detected using Elisa kits (Genorise, Philadelphia, USA). Data were ana- lyzed using a mixed model with covariates of XLSTAT statistical package (Addinsoft, v. 2014.4.03). The model included the fixed effect of the dietary treatment (MOL vs. CTR), of the time (Day 0 vs. Day 28) and their interaction (Diet × Time); the individual animal was considered as a random effect in the model. Diet significantly increased (p = .010) the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and reduced triglycerides (p = .05) and lympho- cytes (p < .001), indicating a possible role of citrus molasses in plasmatic antioxidant, lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory capacity. Time lowered significantly the IL10 levels (p < .001) and IL-1ß (p = .05) levels and the interaction Diet × Time reduced significantly the lymphocytes (p = .005). Data confirm the positive role of functional compounds of citrus fruits to counteract the oxidative stress in working dogs.