Efficacy and safety of a diet enriched with EPA&DHA, turmeric extract and hydrolysed collagen in management of naturally-occurring osteoarthritis in cats. A prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo- and time-controlled study
Description
This study aimed to evaluate a therapeutic diet containing a high level of EPA&DHA, with a specific EPA:DHA (0.69:1) ratio, turmeric extract and hydrolysed collagen, using four previously validated pain/functional outcomes on N = 30 cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), over a 13-week (W) administration period followed by a 4-W wash-out. The sample population was homogeneously distributed in a placebo-control and an experimental cohort. When compared to the placebo diet, cats receiving the therapeutic diet showed increased peak vertical force (P=0.017 at W16, with 64% responders) correlating to improved weight bearing; improved performance in the stairs assay compliance (P<0.001 at W16, with 87% responders) signifying lessened fatigue related to OA-pain; increased nighttime actimetry (Cohort effect P=0.05, with 67% responders) suggesting improved spontaneous mobility and comfort; and reduced MI-CAT(V) score (Cohort effect P<0.001, with 80% responders) indicating decreased functional alterations. Cats receiving the placebo diet deteriorated with time. The earliest signs of therapeutic response were determined at the W06 inflection point between both cohorts actimetric linear regressions, which was confirmed with the MI-CAT(V) intercohort differences at W08, W12 and W16 (P<0.007). The MI-CAT(V) clinical metrology instrument was validated for inter-rater reliability, minimal placebo effect (<15% responders) and clustering OA severity. Different at baseline on biomechanical assessments (P<0.05), both moderate and severe OA clusters responded equally to the experimental therapeutic diet. Based upon all outcomes and a lack of observed side effects, the test therapeutic diet presents a promising prospect for long term management of feline osteoarthritis.
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