Researchers in China have manufactured dog food containing tea polyphenols. They have shown that when dogs are fed tea polyphenol containg food, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, similar to those observed in humans, are demonstrated.
Fang Zhong and colleagues also wanted to test the foods palpability to find out if the dogs would actually enjoy eating it. Following a five day trial, it emerged that dogs actually preferred eating food that contained 0.5% tea polyphenols. The dogs’ diet was then restricted to either tea polyphenol containing food or the control food. Subsequent tests revealed higher levels of antioxidant activity in the dogs on the tea polyphenol diet, along with lower levels of fecal bacteria in their stool.
To find out more, read the full Chemistry World article.
Quantitative optimization and assessments of supplemented tea polyphenols in dry dog food considering palatability, levels of serum oxidative stress biomarkers and fecal pathogenic bacteria,
Maoshen Chen, Xuemei Chen, Wenli Cheng, Yue Li, Jianguo Ma and Fang Zhong
RSC Adv., 2016,6, 16802-16807
DOI: 10.1039/C5RA22790A
