Popular Functional Ingredients in the Pet Food Industry

Pet food is becoming increasingly specialized as manufacturers work to cater to the individual needs of consumers’ pets.¹ These functional pet foods reflect the rising market of functional foods for humans. This trend is fueled by consumers’ increasing attention to health issues, both human and pet. An ingredient is categorized as functional if it provides health benefits beyond basic nutrition when included as part of a complete and balanced diet.² Examples of functional ingredients commonly used in the pet food industry include turmeric, chicory root, brewer’s yeast, and marine oils.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice derived from the roots of the Curcuma longa plant.³ This functional ingredient has gained considerable attention in the pet and human food industries due to its health-promoting properties. Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, has been proven to be effective in dogs with naturally occurring osteoarthritis.⁴ In addition, curcumin has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.⁵

Chicory Root

The root of the chicory plant is a naturally occurring prebiotic used commonly in pet food as a source of inulin.⁶ Research has shown that inulin derived from chicory root is more beneficial to host health than synthetic inulin and favors the growth of certain species of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.⁷ Prebiotic ingredients help to support the growth and maintenance of healthy bacteria living in the gut.⁸ In addition, prebiotics have been observed to be effective in the enhancement of the immune system.⁹

Brewer’s Yeast

Historically, the pet food industry has used brewer’s yeast as a palatability enhancer; however, recent research has shown that brewer’s yeast also has immunomodulatory and gut health-promoting effects.^10-12 Brewer's yeast supplementation results in beneficial changes in markers of intestinal function.^13,14 In addition, yeast products may also boost antioxidant activity in cats and dogs due to their β-glucan and mannan content, which are thought to be the main actors in the antioxidant capacity of yeasts.¹⁵

Marine Oils

In pet food, the use of marine oils has gained traction due to its EPA and DHA contents.¹⁶ It is known that supplementation of EPA and DHA improves the skin and coat quality of dogs with skin disease.^17,18 In addition, EPA and DHA have been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects in dogs with heart and hip diseases.^19-21 Supplementation of DHA-concentrated marine oil has also been shown to be effective in supporting the cognitive health of puppies.²² 

The incorporation of functional ingredients into pet foods, treats, and supplements has grown in recent years. As consumer knowledge of animal health and diet quality has improved, so has the desire to maximize their quality of life.²³

References

1. Wall, T., & Keller, J. (2017, July 17). Infographic: Functional dog, cat food and pet treat trends. Pet Food Industry.
2. Ajmera, R. (2020, January 17). Functional foods: Definition, benefits, and uses. Healthline.
3. Kardile, A. B., Pathan, V., Garje, S., & Sayyed, G. (2024, April). Turmeric: A Comprehensive Review. International Journal of Progressive Research In Engineering Management And Science.
4. Innes, J F, Fuller, CJ, Grover, ER, Kelly, AL, Burn, JF. 2003. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel group study of P54FP for the treatment of dogs with osteoarthritis. Vet. Rec. 152(15):457–460. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.152.15.457
5. Campigotto, G, Alba, DF, Sulzbach, MM, Dos Santos, DS, Souza, CF, Baldissera, MD, Gundel, S, Ourique, AF, Zimmer, F, Petrolli, TG, Paiano, D, Da Silva, AS. 2020. Dog food production using curcumin as antioxidant: Effects of intake on animal growth, health and feed conservation. Archives Anim. Nutr. 74(5):397–413. https://doi.org/10.1080/1745039X.2020.1769442
6. Anthonyraj, S, Pattanaik, AK, Baliyan, S, Kumar, A, Kumar, S. 2024. Chicory root powder included as a prebiotic in different cereal-based diets for dogs: Influences on gut health, metabolic and immunological status. Bioactive Carb. Dietary Fiber. 100414.
7. Nakayama, Y., Kawasaki, N., Tamiya, T., Anzai, S., Toyohara, K., Nishiyama, A., & Kitazono, E. (2020). Comparison of the prebiotic properties of native chicory and synthetic inulins using swine fecal cultures. Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry, 84(7), 1486-1496.
8. Perini, M. P., Pedrinelli, V., Marchi, P. H., Henríquez, L. B. F., Zafalon, R. V. A., Vendramini, T. H. A., ... & Brunetto, M. A. (2023). Potential Effects of Prebiotics on Gastrointestinal and Immunological Modulation in the Feeding of Healthy Dogs: A Review. Fermentation, 9(7), 693.
9. Roberfroid, M., Gibson, G. R., Hoyles, L., McCartney, A. L., Rastall, R., Rowland, I., ... & Meheust, A. (2010). Prebiotic effects: metabolic and health benefits. British Journal of Nutrition, 104(S2), S1-S63.
10. Rummell, L. M., Steele, M. A., Templeman, J. R., Yohe, T. T., Akhtar, N., Lambie, J. G., ... & Shoveller, A. K. (2022). A proof of principle study investigating the effects of supplemental concentrated brewer’s yeast on markers of gut permeability, inflammation, and fecal metabolites in healthy non-challenged adult sled dogs. Journal of Animal Science, 100(11), skac281.
11. Pillemer, L., & Ecker, E. E. (1941). Anti-complementary factor in fresh yeast. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 137, 139-142.
12. Novak, M., & Vetvicka, V. (2009). Glucans as biological response modifiers. Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders), 9(1), 67-75.
13. Bastos, T. S., Souza, C. M. M., Kaelle, G. C. B., do Nascimento, M. Q., de Oliveira, S. G., & Félix, A. P. (2023). Diet supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae from different fermentation media modulates the faecal microbiota and the intestinal fermentative products in dogs. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 107, 30-40.
14. Swanson, K. S., & Fahey Jr, G. C. (2006). Potential role of yeast and yeast by-products in pet foods. Recent advances in pet nutrition, 19-35.
15. Maturana, M., Castillejos, L., Martin-Orue, S. M., Minel, A., Chetty, O., Felix, A. P., & Adib Lesaux, A. (2023). Potential benefits of yeast Saccharomyces and their derivatives in dogs and cats: a review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, 1279506.
16. Cabrita, A. R., Maia, M. R., Alves, A. P., Aires, T., Rosa, A., Almeida, A., ... & Fonseca, A. J. (2024). Protein hydrolysate and oil from fish waste reveal potential as dog food ingredients. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 11, 1372023.
17. Logas, D., & Kunkle, G. A. (1994). Double‐blinded crossover study with marine oil supplementation containing high‐dose icosapentaenoic acid for the treatment of canine pruritic skin disease. Veterinary Dermatology, 5(3), 99-104.
18. Combarros, D., Castilla-Castaño, E., Lecru, L. A., Pressanti, C., Amalric, N., & Cadiergues, M. C. (2020). A prospective, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled evaluation of the effects of an n-3 essential fatty acids supplement (Agepi® ω3) on clinical signs, and fatty acid concentrations in the erythrocyte membrane, hair shafts and skin surface of dogs with poor quality coats. Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids, 159, 102140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plefa.2020.102140
19. Freeman, L. M., Rush, J. E., Kehayias, J. J., Ross Jr, J. N., Meydani, S. N., Brown, D. J., ... & Roubenoff, R. (1998). Nutritional alterations and the effect of fish oil supplementation in dogs with heart failure. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 12(6), 440-448.
20. Smith, C. E., Freeman, L. M., Rush, J. E., Cunningham, S. M., & Biourge, V. (2007). Omega‐3 fatty acids in Boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Journal of veterinary internal medicine, 21(2), 265-273.
21. Barrouin-Melo, S. M., Anturaniemi, J., Sankari, S., Griinari, M., Atroshi, F., Ounjaijean, S., & Hielm-Björkman, A. K. (2016). Evaluating oxidative stress, serological-and haematological status of dogs suffering from osteoarthritis, after supplementing their diet with fish or corn oil. Lipids in health and disease, 15, 1-17.
22. Rodrigues, R. B. A., Zafalon, R. V. A., Rentas, M. F., Risolia, L. W., Macedo, H. T., Perini, M. P. & Brunetto, M. A. (2023). The Supplementation of Docosahexaenoic Acid-Concentrated Fish Oil Enhances Cognitive Function in Puppies. Animals, 13(18), 2938.
23. Radosevich, J., McGee, N., & Rawson, N. E. (2019). Functional ingredients in the pet food industry: regulatory considerations. Nutraceutical and Functional Food Regulations in the United States and around the World, 611-616.

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About the Author

Ada-Miette Thomas received both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science with an emphasis on nutrition. Ada-Miette conducted research with a focus on human nutrition and studied the effects of carbohydrate sources on markers of Metabolic Syndrome in adults.