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WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
3 To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: sandra.x.mccune{at}eu.effem.com.
KEY WORDS: • cognition • branched-chain amino acids • dog • canine • agility
A previous study has shown that human athletes given branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) in the form of a drink before and during exercise performed better on complex cognitive tests following exercise (1). The athletes were given a mixture of BCAA (40% valine, 35% leucine, and 25% isoleucine) in a 7% carbohydrate solution. The total amount of BCAA supplied to the subjects was 5.3 g. The athletes were taking part in a 30-km cross-country race and were asked to perform a variety of cognitive tasks and also to give blood samples before and after the race. The blood samples were necessary for measuring plasma free-tryptophan and plasma glucose concentrations.
It is suggested that exercise increases the plasma concentration of tryptophan, which competes with BCAA for a common transport mechanism for entry to the brain. This increased concentration ratio would be expected to lead to an increased rate of transport of tryptophan into the brain, increased brain concentration, and hence increased serotonin (5-hydroxytrptamine, 5-HT). Studies with rats have shown that an increase in the concentration of 5-HT in the brain is associated with sleep as well as reduced levels of aggression (2).
If BCAA can provide cognitive improvement in active dogs, then there could be numerous potential benefits for the dog and owner. The particular types of dogs that might benefit are: assistance, show, agility, working, and obedience dogs. Potentially, BCAA could be added in appropriate amounts to commercial diets, but more impact could be achieved if BCAA were provided in a snack or treat that the dog could eat just before an extra ‘boost’ of energy and cognitive performance is required; similar to the way energy bars are used by humans.
Objective
The objective of this pilot study was to assess the effect of BCAA supplementation on the performance of dogs over an agility course that requires both physical dexterity and cognitive ability.
Experimental design
Subjects. There were 6 dogs/age and treatment group, for a total of 24 dogs. The dogs (n = 24) represented 2 age groups; young (aged 1.5–3.5 y, with a range of 1.5–3.4 y) and senior (>8 y, with a range of 11.1–13.1 y). Four breeds of dogs were used: Cocker Spaniel (n = 2), English Springer Spaniel (n = 2), Golden Retriever (n = 3), and Labrador Retriever (n = 17). Breeds were balanced between supplemented and unsupplemented groups with the exception of 1 Labrador that was replaced by 1 Golden Retriever in the unsupplemented group.
Pretrial training. All dogs underwent 7 wk pretrial training over a standard, 7-obstacle agility course. Training was conducted by an experienced team dedicated to training at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition. Dogs had to pass a basic level of training before they were enrolled for testing. All dogs were healthy and showed no indication of physical or cognitive impairment in a routine pretrial veterinary examination.
Course design. The test course comprised 3 consecutive circuits of the dog's standard (familiar) course, followed immediately by a fourth (novel) course that was sited in a different area, and used a different configuration of the apparatus (Fig. 1).
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Approximately 2.5 h before the start of the test, dogs were fed the appropriate rice cake. Dog handlers were blind to the treatment group their dog was assigned.
Supplementation in this study differed from the human study in that it was given only in advance of the exercise and not during it. Our aim was to synchronize the 4th round of the agility course with maximum uptake of BCAA into the brain. We also tried to mimic the athlete's challenge, i.e., knowing how to run a 30 km race but being tested while running in an unfamiliar location and layout. Hence, the test round of the course was in a different location from the first 3 rounds, and the obstacles were in an unfamiliar order. This design provided a high level of physical and cognitive challenge without compromising the dogs' welfare.
Statistical analysis. The number of errors and time taken to complete round 2 of the standard course and round 4 of the novel course were the data used for this statistical analysis. Statgraphics Plus, version 4.1, was used to analyze data.
The effect of supplementation on performance in rounds 2 and 4 was calculated by comparing the number of errors made using multifactor ANOVA (MANOVA).
To assess individual improvement between round 2 and round 4, an improvement coefficient was calculated for each dog. The calculation for this was:
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MANOVA was also used to compare performances between round 2 and round 4 for supplementation status, breed, and age. Error bars on graphs refer to means ± SD.
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RESULTS |
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 TOP RESULTS DISCUSSIONLITERATURE CITED |
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Senior dogs made fewer total errors (P < 0.03) than young dogs on round 4 (5.5 ± 2.84 for young dogs and 3.75 ± 2.63 for senior dogs). Greater experience in senior dogs may account for their better performance (Fig. 2).
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There was no effect of supplementation on baseline performance in round 2 (2.58 ± 2.71 for supplemented and 2.33 ± 2.50 for unsupplemented).
Similarly, there was no significant difference (P > 0.2) between supplemented and unsupplemented groups in the total number of errors made in round 4 (3.92 ± 3.00 for supplemented and 5.33 ± 2.57 for unsupplemented).
The improvement coefficient was used to measure the difference in an individual dog's baseline performance in round 2 and their performance in round 4 (mean error percentage difference). All but 2 dogs showed an increase in error between round 2 and round 4. An interaction (P < 0.02) was found for supplementation and age (mean error percentage difference was: senior supplemented 13.33 ± 99.33, senior unsupplemented 325.00 ± 282.40, young supplemented 158.33 ± 115.83, young unsupplemented 98.33 ± 62.98). Supplementation appears to have more of an impact on senior dogs than younger dogs (Fig. 3).
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Performance between breeds did not differ (mean error percentage difference was Cocker Spaniel 75.00 ± 35.36, English Springer Spaniel 15.00 ± 49.50, Golden Retriever 200.00 ± 173.21, Labrador Retriever 164.12 ± 212.86). This may be due to very small numbers of some of the breeds (Fig. 4).
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DISCUSSION |
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TOPRESULTSDISCUSSIONLITERATURE CITED |
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Senior dogs made fewer total errors than young dogs on round 4 (the unfamiliar course). More experience in senior dogs may account for their better performance.
All but 2 dogs in this study showed an increase in the number of errors as they progressed from round 2 (the familiar course) to round 4. This loss of performance was greatly reduced for senior dogs that were supplemented. Supplementation appears to have less of an effect in younger dogs. This study shows that supplementation with BCAA may provide a cognitive benefit to active dogs, particularly if they are senior.
Conclusions
These preliminary data suggest that supplementation with leucine, isoleucine, and valine may improve the ability of senior dogs in particular to sustain cognitive performance during exercise, which may impact on overall performance. The results support performance benefits observed in human athletes supplemented with the same BCAA. Further studies, using a larger sample size, are needed to confirm the results of this pilot study.
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FOOTNOTES |
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2 Author disclosure: no relationships to disclose.
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LITERATURE CITED |
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TOPRESULTSDISCUSSIONLITERATURE CITED |
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1. Hassmen P, Blomstrand E, Ekblom B, Newsholme E. Branched-chain amino acid supplementation during 30-km competitive run: mood and cognitive performance. Nutrition. 1994;10:405–10.[Medline]
2. Blomstrand E, Perrett D, Parry-Billings M, Newsholme E. Effect of sustained exercise on plasma amino acid concentrations and on 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism in six different brain regions in the rat. Acta Physiol Scand. 1989;136:473–81.[Medline]
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