Dietary Management of Labrador Retrievers with Subclinical Hepatic Copper Accumulation. (16th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fieten, H.; Biourge, V.C.; Watson, A.L.; Leegwater, P.A.J.; van den Ingh, T.S.G.A.M.; Rothuizen, J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of veterinary internal medicine. Volume 29:Number 3(2015:May/Jun.)
• Page Start: 822
• Page End: 827
• Publication Date: 2015-03-16
• Subjects: Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; 636.0896
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12574
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-6640

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jvim12574-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jvim12574-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Genetic and environmental factors, including dietary copper intake, contribute to the pathogenesis of copper‐associated hepatitis in Labrador retrievers. Clinical disease is preceded by a subclinical phase in which copper accumulates in the liver.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12574-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To investigate the effect of a low‐copper, high‐zinc diet on hepatic copper concentration in Labrador retrievers with increased hepatic copper concentrations.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12574-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Twenty‐eight clinically healthy, client‐owned Labrador retrievers with a mean hepatic copper concentration of 919 ± 477 mg/kg dry weight liver (dwl) that were related to dogs previously diagnosed with clinical copper‐associated hepatitis.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12574-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Clinical trial in which dogs were fed a diet containing 1.3 ± 0.3 mg copper/Mcal and 64.3 ± 5.9 mg zinc/Mcal. Hepatic copper concentrations were determined in liver biopsy samples approximately every 6 months. Logistic regression was performed to investigate effects of sex, age, initial hepatic copper concentration and pedigree on the ability to normalize hepatic copper concentrations.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12574-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>In responders (15/28 dogs), hepatic copper concentrations decreased from a mean of 710 ± 216 mg/kg dwl copper to 343 ± 70 mg/kg dwl hepatic copper after a median of 7.1 months (range, 5.5–21.4 months). Dogs from a severely affected pedigree were at increased risk for inability to have their hepatic copper concentrations normalized with dietary treatment.</p> </sec> <sec id="jvim12574-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions and Clinical Importance</title> <p>Feeding a low‐copper, high‐zinc diet resulted in a decrease in hepatic copper concentrations in a subset of clinically normal Labrador retrievers with previous hepatic copper accumulation. A positive response to diet may be influenced by genetic background. Determination of clinical benefit requires further study.</p> </sec> </abstract>