Effects of a feed supplement, containing undenatured type II collagen (UC II®) and Boswellia Serrata, in the management of mild/moderate mobility disorders in dogs: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study

Abstract

This study was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, cross-over trial performed to investigate the effects of a dietary supplement containing undenatured type II collagen (UCII®) and Boswellia Serrata on mobility, pain and joint metabolism in mild moderate osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs. A total of 60 dogs with mobility problems were evaluated and enrolled in the study. Seventeen of these dogs with mild/moderate OA were randomized to receive the product A (UCII® + Boswellia Serrata supplement-UCII®-BW) or product B (Placebo -PL), 1 chew per day for 8 weeks by oral route, and repeated in a crossover design after 4 weeks of washout period. All the subjects had veterinary evaluations during the trial and owners were requested to fill out a questionnaire on mobility impairment using the Liverpool Osteoarthritis in dogs scale (L.O.A.D.) at each time of the study. Objective tools were used to assess mobility, activity, and pain. Metabolomic analysis was performed on synovial fluid of most affected joint at the beginning and the end of the study. The results proved that UCII®+Boswellia serrata supplemented group over a period of eight weeks results in an improvement of mobility impairment, already at 4 weeks of administration, according to the owner´s evaluation. In contrast, its absence increased the risk of OA crisis and decreased the pain threshold on the most affected joint. Furthermore, the synovial fluid metabolic profile showed moderate differences between the beginning and the end of the supplementation period, with a particular influence associated to the time of UCII®-BW administration.

Fig 1. Flow chart of the study, performed following the CONSORT guidelines [37].

Fig 2. LOAD score variation during UC-II^®- Boswellia Serrata and placebo administration.

Data are presented as mean and 95% of confidential interval. * p < 0.05 compared to baseline.

Fig 3. Percentage variation of LOAD score at 4 and 8 weeks of supplementation in UCII^®- BW and placebo group.

* p < 0.05 compared to placebo.

Fig 4. GLS variation during different times of administration and washout period.

Fig 5. Von Frey grams variation during UCII^®-BW and placebo administration.

* p < 0.05 compared to baseline. $ p < 0.05 compared to placebo.

Fig 6. PCA scores plot for the whole data set.

Three components give R2X = 0.739 Q2 = 0.16. Symbols are colored according to sampling time: T0 (baseline–pre supplementation) and at the end of the study (T5).

Fig 7. OPLS-DA t[1]/t[2] scores plot for T0 and T5 SF class samples.

(b) S line plot for the model colored according to the correlation-scaled coefficient. The color bar indicates the correlation of the metabolites discriminating among classes.

Fig 8. VIP plot displays the VIP values (≥1) as a column plot with jack-knife uncertainty bars (95%).

Fig 9. PCA scores plot for the whole data set.

Six components give 6 components give R2X = 0.962 Q2 = 0.398. Symbols are colored according to placebo/treatment administration time: AB (treatment, placebo) and BA (placebo, treatment).

Fig 10. OPLS-DA t[1]/t[2] scores plot for AB and BA SF class samples.

(b) S line plot for the model colored according to the correlation-scaled coefficient. The color bar indicates the correlation of the metabolites discriminating among classes.

Fig 11. VIP plot displays the VIP values (≥1) as a column plot with jack-knife uncertainty bars (95%).