Manuela Lefort-Holguin_2024

This study aimed to evaluate a therapeutic diet containing a high level of EPA&DHA, with a specific EPA:DHA (0.69:1) ratio, turmeric extract and hydrolysed collagen, using four previously validated pain/functional outcomes on N = 30 cats with naturally occurring osteoarthritis (OA), over a 13-week (W) administration period followed by a 4-W wash-out.
The sample population was homogeneously distributed in a placebo-control and an experimental cohort. When compared to the placebo diet, cats receiving the therapeutic diet showed increased peak vertical force (P=0.017 at W16, with 64% responders) correlating to improved weight bearing; improved performance in the stairs assay compliance (P<0.001 at W16, with 87% responders) signifying lessened fatigue related to OA-pain; increased nighttime actimetry (Cohort effect P=0.05, with 67% responders) suggesting improved spontaneous mobility and comfort; and reduced MI-CAT(V) score (Cohort effect P<0.001, with 80% responders) indicating decreased functional alterations. Cats receiving the placebo diet deteriorated with time. The earliest signs of therapeutic response were determined at the W06 inflection point between both cohorts actimetric linear regressions, which was confirmed with the MI-CAT(V) intercohort differences at W08, W12 and W16 (P<0.007). The MI-CAT(V) clinical metrology instrument was validated for inter-rater reliability, minimal placebo effect (<15% responders) and clustering OA severity. Different at baseline on biomechanical assessments (P<0.05), both moderate and severe OA clusters responded equally to the experimental therapeutic diet.
Based upon all outcomes and a lack of observed side effects, the test therapeutic diet presents a promising prospect for long term management of feline osteoarthritis.

本研究旨在评估一款富含二十碳五烯酸（EPA）与二十二碳六烯酸（DHA）、且二者比例为特定的0.69:1，同时添加姜黄提取物与水解胶原蛋白的治疗性日粮。研究针对30只自然罹患骨关节炎（OA）的猫咪，采用4项已验证的疼痛与功能结局指标，开展为期13周的饲喂周期，随后设置4周的洗脱期。

受试群体被均匀分为安慰剂对照组与实验组队列。与安慰剂日粮组相比，饲喂治疗性日粮的猫咪表现出多项显著改善：其一，峰值垂直力提升（第16周时P=0.017，应答率达64%），提示负重能力改善；其二，阶梯试验表现改善（第16周时P<0.001，应答率达87%），表明与骨关节炎疼痛相关的疲劳感减轻；其三，夜间体动监测结果升高（队列效应P=0.05，应答率达67%），提示自发活动能力与舒适度提升；其四，MI-CAT(V)评分降低（队列效应P<0.001，应答率达80%），表明功能障碍有所缓解。而安慰剂日粮组的猫咪则随时间出现病情恶化。

治疗应答的最早迹象可在第6周时通过两组队列的体动监测线性回归拐点确定，这一结果在第8、12、16周的MI-CAT(V)组间差异分析中得到验证（P<0.007）。MI-CAT(V)临床计量工具已通过评定者间信度、极小安慰剂效应（应答率<15%）以及骨关节炎严重程度聚类分析的验证。尽管基线时的生物力学评估存在组间差异（P<0.05），但中度与重度骨关节炎亚组对本次试验治疗性日粮的响应程度并无显著差异。

综合所有结局指标以及未观察到副作用的情况，本次试验的治疗性日粮展现出用于猫咪骨关节炎长期管理的良好应用前景。