Nutritional Weight Loss Therapy with Cooked Bean Powders Regulates Serum Lipids and Biochemical Analytes in Overweight and Obese Dogs

Background: Emerging evidence supports that dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.,) intake promotes weight loss and regulates blood lipids. Overweight and obese dogs represent a novel translational model for diet controlled evaluation of dry beans and for assessing the effects of bean intake on serum biomarkers of weight loss. Our objective was to evaluate changes in serum biomarkers associated with weight loss after four weeks of cooked navy bean or black bean powder intake (25% weight/weight) compared to an isocaloric, macro and micronutrient matched control diet in overweight/obese dogs. Methods: Thirty client-owned, adult dogs of diverse breeds were randomized to 1 of 3 dietary study groups at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Body weights were measured weekly and a blood serum chemistry panel was performed at baseline and 2 and 4 weeks post intervention. Results: Average percent weight lost after 4 weeks for dogs consuming the control diet was 4.20% (± 0.88), 5.22% (± 0.91) for dogs consuming the black bean diet, and 6.52% (± 0.95) for dogs consuming the navy bean diet. Serum cholesterol decreased by an average of 17 mg/ml (P<0.02) in the control group, 40 mg/dl (P<0.001) in black bean group, and 54 mg/dl (P<0.001) in the navy bean group. Triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low- density lipoprotein were also changed in bean groups compared to control. Furthermore, serum blood urea nitrogen was decreased in the navy bean group, creatinine was increased in both bean groups, alkaline phosphatase was decreased in the black bean group, and total protein, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin were decreased in the control group at 4 weeks compared to baseline. Conclusion: Overweight and obese canines represent an advanced translational model and dietary bean intake regulates lipid metabolism in overweight and obese dogs.