Changes

Fat is an important substrate for the production of energy; in dogs it is the preferred energy substrate during endurance activities.<ref name="Downey"/>,<ref name="Hill"/>

Fat is an important substrate for the production of energy; in dogs it is the preferred energy substrate during endurance activities.<ref name="Downey"/>,<ref name="Hill"/>

'''Skin and Hair Coat:'''

#'''Skin and Hair Coat:'''

Epidermal keratinocytes produce linoleic (LA) enriched ceramide to form the '''water permeable barrier of skin'''.<ref name="Elias">Elias PM, ''et al''. (1980) '''The permeability barrier in essential fatty acid deficiency: Evidence for a direct role of linoleic acid in barrier function.''''' J Invest Dermatol''; 74:230-233.</ref>  Dogs fed higher fat diets in general experience improvement in coat quality irrespective of essential fatty acid concentration (above minimal requirement).<ref name="Conner">Conner WE, ''et al''. (1992) '''Essential fatty acids: The importance of n-3 fatty acids in the retina and brain.''''' Nutr Rev'' ;50:2129.</ref>

Epidermal keratinocytes produce linoleic (LA) enriched ceramide to form the '''water permeable barrier of skin'''.<ref name="Elias">Elias PM, ''et al''. (1980) '''The permeability barrier in essential fatty acid deficiency: Evidence for a direct role of linoleic acid in barrier function.''''' J Invest Dermatol''; 74:230-233.</ref>  Dogs fed higher fat diets in general experience improvement in coat quality irrespective of essential fatty acid concentration (above minimal requirement).<ref name="Conner">Conner WE, ''et al''. (1992) '''Essential fatty acids: The importance of n-3 fatty acids in the retina and brain.''''' Nutr Rev'' ;50:2129.</ref>

 

#'''Inflammatory Mediators:'''

'''Inflammatory Mediators:'''

'''[[Arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)]]'''  are concentrated in cellular membranes and are used as precursors for inflammatory mediators and cell signaling pathways.<ref name="NRC"/> Both AA and EPA can be used by cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) to form the eicosanoids: prostaglandins, prostocyclins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Eicosanoids formed from EPA are less pro-inflammatory than those produced from AA.  

'''[[Arachidonic acid (AA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)]]'''  are concentrated in cellular membranes and are used as precursors for inflammatory mediators and cell signaling pathways.<ref name="NRC"/> Both AA and EPA can be used by cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) to form the eicosanoids: prostaglandins, prostocyclins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Eicosanoids formed from EPA are less pro-inflammatory than those produced from AA.  

 

#'''Brain and Retinal Development: '''

'''Brain and Retinal Development: '''

'''Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)'''  is synthesized in the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] from EPA and is transported to the [[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology|retina]] and other nervous tissues where it is converted to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). During growth, synthesis of these long-chain omega-3 FAs is inadequate to support normal retinal and brain development and a dietary source of EPA or DHA is considered conditionally essential.<ref name="Kirby">Kirby NA, ''et al''. (2009) '''Skin surface lipids and skin and hair coat condition in dogs fed increased total fat diets containing polyunsaturated fatty acids'''. ''JAPAN (Ber)'';93:505-511.</ref>

'''Docosapentaenoic acid (DPA)'''  is synthesized in the [[Liver - Anatomy & Physiology|liver]] from EPA and is transported to the [[Eye - Anatomy & Physiology|retina]] and other nervous tissues where it is converted to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). During growth, synthesis of these long-chain omega-3 FAs is inadequate to support normal retinal and brain development and a dietary source of EPA or DHA is considered conditionally essential.<ref name="Kirby">Kirby NA, ''et al''. (2009) '''Skin surface lipids and skin and hair coat condition in dogs fed increased total fat diets containing polyunsaturated fatty acids'''. ''JAPAN (Ber)'';93:505-511.</ref>