Changes

==Why is it Important?==

==Why is it Important?==

Dietary fat is a rich and important source of [[Energy - Nutrition|energy]] for companion animals, providing more than twice as much energy per gram than protein and carbohydrate. Dietary fat is a source of the [[Omega-6 Fatty Acids - Nutrition|omega 6]] and [[Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Nutrition|omega  3]] essential fatty acids;<ref name="NRC">National Research Council (NRC). (2006) '''Fat and Fatty Acids.''' ''In Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats.'' Washington, DC: National Academies Press p.90-104.</ref>  dietary fat is a carrier for the fat soluble vitamins [[Vitamin A (Retinol) - Nutrition|A]], [[Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) - Nutrition|D]], [[Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) - Nutrition|E]] and [[Vitamin K (Menaquinone-7, MK-7) - Nutrition|K]]; and dietary fats are used to enhance and improve the palatability of pet foods. Fat and fatty acid oxidation is also the preferred energy substrate during endurance activities (such as racing sled dogs).<ref name="Downey">Downey RL, ''et al.'' (1980) '''Diet of beagle affects stamina. '''''JAAHA'';16:273-277.</ref>,<ref name="Hill">Hill RC. (1998) '''The nutritional requirements of exercising dogs.''' ''J Nutr'';128:2686S-2690S.</ref>

Dietary fat is a rich and important source of [[Energy - Nutrition|energy]] for companion animals, providing more than twice as much energy per gram than [[Protein - Nutrition|protein]] and [[Carbohydrates - Nutrition|carbohydrate]]. Dietary fat is a source of the [[Omega-6 Fatty Acids - Nutrition|omega 6]] and [[Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Nutrition|omega  3]] [[Nutrition Glossary#Essential Nutrients|essential]] fatty acids;<ref name="NRC">National Research Council (NRC). (2006) '''Fat and Fatty Acids.''' ''In Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats.'' Washington, DC: National Academies Press p.90-104.</ref>  dietary fat is a carrier for the fat soluble vitamins [[Vitamin A (Retinol) - Nutrition|A]], [[Vitamin D (Cholecalciferol) - Nutrition|D]], [[Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) - Nutrition|E]] and [[Vitamin K (Menaquinone-7, MK-7) - Nutrition|K]]; and dietary fats are used to enhance and improve the [[Nutrition Glossary#Palatability|palatability]] of pet foods. Fat and fatty acid oxidation is also the preferred energy substrate during endurance activities (such as racing sled dogs).<ref name="Downey">Downey RL, ''et al.'' (1980) '''Diet of beagle affects stamina. '''''JAAHA'';16:273-277.</ref>,<ref name="Hill">Hill RC. (1998) '''The nutritional requirements of exercising dogs.''' ''J Nutr'';128:2686S-2690S.</ref>

==Roles in the Body==

==Roles in the Body==

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:''' 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>

#'''[[Skin - Anatomy & Physiology|Skin]] and [[Hair - Anatomy & Physiology|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>

#'''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 [[Nutrition Glossary#Eicosanoids|eicosanoids]]: prostaglandins, prostocyclins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Eicosanoids formed from EPA are less pro-inflammatory than those produced from AA.  

#'''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 [[Nutrition Glossary#Eicosanoids|eicosanoids]]: prostaglandins, prostocyclins, thromboxanes, and leukotrienes. Eicosanoids formed from EPA are less pro-inflammatory than those produced from AA.  

#'''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 [[Nutrition Glossary#Conditionally Essential Nutrients|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>

#'''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 [[Nutrition Glossary#Conditionally Essential Nutrients|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>

==Consequences of Fat Deficiency==

==Consequences of Fat Deficiency==

==References==

==References==

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[[Category:Fats]]

[[Category:Fats]]