The data of Table 6 are presented as the ratio of the concentration of circulating metabolite in the population of cats fed the Anti-Aging Food of Table 1 to the concentration of circulating metabolite in the population of cats fed the Control Food. These data establish that, over the 180-day study, there was a substantial decrease in the levels of both of these bacterially-produced, toxic metabolites.
[0101] Accordingly, the above data demonstrate that feeding a composition of the invention will prevent and/or treat an age-related condition of companion animals, e.g., cats and dogs, the condition being increased levels of bacterially-produced, toxic metabolites such as but not limited to p-cresol sulfate and 3-hydroxy indole.
Example 5: Improved Oxidation Status
[01021 A further age-related condition of animals, e.g., cats and dogs, is oxidative damage, e.g., oxidative damage to the DNA of the afflicted animal. As demonstrated herein, administration of a composition of the invention, e.g., the Anti-Aging Food of Table 1, ameliorates or prevents such oxidative damage, improving the oxidative status of the treated cats, as illustrated both by the reduction in urine levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (a biomarker of oxidative damage to DNA), as well as by the reduction of the circulating levels of oxidized glutathione.
[0103] The reduction in urine levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine is demonstrated by the data presented in Table 7.