PSXI-7 - Effects of Hericium Erinaceus on Health of Aged Dogs

Abstract: Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal mushroom that has beneficial effects in human anti-oxidation, immune enhancement, and nerve growth factor stimulation. Aging-related benefits have also been described. The present study investigated the effect of H. erinaceus on aged dogs, with adult (5 years old) and aged (11 years old) animals untreated as controls (C1 and C2, respectively). Aged dogs were additionally treated with 0.4 g (T1) and 0.8 g (T2) H. erinaceus per metabolic body weight. In a two-choice preference test, the experimental diet with H. erinaceus was completely consumed more rapidly. No significant change in body weight, body condition score, and feces score were evident for 16 weeks. Complete blood counts and blood chemistry analyses were in normal ranges. These findings indicated that H. erinaceus was not detrimental to the general health of dogs. Metabolome profiles in sera were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging to investigate the metabolic change in dogs fed H. erinaceus. After 8 weeks, formate, ascorbate (vitamin C), acetone and choline concentrations were significantly increased. These compounds were also significantly increased after 16 weeks in the T2 group. Formate is influential in cell proliferation, acetone and choline are involved in lipid membrane formation, and ascorbate is essential for tissue repair. Additionally, choline and ascorbate are involved in antioxidant system. Collectively, the findings indicate the benefit of H. erinaceus to increase cell proliferation and tissue repair activity that might be related to enhancing an antioxidant activity in aged dogs.