A year-long study led by Heather Huson, PhD, associate professor of Animal Sciences at Cornell University, suggests that feeding dogs a "fresh, human-grade" food can positively influence metabolic health and support healthier aging. The study, recently published on Metabolites, followed 22 senior Alaskan sled dogs over 12 months, comparing the effects of a fresh, human-grade diet with standard kibble. Dogs fed the fresh diet reportedly showed rapid and sustained metabolic changes, including lower levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs)—compounds linked to aging and chronic disease—and reductions in sucrose and 1,5-anhydroglucitol, a glycemic control biomarker. Additional findings include improved antioxidant profiles, enhanced branched-chain amino acid metabolism, increased levels of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, and markers of healthier fat utilization and ketogenesis. The fresh-fed dogs also showed reduced fatty acid synthesis, suggesting a more efficient metabolic profile compared with the kibble-fed group. The research highlights the potential benefits of minimally processed diets in supporting metabolic function and overall health in aging dogs.
