Effect of Fermented Blueberry Byproducts on Body Fat Reduction and Weight Management in Companion Dogs

The development of functional pet food using fermented blueberry byproducts is emerging as a promising approach for managing obesity and metabolic diseases in companion animals. This preliminary study aimed to investigate the dietary potential of fermented blueberry byproduct extract (BBFE) for weight management through integrated biochemical, cellular, and animal-based experiments. Fermentation significantly enhanced the total polyphenol content (10.8% increase), total flavonoid content (10.2% increase), and total anthocyanin content (19.5% increase) of blueberry byproducts compared to non-fermented extracts. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was enhanced by 20.6%. In 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation assays, BBFE inhibited lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner, with a maximum inhibition of 47% at 200 μg/mL, comparable to the positive conrol, Garcinia cambogia. Western blot analysis demonstrated that BBFE suppressed the expression of key transcription factors (PPAR-γ, C/EBP-α, C/EBP-β, and C/EBP-δ) involved in adipogenesis, indicating multi-stage inhibition of the differentiation pathway. In a 12-week feeding trial with 9 beagle dogs (n=7 treatment, n=2 control), BBFE-containing feed resulted in a significantly lower relative body weight gain (23.1% vs. 71.1% in the control group). Serum triglycerides showed marked improvements in individual animals, with reductions exceeding 60% in some subjects. Hepatic and renal function markers remained within normal ranges throughout the study, confirming the safety of the fermented byproduct as a pet food ingredient. These results suggest that fermented blueberry byproducts may offer beneficial dietary value for weight management mediated through inhibition of the PPAR-γ pathway, with favorable metabolic and safety profiles in companion animals. This functional ingredient warrants futher investigation for commercial use in pet food formulations for obesity menagement.