Gluten(Gliadin)-free food

Grain-free pet food is a very hot topic these days, however, a more accurate term would be to call it Gliadin-free food. The polypeptide Gliadin is found in both wheat, barley, rye and oats, and gliadin is responsible for the gluten-sensitive enteropathies seen in humans and dogs. Gluten sensitivity has only been described in a number of Irish Setter dogs (Batt et al., 1984), and so at this point, it is not known whether gluten sensitivity or intolerance is actually a problem in the general population of dogs. Gliadin is not found in flour, gluten or whole grains produced from neither corn nor rice, so in the case of gluten (gliadin) intolerances or sensitivities, corn is harmless (Hand et al, 2010). Food intolerance in dogs and cats account for a large number of dermatologic and GI-tract patients however, corn is not mentioned as an allergen commonly associated with adverse food reactions. A survey amongst veterinarians in North America, Europe, Australia, Japan and New Zealand reported Beef, Dairy products and wheat as responsible for 69 % of the cases and 80 % of the cases in cats (Hand et al., 2010).

Another reason for the growing anti-corn opinion is apparently the fact that some people think feeding a diet high in corn can cause behaviour problems in dogs. The reason for this assumption is that corn supposedly affects the serotonin levels in the brain.
Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that causes a feeling of well-being. Serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan. Corn has a low level of tryptophan, but since corn is never the only food source for your pet, the tryptophan level will be just fine. Other than that, there are no studies showing that having corn in the diet affects behaviour.

Corn is a very nutritious grain compared to other cereal products found in pet food because it contains a good balance of nutrients not found in other grains. Other than that, corn provides a highly available source of complex carbohydrates and also essential amino acids and fibre (Hand et al., 2010), and so pet food products containing corn and also rice are richer in fibre, thus promoting better peristalsis which ultimately leads to enhanced digestion.

Taking all of the above into consideration there is no problem related to feeding neither a dog nor a cat a diet containing products produced from corn or rice. On the contrary, there are several beneficiary properties associated with both.

By Therese G. Hosbjerg, DVM, Technical Manager at Bacterfield GmbH

References:

• Batt R.M., Carter M.W. and McLean L. (1984): Morphological and biochemical studies of a naturally occurring enteropathy in the Irish setter dog: A comparison with coeliac disease in man. Research in Veterinary Science, 37: 339-346.
• Batt R.M. and Hall E.J. (1992): Dietary modulation of gluten sensitivity in a naturally occurring enteropathy of Irish Setter dogs. Gut, 33: 198-205.
• Hand M.S., Thatcher C.D., Remillard R.L., Roudebush P. and Novotny B.J. (2010): Small Animal Clinical Nutrition. 5th Edition. Mark Morris Institute, Kansas, United States of America.