Bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3.

Bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 in a companion animal can be improved by adjusting the diet of the animal to increase the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3 or adjusting the diet of the animal to decrease the amount of a compound which positively or negatively modulates the bone mineral content, 25(OH) vitamin D3, or 1,25(OH).sub.2 vitamin D3.

Mycotoxin-deactivating aptamers, especially DNA aptamers, bind to mycotoxins in feed and feed ingredients resulting in the reduction or elimination of toxic and carcinogenic effects of mycotoxins. The invention also discloses a composition comprising a mycotoxin-deactivating aptamer, a binding agent, a biotransforming agent and an antioxidant for detoxifying mycotoxins in feeds. In addition, the invention teaches the methods of preparing the mycotoxin-deactivating aptamer-based composition and also the methods of using it as a feed additive. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the mycotoxin-deactivator/s alone, or in a composition comprising the aptamers and other mycotoxin-detoxifying agents, in feeds and feed ingredients for detoxifying the major mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins and ochratoxin A.

Mycotoxin-deactivating aptamers, especially DNA aptamers, bind to mycotoxins in feed and feed ingredients resulting in the reduction or elimination of toxic and carcinogenic effects of mycotoxins. The invention also discloses a composition comprising a mycotoxin-deactivating aptamer, a binding agent, a biotransforming agent and an antioxidant for detoxifying mycotoxins in feeds. In addition, the invention teaches the methods of preparing the mycotoxin-deactivating aptamer-based composition and also the methods of using it as a feed additive. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of the mycotoxin-deactivator/s alone, or in a composition comprising the aptamers and other mycotoxin-detoxifying agents, in feeds and feed ingredients for detoxifying the major mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, fumonisins and ochratoxin A.

Disclosed are plant protein concentrates, extracts, and protein-lipid complexes prepared from sunflower plant material. Sunflower seeds are deconstructed and separated into heavy protein-rich fractions and light oil-rich fractions. The deconstruction processes avoid the use of organic solvents and temperatures above 60° C. The separated fractions are then selectively processed to produce selected plant protein compositions comprising from about 30% (w/w) to about 80% (w/w) sunflower protein, from about 1% (w/w) and to about 50% (w/w) plant oil, and up to about 25% (w/w) carbohydrates. The plant protein compositions from sunflower plants are suitable for use as ingredients in nutritional formulations.

Methods of detecting the presence of one copy or 2 copies of a minor allele of one or more single nucleotide polymorphisms selected from the group consisting of SNP A3_117040611, SNP A3_117041908 and SNP A3_117081913 are disclosed. Methods of identifying a feline subject as being at an increased likelihood of developing cat kidney disease are disclosed. Methods of monitoring the health of a feline subject identified as having an increased likelihood of developing CKD are provided. Methods of monitoring the health of a feline subject and response to treatment for renal disease that comprise quantifying at 2PY present are provided. Methods of delaying onset and severity of cat kidney disease in a feline subject identified as having an increased likelihood of developing CKD and methods of treating cats that have CKD are provided.

Methods and compositions for providing a health benefit to an animal using a nutrient blend. In one embodiment, the method can comprise orally administering a composition comprising at least four of the nutrients selected from the group of walnut, maitake mushroom extract, EGCG, turmeric root powder, lycopene, taurine, EPA, and DHA to the animal.

Methods and compositions for providing a health benefit to an animal using a nutrient blend. In one embodiment, the method can comprise orally administering a composition comprising at least four of the nutrients selected from the group of walnut, maitake mushroom extract, EGCG, turmeric root powder, lycopene, taurine, EPA, and DHA to the animal.

The present invention relates to an edible composition having a lipid continuous phase and self-assembled structures, the composition comprising oil, phospholipids, caffeine and water. Further aspects of the invention are the use of a composition to provide controlled release of caffeine, a composition for use in the treatment or prevention of drowsiness, the non-therapeutic use of a composition to increase mental alertness, and an edible capsule.

The present invention discloses a kind of diet capable of enhancing the immune function of baby dogs, wherein, the raw materials of which consist of main components, first auxiliary components, and second compounding components; wherein, the main components in terms of mass percent consist of: 80-90% of high protein material, 5-10% of vegetable adhesive, 0.1-0.2% of multiple vitamin, 0.01-0.1% of compound trace elements, and the remain is fermentation preparation; and the first auxiliary components in terms of mass percent consist of: 20-40% of montmorillonite, 10-30% of fish meal, 10-16% of seaweed, and the remain is Chinese herbal medicines; and the second compounding components consist of: beer yeast, linseed oil, cod liver oil, and corn oil. The present invention discloses a method for preparing the aforesaid diet capable of enhancing the immune function of baby dogs. The present invention discloses a method for using the aforesaid diet capable of enhancing the immune function of baby dogs.