Amido resistente, um potencial ingrediente para ser considerado em alimentos funcionais para cães

Abstract

Besides the nutritional function the starch plays an important role in the processing of extruded dog food. On the other hand, major changes have occurred in recent times regarding the knowledge of the role of carbohydrates in the nutrition and health of both humans and other animal species. For many years believed in complete digestion and absorption of starch in the small intestine, however, it is now known that a portion of the starch can resist the action of digestive enzymes therefore called resistant starch (RS). The RS can come either from interference in the processing of starch or from commercial sources obtained by patented or natural process, for example, some vegetables that contain it in high concentrations. In many species of animals the physiological and/or metabolic benefits were attributed from RS, such as: improvement glycemic and insulinemic response; improvement in lipid profile; reduction in the calorific value of food; increased satiety and absorption of micronutrients; besides acting as a prebiotic considered a health promoter of the gastrointestinal tract. However, for the canine specie few studies have been emphasized this matter. Thus, the aim of this review was gather studies to obtain a better understanding of the differentiated biological effects attributed to RS and its potential as a component in diets for dogs.