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The School of ’s veterinary nutrition experts provide clinical services and perform research that improves our understanding of how nutrition aff ects the health of many species, including humans.

The Clinical Nutrition Support Service consults with • Adults who consume high levels of sugar have UC Davis News Davis UC faculty, referring and clients at the William signifi cantly elevated levels of several known risk R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital and, factors for heart disease via teleconference, at the UC Veterinary Medical Center ‒ • Twice-daily injections of the hormone leptin lower San Diego. Dr. Andrea Fascetti and Dr. Jennifer Larsen blood sugar levels and circulating in off er recommendations, feeding plans, commercial diet an model with type 2 diabetes recommendations, critical care nutrition, customized • High fructose corn syrup and sucrose increase weight loss programs, nutritional consultation for triglycerides comparably to pure fructose － all metabolic diseases, and the evaluation and formulation these sweeteners are associated with increased risk of computer-generated, home-prepared therapeutic diets. for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Fascetti’s Research Laboratory also Dr. Jon Ramsey, Department of Molecular Biosciences, provides diagnostic analyses of complete amino acids, investigates the eff ects of a calorie-restricted diet, free amino acids, taurine and minerals (www.vetmed. focusing on age-related diseases. In metabolic studies, ucdavis.edu/vmb/aal). he has observed that mitochondria decrease the number of free radicals and possibly reduce oxidative damage, a Dr. Mike Lane consults with Large Animal Clinic clients sign of aging. about food animal nutrition. In Tulare, Dr. Heidi Rossow, Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, Dr. Ramsey and Dr. Fascetti, in projects on feline obesity, emphasizes applied ruminant nutrition and have described energy requirements and the eff ects of management in cows. Dr. John Maas and Dr. Carolyn diff erent dietary on weight loss and regain in Stull, Veterinary Medicine Extension, advise on beef the . They learned that weight eventually stabilizes cattle and horse nutrition respectively. in on a reduced calorie diet, but metabolism continues to adapt, and the animal is geared to regain Nutrition research has a strong foundation at the school weight rapidly and effi ciently once more food becomes since the discovery about taurine’s essential role in the available. feline diet. Dr. Larsen and former resident Dr. Yann Queau studied Dr. Fascetti’s research includes new information about factors that may infl uence positive and negative the role of taurine in the canine diet and confi rmation of outcomes in the use of parenteral nutrition in critically the absolute A requirement for . She and Dr. ill veterinary patients; their results may help clinicians David Maggs, a veterinary ophthalmologist, collaborated manage critically ill patients by safely supporting their on projects to evaluate lysine supplementation to diets as nutritional needs. a possible treatment for feline herpes. Nutrition expertise is well integrated into veterinary Dr. Rossow is measuring nutrient and education. Students take a required nutrition course consumption, rumen pH and blood parameters to and may study electives in small animal or ruminant examine interactions of water and feed with milk nutrition. They learn to apply their knowledge during production and cow health. clinical training. Faculty members also mentor residents and graduate students in postdoctoral training programs. Veterinary endocrinologist Dr. Peter Havel and his team have made notable advances in the study of metabolism For online information on nutrition services at UC in the pathophysiology of obesity, diabetes and Davis, please visit http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ cardiovascular disease. This group has found that: vmth/small_animal/nutrition/index.cfm.

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