New Study Shows Fungal Protein Highly Digestible for Dogs, Improves Gut Health

As consumers increasingly prioritize sustainable, natural ingredients in pet food, a new study reveals that Finnish biotech company Enifer’s mycoprotein PEKILO®Pet enhances dog health by boosting gut microbiome diversity and increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids.

Espoo, Finland (October 17th, 2024) A new study by the Research Laboratory in Canine Nutrition (LENUCAN) at the Federal University of Parana (UFPR) in Brazil has found that Enifer’s PEKILO®Pet mycoprotein ingredient enhances dog health by increasing the prevalence of potentially probiotic bacterial genera and decreasing the prevalence of bacterial genera associated with certain cancers, as well as increasing the production of short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs).

The study also found that diets containing 20% PEKILO®Pet had a high protein digestibility of 83.9%, highlighting the potential of this upcycled mycoprotein as a sustainable and nutrient-rich ingredient for pet food.

The 42-day study of 16 one-year-old beagles (eight male, eight female), with an average weight of 10.43kg and inclusion rates of 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 percent, found statistically significant increases in gut microbiome diversity with PEKILO®Pet inclusion in their diet. Even using the smallest inclusion rate (4%), PEKILO®Pet increased the health-beneficial microbes in the dog’s gut and decreased harmful bacteria.

Previous research shows that the gut plays an important role in animal health. In particular, the microbiome in the gut is known to affect both the absorption and metabolism of nutrients and the dog’s protective functions. Probiotics have beneficial effects on pets, such as modulating the immune system, helping to reduce stress, protecting against pathogenic bacteria, and supporting healthy growth.

“Our findings confirm that even at low inclusion levels, PEKILO®Pet enhances beneficial gut bacteria while reducing harmful ones, which could have far-reaching health benefits for dogs, from improved digestion to enhanced immune function,” says Heikki Keskitalo, Business Development Manager and co-founder of Enifer.

Additionally, the study found statistically significant increases in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs) and branched short-chain fatty acids (BFCAs), with increasing PEKILO®Pet inclusion in the diet – with previous research highlighting the benefit of SFCAs to dogs. Also, including PEKILO®Pet did not change the dogs’ fecal quality, with a dry matter of 29.7% and a score of 3.9%, with no significant changes in Score, pH, or ammonia content.

Finally, no significant differences were found in the palatability of reference diets and the diets containing 4%, 8%, or 16% PEKILO®Pet protein, meaning the dogs were very happy to consume PEKILO®Pet.

“These results are incredibly exciting for the future of sustainable pet food. Our PEKILO®Pet mycoprotein not only addresses the growing demand for natural and environmentally friendly ingredients but also significantly boosts the gut health in dogs and is well digested, making it a win-win for pet health and the planet,” continues Keskitalo.

The study’s findings are significant, as dog owners are increasingly drawn to pet diets that reflect their own personal values and lifestyle choices, which is leading to a surge in alternative approaches to pet food as concerns about the sustainability of animal protein ingredients grow. 

Consumers are increasingly looking for pet food that contains natural and easy-to-understand ingredients and fewer cereal grains and high-carbohydrate ingredients, which have been linked to chronic systemic inflammation in dogs and can lead to a range of degenerative disease states, including cancer. PEKILO®Pet addresses this demand as a high-protein ingredient containing 60% protein and 22% fiber (including large amounts of beta-glucan – a functional fiber with a wide range of health benefits for dogs) and smaller amounts of fat, minerals, and vitamins.

PEKILO®Pet is also hypoallergenic and rich in spermidine, a polyamine that is particularly beneficial for aging dogs, as polyamine levels naturally decline with age. Spermidine helps maintain gut health, making it an essential supplement for older pets.

Produced through fermentation and upcycling industrial side streams, PEKILO®Pet requires minimal land and water, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional pet food ingredients. Its production process results in up to 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to imported soya.

In May 2024, Enifer announced the completion of a €33M funding package that enabled it to start constructing a unique food-grade mycoprotein factory in Kirkkonummi, Finland. This will be the world’s first factory to produce such protein from side streams. Additionally, Enifer is already planning larger production facilities focusing exclusively on producing high-quality and affordable PEKILO® mycoprotein ingredients targeted to animal nutrition.

The main scientific setup and findings of the study: 

• The 42-day study was conducted by the canine nutrition laboratory (LENUCAN) at the Federal University of Parana (UFPR) in Brazil. The study included 16 one-year-old beagles (8 male, eight female) with an average weight of 10.43kg.
• Statistically significant increases were found in gut microbiome diversity with PEKILO® inclusion in the diet.
• From the 20% inclusion trial, protein digestibility of the PEKILO® ingredient was high at 83.9%. Fecal quality was still good, with dry matter of 29.7% and a score of 3.9%.
• Statistically significant increases were found in the production of short-chain fatty acids (SFCAs) and branched short-chain fatty acids (BFCAs) with increasing PEKILO® inclusion in the diet.
• No significant differences were found in the palatability of reference diets and the diets containing 4%, 8%, or 16% PEKILO® protein.

About Enifer

Enifer, a spin-off company from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, was founded by five scientists in 2020 to further develop and commercialize the proprietary PEKILO® technology. A process originally developed and used by the Finnish forest industry at a commercial scale, the PEKILO® technology enables the biotechnological conversion of dilute side streams into a high-protein ingredient, PEKILO® mycoprotein. 

Enifer already has ongoing partnerships with big global companies in the feed and food industries, such as Skretting, the global aquafeed division of Nutreco, Purina for pet food, and Valio for consumer food products. 

For more information, visit www.Enifer.com.