MONOPROTEIN FOODS ARE NOT MORE DIGESTIBLE AND DO NOT PREVENT INTOLERANCES
The term monoprotein is sometimes used incorrectly to mean a feed that contains a single protein source, and is therefore considered safe for suspected allergic reactions…. But let’s set the record straight!
WHAT DOES MONOPROTEIN MEAN?
The MONOPROTEIN claim is approved when we want to highlight the presence of a single source of animal protein. However, commercial foods made with multiple ingredients also contain sources of plant protein, provided by ingredients such as grains, vegetables, or supplements in the formula.
These foods are often mistakenly thought to have the ability to prevent adverse food reactions, such as hypersensitivity, intolerances, or food allergies. However, this is not always the case: an animal can develop a reaction to many different molecules, and choosing to avoid a “suspect” protein will not always solve the problem.
HOW TO TELL IF THERE’S AN INTOLERANCE
The only way to prevent and, if necessary, repair the damage caused by an adverse food reaction (of any origin) is an “elimination” diet, which must be prescribed and supervised by a veterinarian. Afterwards, to confirm the suspicions, it should be replaced with a so-called “challenge” diet, which can then trigger possible positive or negative responses from the patient.
Specifically, an “elimination” diet works by excluding all the foods the animal has eaten up to that point, providing ingredients that are new to its immune system and assessing the responses they trigger. Generally, it is best to introduce each ingredient and wait a few days before introducing the next one. This makes it easier to monitor reactions and attribute them to the right “culprit.”
Many recent studies* show that most animal proteins often “blamed” are not recognized as causes of intolerances, and also that, in practical terms, it is difficult to establish this using commercial single-protein diets, precisely because of the presence of numerous potentially reactive compounds.
In fact, the culprit behind these reactions is not always the individual protein source; very often, they are more accurately dose-dependent intolerances to various substances that may be present in the food.
LIMITATIONS OF A SINGLE-PROTEIN DIET
A single-protein diet, if followed for a long time, could cause deficiencies, including nutritional deficiencies, in substances that are added but are clearly less bioavailable than they would be in fresh foods with high nutritional value.
It has also been shown that, by contrast, a varied diet, thanks to the inclusion of different sources, promotes proper functioning of the microbial flora and adequate intestinal barrier permeability. These two factors are key to the well-being not only of the intestine but of the entire body, and are involved in the development of allergic and inflammatory diseases.
HOW TO VARY EASILY
So how can you make a diet varied but also practical? Using complementary wet food, for example, allows you to combine different sources with the main, complete food (generally dry, for convenience and practicality) according to preferences, which can vary from day to day or from one meal to another. Another option is to use a complete commercial food made from different sources that balance the formula and provide nutrients with different characteristics. It is always preferable to complement this with wet food for greater water intake and freshness.
Dr. Alessandra Calini
Veterinarian specializing in nutrition
REFERENCES:
*https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vde.1