Process for enhancing immune response in animals using .beta.-carotene as a dietary supplement
AssigneeThe Iams Company
InventorMichael G. Hayek
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for feeding a companion animal such as a dog or cat a diet containing an effective amount of .beta.-carotene to enhance immune response and improve the overall health of the animal is provided. Preferably, the diet includes from about 1 to about 50 mg/day of .beta.-carotene (from about 6 to about 315 mg .beta.-carotene/kg diet). Such a diet provides sufficient .beta.-carotene to be absorbed by the animal and supplied to the blood and blood leukocytes and neutrophils in the animal.
Claims8
A process for enhancing immune response and improving the overall health of a companion animal comprising the step of feeding said animal a diet containing an effective amount of .beta.-carotene for a time sufficient for said .beta.-carotene to be absorbed by said animal.
A process for increasing the .beta.-carotene concentration in the circulating blood of a companion animal comprising the step of feeding said animal a diet containing an effective amount of .beta.-carotene for a time sufficient for said .beta.-carotene to be absorbed into the bloodstream of said animal.
A process for promoting immune health in a dog comprising the step of feeding said dog a diet containing an effective amount of .beta.-carotene for a time sufficient for said .beta.-carotene to enhance the cell-mediated immune response and humoral response of said dog.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.