Process for improving glucose metabolism, satiety, and nutrient absorption in companion animals

A process for altering the function and composition of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a companion animal to improve glucose metabolism comprising the steps of:

• feeding said companion animal a diet containing from about 1 to 11 weight percent of supplemental total dietary fiber, said supplemental total dietary fiber consisting essentially of a blend of beet pulp, fructooligosaccharides, and either gum talha or gum arabic wherein the ratio of said beet pulp to said fructooligosaccharides in said blend is between about 3:1 to about 6:1, and
• maintaining said companion animal on said diet for a sufficient period of time to allow said composition supplemental total dietary fiber to ferment in the GIT of said companion animal.

A process for increasing the secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a companion animal to improve glucose metabolism and satiety in said companion animal comprising the steps of:

• feeding said companion animal a diet containing from about 1 to 11 weight percent of supplemental total dietary fiber, said supplemental total dietary fiber consisting essentially of a blend of beet pulp fructooligosaccharides, and either gum talha or gum arabic wherein the ratio of said beet pulp to said fructooligosaccharides in said blend is between about 3:1 to about 6:1, and
• maintaining said companion animal on said diet for a sufficient period of time to allow said composition supplemental total dietary fiber to ferment in the GIT of said companion animal to increase the secretion of GLP-1 in the gastrointestinal tract of said companion animal.

A process for improving nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a companion animal comprising the steps of:

• feeding said companion animal a diet containing from about 1 to 11 weight percent of supplemental total dietary fiber, said supplemental total dietary fiber consisting essentially of a blend of beet pulp, fructooligosaccharides, and either gum talha or gum arabic wherein the ratio of said beet pulp to said fructooligosaccharides in said blend is between about 3:1 to about 6:1, and
• maintaining said companion animal on said diet for a sufficient period of time to allow said composition supplemental total dietary fiber to ferment in the GIT of said companion animal to increase the transport of D-glucose and lauric acid in the gastrointestinal tract of said companion animal.

A process for treating a companion animal suffering from exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) comprising the steps of:

• feeding said companion animal a diet containing from about 1 to 11 weight percent of supplemental total dietary fiber, said supplemental total dietary fiber consisting essentially of a blend of beet pulp, fructooligosaccharides, and either gum talha or gum arabic wherein the ratio of said beet pulp to said fructooligosaccharides in said blend is between about 3:1 to about 6:1, and
• maintaining said companion animal on said diet for a sufficient period of time to allow said composition supplemental total dietary fiber to ferment in the GIT of said companion animal to increase nutrient absorption and the transport of D-glucose and lauric acid in the gastrointestinal tract of said companion animal.