Open-Label Pilot Clinical Trial on the Effect of 5-Aminolevulinic Acid on Hypercholesterolemia in Shetland Sheepdogs

5-Aminolevulinic acid is a lipid metabolism-promoting functional amino acid. This study investigated the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid on hypercholesterolemia in Shetland Sheepdogs. Ten Shetland Sheepdogs with (H group; n = 7) and without hypercholesterolemia (C group; n = 3) were enrolled. All the dogs were orally administered once a day with a supplement containing 5-aminolevulinic acid at a dose of 5 mg (body weight < 10 kg) or 10 mg (body weight ≥ 10 kg). Fasting blood tests, including cholesterol and the related lipoproteins, were evaluated at four time points: at the beginning of the study (baseline) and at 1, 2, and 3 months thereafter. In the H group, total cholesterol decreased from 424.7 ± 19.9 mg/dL (baseline) to 371.2 ± 19.7, 361.4 ± 16.8, and 355.0 ± 18.0 mg/dL at 1, 2, and 3 months (p < .05). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol also declined from 195.0 ± 16.6 mg/dL to 137.7 ± 12.7, 123.4 ± 11.7, and 117.9 ± 11.9 mg/dL at 1, 2, and 3 months (p < .05). However, no significant fluctuations were observed in the blood test results of the C group. The present findings indicate that 5-aminolevulinic acid supplementation is a potential therapeutic option for hypercholesterolemia in Shetland Sheepdogs.Cite this article as: Sakai, A., & Harada, K. (2025). Open-label pilot clinical trial on the effect of 5-aminolevulinic acid on hypercholesterolemia in shetland sheepdogs. Acta Veterinaria Eurasia, 51, 0028, doi: 10.5152/actavet.2025.25028.