Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing degenerative joint disease in an animal by collecting a saliva sample from an animal; determining the amount of at least one diagnostic agent selected from the group consisting of interferon gamma, interferoninducible protein-10, interleukin-2, and total saliva protein in the saliva sample; comparing the amount of diagnostic agent found in the saliva sample to a corresponding amount of the same diagnostic agent found in a saliva sample from one or more comparable control animals that do not suffer from degenerative joint disease; and diagnosing that the animal is susceptible to or suffering from degenerative joint disease if the amount of diagnostic agent in the saliva sample from the animal is greater than the amount of same diagnostic agent found in the saliva sample from the one or more comparable control animals.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and dietary formulations useful for preventing or treating dermatitis, promoting healthy skin, and retarding skin aging. The methods comprise administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of at least two of one or more antioxidants; one or more anti-glycation agents; one or more body fat reducing agents; one or more insulin sensitivity enhancing agents; and one or more anti-inflammatory agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for diagnosing degenerative joint disease in an animal by collecting a saliva sample from an animal; determining the amount of at least one diagnostic agent selected from the group consisting of interferon gamma, interferoninducible protein-10, interleukin-2, and total saliva protein in the saliva sample; comparing the amount of diagnostic agent found in the saliva sample to a corresponding amount of the same diagnostic agent found in a saliva sample from one or more comparable control animals that do not suffer from degenerative joint disease; and diagnosing that the animal is susceptible to or suffering from degenerative joint disease if the amount of diagnostic agent in the saliva sample from the animal is greater than the amount of same diagnostic agent found in the saliva sample from the one or more comparable control animals.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and dietary formulations useful for managing blood glucose, preventing or treating insulin resistance, and improving insulin sensitivity. The methods comprise administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of at least two of one or more antioxidants; one or more anti-glycation agents; one or more body fat reducing agents; one or more insulin sensitivity enhancing agents; and one or more anti-inflammatory agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions, and dietary formulations useful for preventing or treating dermatitis, promoting healthy skin, and retarding skin aging. The methods comprise administering to an animal a therapeutically effective amount of a combination of at least two of one or more antioxidants; one or more anti-glycation agents; one or more body fat reducing agents; one or more insulin sensitivity enhancing agents; and one or more anti-inflammatory agents.

Abstract: The invention provides methods of developing tissue-specific biomarkers of aging, sets of robust biomarkers identified by those methods, and uses of the biomarkers to identify nutrients and other functional ingredients or agents having anti-aging properties.