Effects of a high-protein, high-fiber diet rich in antioxidants and l-carnitine on body weight, body composition, metabolic status, and physical activity levels of cats after spay surgery.

Spay and neuter surgeries are useful in controlling pet populations, but increase obesity risk due to increased appetite, decreased metabolic rate, and decreased energy expenditure. Dietary management may help limit post-spay weight gain, but few research studies have been conducted in cats. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a high-protein, high-fiber diet (HPHF) compared to a moderate-protein, moderate-fiber diet (MPMF) in female cats following spay surgery. Twenty healthy female cats (9.5 ±â€…0.1 mo) were used. After a 4-wk baseline phase with cats fed MPMF to maintain body weight (BW), 16 cats were spayed and allotted to MPMF (n = 8) or HPHF (n = 8), with the remaining cats being sham-operated and fed MPMF (n = 4). Cats were fed to maintain BW for 12 wk and then allowed to eat up to twice that amount for another 12 wk. Daily food intake, twice weekly BW, and twice weekly body condition scores (BCS) were assessed. Back fat thickness (BF) using ultrasound, body composition using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), feline body mass index (fBMI), body fat percentage estimates using zoometry measurements, serum metabolites, and voluntary physical activity levels were measured prior to spay (week 0) and every 6 wk post-spay. A treatment*time effect was observed for food intake (g/d), but not caloric intake (kcal ME/d). Caloric intake was affected by time and treatment, being reduced over the first 12 wk and reduced at higher amounts in HPHF and MPMF cats vs. sham cats. BW, BCS, and body fat percentage were affected over time. Treatment*time effects were observed for blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and fructosamine, whereas blood triglycerides, total cholesterol, creatinine, total protein, phosphorus, and bicarbonate were affected by time. Physical activity was reduced over time. Our results demonstrate that spay surgery affects food intake, BW, metabolism, and physical activity of cats. Dietary intervention in this study, however, led to minor changes.

Spay surgery helps control pet populations, but increases obesity due to increased appetite, decreased metabolic rate, and decreased energy expenditure. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of high-protein, high-fiber diet (HPHF), and moderate-protein, moderate-fiber diets (MPMF) in female cats following spay surgery. Of the 20 cats used, 16 were spayed and fed MPMF (n = 8) or HPHF (n = 8) and four were sham-operated and fed MPMF. Cats were fed to maintain body weight (BW) for 12 wk and then allowed to overeat for 12 wk. Food intake, BW, body condition scores (BCS), back fat thickness, body composition, feline body mass index, body fat percentage estimates, serum metabolites, and physical activity levels were measured. Over the first 12 wk, caloric intake was reduced at higher amounts in spayed versus sham cats. BW, BCS, body fat percentage, and physical activity levels were altered over time. Our results demonstrate that the diets tested had minor effects, but spaying affected cat food intake, BW, metabolism, and physical activity.

Effects of overfeeding on the fatty acid profile and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 indices in the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue in cats.

To evaluate the effect of overfeeding on fatty acid distribution and metabolism, especially stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) indices, 8 cats in the experimental and control groups (4 per group) were evaluated in this study. The experiments involved feeding the experimental group cats twice their daily energy requirement with a commercial diet for 4 weeks. The control group was fed the estimated daily energy requirement with the same diet. Body weight, feline body mass index, body condition score, several zoometry measurements, and plasma metabolites/hepatic injury markers were measured in all the cats before and after the experiment. In addition, the fatty acid profiles in the liver and subcutaneous adipose tissue were measured after the experiment. After 4 weeks of overfeeding, the experimental group demonstrated significant increases in hepatic C18:1, plasma triglyceride, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations and in alanine aminotransferase activity. Furthermore, hepatic SCD-1 indices were positively correlated with body weight, feline body mass index, body condition score, and plasma NEFA concentration, although subcutaneous adipose tissue did not demonstrate any increase in SCD-1 indices in this study. The increase in hepatic SCD-1 indices might be enhanced by the inflow of plasma NEFA into the liver, and NEFA toxicity might stimulate C18:1 synthesis by SCD-1.

Effectiveness of feline body mass index (fBMI) as new diagnostic tool for obesity.

Feline body mass index (fBMI), BW/PCL, length from top of patella to end of calcaneus, was developed as a new diagnostic tool for obesity in cats. To evaluate the effectiveness of fBMI for obese cats in short-term, 6 cats were induced weight gain by over-feeding with high fat diet and then they were induced weight reduction by restrict-feeding with low fat diet to measure changes in fBMI and plasma metabolite concentrations and enzyme activities. BCS 3 is correlated with fBMI 24.6-32.0, BCS 4 is correlated with fBMI 33.1-37.1 and BCS 5 is correlated with fBMI 29.9-40.3, respectively. On the correlation coefficient analysis by Pearson's method (P < 0.05), positive correlations (r = 0.403) were seen between the fBMI and plasma triglyceride (TG) levels. From these findings, fBMI seems to be more sensitive and useful indicator for obesity diagnosis in cats.

Age effects on plasma cholesterol and triglyceride profiles and metabolite concentrations in dogs.

BACKGROUND: In dogs, occurrence of lipid metabolism disorders such as obesity and diabetes mellitus has increased markedly in recent years. Hyperlipidemia has been regarded as a common characteristic for obese animals and hyperlipidemic condition may be associated with inflammation, oxidative stress and lipid composition changes. In this study, we investigated the changes in plasma cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) profiles and metabolite concentrations in 24 dogs (young group: 0-7 years old, n = 12, aged group: 8-13 years old, n = 12). RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin (ADN) concentrations were significantly lower in aged dogs than those in young dogs (mean ± SD, 17.2 ± 10.0 µg mL-1 vs 29.3 ± 12.5 µg mL-1, respectively; P <0.05). Although there were no significant differences statistically, aged dogs showed significantly higher plasma alpha1- acid glycoprotein (alpah1-AG) levels compared to those in young dogs. Plasma cholesterol lipoprotein and TG lipoprotein were divided into four fractions by biphasic agarose gel electrophoresis technique. The levels of the third TG-lipoprotein fraction from the positive pole (TG Fraction 3) were significantly higher in aged dogs than in young dogs (mean ± SD, 143.0 ± 109.3 mg dL-1 vs 55.2 ± 31.3 mg dL-1, respectively; P <0.05). On the correlation coefficient analysis by Peason's method, moderate positive correlations were seen between the age and TG (r = 0.446, P = 0.029), TG Fraction 3 (r = 0.516, P = 0.010), malondialdehyde (r = 0.146, P = 0.043), alpha-1 AG (r = 0.448, P = 0.028) levels, respectively. Moderate negative correlations were seen the age and total cholesterol (TC) Fraction 2 (r = -0.446, P = 0.029), glucose (r = -0.637, P = 0.001), ADN (r = -0.408, P = 0.048), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Present data suggest biochemical characteristics of lipid metabolism disorder may be affected by aging in dogs.