Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T19:24:54.490Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The effects of differing proportions of dietary macronutrients on the digestibility and post-prandial endocrine responses in domestic cats (Felis catus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2015

S.R. Hill ,
K.J. Rutherfurd-Markwick ,
G. Ravindran  and
D.G. Thomas
S.R. Hill*
Affiliation:
LWT Animal Nutrition Limited, PO Box 119, Feilding 4740, New Zealand.
K.J. Rutherfurd-Markwick
Affiliation:
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag 102904, Albany 0745, New Zealand.
G. Ravindran
Affiliation:
Institute of Food, Nutrition and Human Health, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
D.G. Thomas
Affiliation:
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
*
Corresponding author:[email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of feeding two diets with different macronutrient proportions (high protein, low carbohydrate and low protein, high carbohydrate) on the digestibility and post-prandial endocrine responses of cats fed at maintenance levels, and to evaluate the effectiveness of the marginal ear vein prick technique for the measurement of blood glucose levels in feline studies. Two diets were fed to 16 adult domestic short-haired cats for a period of three weeks (eight cats per diet). Following a seven-day dietary adaptation period, the apparent macronutrient digestibility of the two diets was determined (days 8-19) using the total faecal collection method. The faeces were freeze dried, ground and analysed for dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and gross energy and then apparent digestibility was calculated. On days 20 and 21, the post-prandial glucose responses of the cats fed a single meal of one of the two diets were measured in serial blood samples collected using the marginal ear vein prick technique.

Results showed that the high protein, low carbohydrate diet had higher (p < 0.05) apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fat and energy, lower (p < 0.01) daily faecal output and smaller fluctuations in blood glucose concentrations. Despite the two groups of cats having similar calorific intakes, the cats fed the high protein diet lost weight over the study period, whereas those fed the high carbohydrate, low protein diet gained weight. The marginal ear vein prick technique proved to be an effective alternative to catheterisation for blood glucose determination. The high protein diet tested in the current study, in addition to being more aligned to the cat's natural carnivorous diet, may be beneficial for weight management and blood glucose control in cats.

Keywords

macronutrientsapparent digestibilitypost-prandial endocrine responseglycaemicblood glucosemetabolism
Type
Original Research
Information
Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition , Volume 3 , 2015 , e4
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition Ltd. 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AAFCO. (2009) Pet food regulations. Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Controls, Atlanta GA, USA.Google Scholar
Anderson, W.H., Frank, G., Pazak, H.E., Ballan, J.M. and Laflamme, D.P. (2000) Use of a high protein diet in the management of feline diabetes mellitus. In Proceedings of the Purina Nutrition Forum, Abstract Bumber 14, pp. 158.Google Scholar
AOAC. (1995) Official Methods of Analysis. 15th Edn. Association of Official Analytical Chemists, Washington DC, USA.Google Scholar
Appleton, D.J., Rand, J.S., Priest, J.And Sunvold, G.D. (2001a) Determination of reference values for glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests in clinically normal cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 62(4): 630–636.Google Scholar
Appleton, D. J., Rand, J. S. and Sunvold, G. D. (2001b) Insulin sensitivity decreases with obesity, and lean cats with low insulin sensitivity are at greatest risk of glucose intolerance with weight gain. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 3: 211–228.Google Scholar
Appleton, D.J., Rand, J.S., Priest, J., Sunvold, G.D. and Vickers, J.R. (2004) Dietary carbohydrate source affects glucose concentrations, insulin secretion, and food intake in overweight cats. Nutrition Research, 24(6): 447–467.Google Scholar
Backus, R.C., Cave, N.J. and Keisler, D.H. (2007) Gonadectomy and high dietary fat but not high dietary carbohydrate induce gains in body weight and fat of domestic cats. British Journal of Nutrition, 98: 641–650.Google Scholar
Backus, R.C., Cave, N.J., Ganjam, V.K., Turner, J.B.M. and Biourge, V.C. (2010) Age and body weight effects on glucose and insulin tolerance in colony cats maintained since weaning on high dietary carbohydrate. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 94: 318–328.Google Scholar
Beck-Nielsen, H.Pedersen, O.And Lindskov, H.O. (1979) Normalization of the insulin sensitivity and the cellular insulin binding during treatment of obese diabetics for one year. Acta Endocrinology, 90: 103–112.Google Scholar
Bennett, N., Greco, D.S., Peterson, M.E., Kirk, C., Mathes, M. and Fettman, M.J. (2006) Comparison of a low carbohydrate-low fiber diet and a moderate carbohydrate-high fiber diet in the management of feline diabetes mellitus. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 8: 73–84.Google Scholar
Biourge, V.C. (2005) Feline diabetes mellitus: nutritional managements. Waltham Focus, 15(3): 36–40.Google Scholar
Butterwick, R. (2000) How fat is that cat? Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 2: 91–94.Google Scholar
Campbell, P.J. and Carlson, M.G. (1993) Impact of obesity on insulin action in NIDDM. Diabetes, 42: 405–410.Google Scholar
Casella, M., Wess, G. and Reusch, C.E. (2002) Measurement of capillary blood glucose concentrations by pet owners: a new tool in the management of diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 38: 239–245.Google Scholar
Cohen, T.A., Nelson, R.W., Kass, P.H., Christopher, M.M and Feldman, E.C. (2009) Evaluation of six portable blood glucose meters for measuring blood glucose concentrations in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 235(3): 276–280.Google Scholar
Colliard, L, Paragon, B-M, Lemuet, B, Benet, J-J, Blanchard, G. (2009) Prevalence and risk factors of obesity in an urban population of healthy cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 11: 135–140.Google Scholar
Courcier, E.A., O'Higgins, R., Mellor, D.J. and Yam, P.S. (2010) Prevalence and risk factors for feline obesity in a first opinion practice in Glasgow Scotland. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 12(10): 746–753.Google Scholar
de-Oliveira, L.D., Carciofi, A.C., Oliveira, M.C.C., Vasconcellos, R.S., Bazolli, R.S., Pereira, G.T. and Prada, F. (2008) Effects of six carbohydrate sources on cat diet digestibility and post prandial glucose and insulin responses. Journal of Animal Science, 86(9): 2237–2246.Google Scholar
Farrow, H.A., Rand, J.S. and Sunvold, G.D. (2002) Diets high in protein are associated with lower postprandial glucose and insulin concentrations than diets high in either fat or carbohydrate in normal cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 16: 360.Google Scholar
Frank, G.A., Anderson, W., Pazak, H., Hodgkins, E., Ballam, J. and Laflamme, D.P. (2001) Use of a high protein diet in the management of feline diabetes mellitus. Veterinary Therapeutics, 2: 238–246.Google Scholar
Genuth, S.M. (1973) Plasma insulin and glucose profiles in normal, obese, and diabetic persons. Annals of Internal Medicine, 79: 812–822.Google Scholar
German, AJ. (2006) The growing problem of obesity in dogs and cats. The Journal of Nutrition 136(7): 1940–1946S.Google Scholar
Hendriks, W.H., Wamberg, S. and Tartellin, M.F. (1999) A metabolism cage for quantitative urine collection and accurate measurement of water balance in adult cats (Felis catus). Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 82: 94–105.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henson, M.S. and O'Brien, T.D. (2006) Feline models of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Institute of Laboratory Animal Research Journal, 47(3): 234–242.Google Scholar
Ho, H.T., Yeung, W.K.Y., Young, B.W.Y. (2004) Evaluation of ‘point of care’ devices in the measurement of low blood glucose in neonatal practice. Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition, 89: F356–359.Google Scholar
Hoedemaekers, C., Klein Gunnewiek, J., Prinsen, M.A., Willems, J. And Van der Hoeven, J. (2008) Accuracy of bedside glucose measurement from three glucometers in critically ill patients. Critical Care Medicine, 36(11): 3062–3066.Google Scholar
Hoenig, M., Alexander, S. and Pazak, H. (2000) Effect of a high and low protein diet on glucose metabolism and lipids in the cat. Purina Nutrition Forum, St Louis, USA.Google Scholar
Hoenig, M. (2002) Comparative aspects of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 197: 221–229.Google Scholar
Hoenig, M., Thomaseth, K., Waldron, M. and Ferguson, D.C. (2007) Insulin sensitivity, fat distribution, and adipocytokine response to different diets in lean and obese cats before and after weight loss. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory Integrative Comparative Physiology, 292: R227–234.Google Scholar
Holt, S., Brand, J., Soveny, C. and Hansky, J. (1992) Relationship of satiety to postprandial glycaemic, insulin and cholecystokinin responses. Appetite, 18: 129–141.Google Scholar
Johnson, K.H., O'Brien, T.D., Betsholtz, C. and Westermark, P. (1989) Islet amyloid, islet-amyloid polypeptide, and diabetes mellitus. New England Journal of Medicine, 321(8): 513–518.Google Scholar
Kalkhoff, R.K., Kim, H.J., Cerletty, J.And Ferrou, C.A. (1971) Metabolic effects of weight loss in obese subjects. Diabetes, 20(2): 83–91.Google Scholar
Karam, J.H., Grodsky, G.M. and Forsham, P.H. (1963) Excessive insulin response to glucose in obese subjects as measured by immunochemical assay. Diabetes, 12: 198–204.Google Scholar
Kienzle, E. (1993) Carbohydrate metabolism in the cat: 1. Activity of amylase in the gastrointestinal tract of the cat. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 69: 92–101.Google Scholar
Kirk, C.A. (2006) Feline diabetes mellitus: low carbohydrate versus high fiber? Veterinary Clinics of North America- small animal practice, 36(6): 1297.Google Scholar
Kirk, C.A., Feldman, E.C. and Nelson, R.W. (1993) Diagnosis of naturally acquired type-I and type-II diabetes mellitus in cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 54: 463–467.Google Scholar
Kley, S., Hoenig, M., Glushka, J., Jin, E.S., Burgess, S.C., Waldron, M., Jordan, E.T., Prestegard, J.H., Ferguson, D.C., Wu, S. and Olson, D.G. (2009) The impact of obesity, sex and diet on hepatic glucose production in cats. American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 296(4): R936–943.Google Scholar
Laflamme, D.P. (2006) Understanding and managing obesity in dogs and cats. Veterinary Clinics of North America-small animal practice, 36: 1283–1295.Google Scholar
Lacara, T., Domagtoy, C., Lickliter, D., Quattrocchi, K., Snipes, L., Kuszaj, J.And Prasnikar, M. (2007) Comparison of point-of-care and laboratory glucose analysis in critically ill patients. American Journal of Critical Care, 16(4): 336–346.Google Scholar
Mattheeuws, D., Rottiers, R., Kaneko, J. and Vermeulen, A. (1984) Diabetes mellitus in dogs: relationship of obesity to glucose tolerance and insulin response. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 45: 98–103.Google Scholar
Mazzaferro, E.M., Greco, D.S., Turner, A.S. and Fettman, M.J. (2003) Treatment of feline diabetes mellitus using an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and a low carbohydrate diet. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 5(3): 183–189.Google Scholar
Mori, A., Sako, T., Lee, P., Nishimaki, Y., Fukuta, H., Mizutani, H., Honjo, T. and Arai, T. (2009) Comparison of three commercially available prescription diet regimens on short-term post-prandial serum glucose and insulin concentrations in healthy cats. Veterinary Research Communications, 33: 669–680.Google Scholar
National Research Council of the National Academies. (2006) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. The National Academies Press, Washington DC, USA.Google Scholar
Nelson, R., Himsel, C., Feldman, E.And Bottoms, G. (1990) Glucose tolerance and insulin response in normal-weight and obese cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research 51: 1357–1362.Google Scholar
Nelson, R.W., Scott-Moncrief, J.C., Feldman, E.C., DeVries-Concannon, S.E., Kass, P.H., Davenport, D.J., Kiernan, C.T. and Neal, L.A. (2000) Effect of dietary insoluble fiber on control of glycemia with naturally acquired diabetes mellitus. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 216: 1082–1088.Google Scholar
Olefsky, J., Reaven, G.M. and Farquhar, J.W. (1974) Effects of weight reduction on obesity. Journal of Clinical Investigation, 53: 64–76.Google Scholar
Porte, D. (1991) Beta-cells in type II diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, 40: 166–180.Google Scholar
Prahl, A., Guptill, L., Glickman, N.W., Tetrick, M. and Glickman, L.T. (2007) Time trends and risk factors for diabetes mellitus in cats presented to veterinary teaching hospitals. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 9(5): 351–358.Google Scholar
Rand, J.S., Fleeman, L.M., Farrow, H.A., Appleton, D.J. and Lederer, R. (2004) Canine and feline diabetes mellitus: nature or nurture? Journal of Nutrition, 134(8): 2072S–2080S.Google Scholar
Rand, J.S. and Marshall, R.D. (2005) Diabetes mellitus in cats. Veterinary Clinics of North American-small animal practice, 35(1): 211.Google Scholar
Rogers, Q.R. and Morris, J.G. (1982) Do cats really need more protein? Journal of Small Animal Practice, 23(9): 521–532.Google Scholar
Swenson, M.J. (1989) Physiological properties and cellular and chemical constituents of blood. Pp. 15-40 in Duke's Physiology of Domestic Animals, 10th ed., Swenson, M.J., ed. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.Google Scholar
Thiess, S., Becskei, C., Tomsa, K., Lutz, T.A. and Wanner, M. (2004) Effects of high carbohydrate and high fat diet on plasma metabolite levels and on i.v. glucose tolerance test in intact and neutered male cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 6: 207–218.Google Scholar
Vester, B.M., Sutter, S.M., Keel, T.L., Graves, T.K. and Swanson, K.S. (2009) Ovariohysterectomy alters body composition and adipose and skeletal muscle gene expression in cats fed a high protein or moderate-protein diet. Animal, 3(9): 1287–1298.Google Scholar
Wess, G. and Reusch, C. (2000a) Evaluation of five portable blood glucose meters for use in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 216(2): 203–209.Google Scholar
Wess, G. and Reusch, C. (2000b) Assesment of five portable blood glucose meters for use in cats. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 61(12): 1587–1592.Google Scholar
Wess, G. and Reusch, C. (2000c) Capillary blood sampling from the ear of dogs and cats and the use of portable meters to measure glucose concentration. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 41(2): 60–66.Google Scholar
Wolfsheimer, K.J., Kombert, M.And Jeansonne, L. (1993) The effects of caloric restrictions on IV glucose tolerance tests in obese and non-obese beagle dogs. Proceedings of the 11th ACVIM Forum, Washington, D.C., 926.Google Scholar
Zoran, D.L. (2002) The carnivore connection to nutrition in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 221(11): 1559–1567.Google Scholar