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Effects of dietary macronutrient composition on the fasted plasma metabolome of healthy adult cats

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Abstract

Metabolomics assays have recently been used in humans for the identification of biomarkers for dietary assessment and diseases. The application of metabolomics to feline nutrition, however, has been very limited. The objective of this study was to identify how the feline blood metabolome changed in response to dietary macronutrient composition. Twelve adult domestic cats were fed four nutritionally complete diets [control, high-fat (HF), high-protein (HP), high-carbohydrate (HC)] at amounts to maintain ideal body weight and body condition score for 16 days. Overnight fasted plasma samples were collected on day 16 and subjected to liquid/gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Principal component analysis showed that metabolite profiles of cats fed HP, HF, and HC dietary regimes formed distinct clusters. Cats fed the HP diet had a metabolite profile associated with decreased nucleotide catabolism, but increased amino acid metabolism and ketone bodies, indicating a greater use of protein and fat for energy. Cats fed the HP diet had a significant increase in metabolites associated with gut microbial metabolism. Cats fed the HF diet had metabolites indicative of increased lipid metabolism, including free fatty acids, monoacylglycerols, glycerol-3-phosphate, cholesterol, ketone bodies, and markers of oxidative stress. γ-glutamylleucine, 3-hydroxyisobutyrate, and 3-indoxyl sulfate were identified by random forest analysis to distinguish cats fed the three macronutrient-rich diets. In conclusion, macronutrient-rich diets primarily altered markers of amino acid and lipid metabolism, with little changes in markers of carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Moreover, the HP diet influenced several metabolites originating from gut microbial metabolism.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Nestlé Purina PetCare (St. Louis, MO, USA) for donating the experimental diets for this study. K. S. S. and P. D. designed the trials. P. D. performed the animal trials and laboratory analyses, and wrote the manuscript. J. C. J. performed the statistical analyses. All authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

    Ping Deng & Kelly S. Swanson

  2. Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, 162 Animal Sciences Laboratory, 1207 West Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Kelly S. Swanson

  3. Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA

    Kelly S. Swanson

  4. Metabolon Inc., Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, 27709, USA

    Janice C. Jones

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  1. Ping Deng
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Deng, P., Jones, J.C. & Swanson, K.S. Effects of dietary macronutrient composition on the fasted plasma metabolome of healthy adult cats. Metabolomics 10, 638–650 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-013-0617-7

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