Role
of dietary L carnitine supplementation in obese cats.
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Blanchard
et al at the Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d' Alfort,
France have examined the role of dietary carnitine
supplementation in protecting cats from ketosis and
improving carnitine and lipid metabolism in experimental
feline hepatic lipidosis (FHL).
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In the
study conducted, lean spayed queens received a diet containing
40 (CL group, n = 7) or 1000 (CH group, n = 4) mg/kg of
L-carnitine during obesity development. L-Carnitine supplementation
significantly increased plasma, muscle and liver carnitine
concentrations.
The
investigators observed that the liver carnitine concentrations
increased dramatically from the obese state to FHL in non-supplemented
cats, but not in supplemented cats. Therefore, according to
Blanchard et al, this observation indicates a de novo synthesis
of carnitine from endogenous amino acids in control cats and
reversible storage in supplemented cats.
Based
on these results, a protective effect of L-carnitine supplementation
in the diet against fasting ketosis during obesity appears
to be beneficial. Blanchard et al recommend increasing the
L-carnitine level of diets in cats with low energy requirements,
such as after neutering, and a high risk of obesity.
References for further reading
J Nutr 2002 Feb;132(2):204-210. Dietary L-Carnitine Supplementation
in Obese Cats Alters Carnitine Metabolism and Decreases Ketosis
during Fasting and Induced Hepatic Lipidosis. Blanchard G,
Paragon BM, Milliat F, Lutton C. UP de Nutrition, Ecole Nationale
Veterinaire d'Alfort, 94704 Maisons Alfort, France and. Laboratoire
de Physiologie de la Nutrition (INRA), Universite Paris-Sud,
Orsay, France.
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