Heinze CR, Larsen JA, Kass PH et al: Plasma amino acid and whole blood taurine concentrations in cats eating commercially prepared diets, Am J Vet Res 70:1374, 2009.
The purpose of this study was to establish comprehensive reference ranges for plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations in healthy adult cats eating commercial diets. Additionally, the researchers wanted to study the relationships of age, gender, body weight, body condition score (BCS), dietary protein concentration, and dietary ingredients with plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations. Samples were taken and a complete health and diet history were obtained from 120 healthy adult cats. The study population consisted of cats belonging to students and faculty as well as a lesser number of university-owned cats housed in colony facilities. The investigators hypothesized that there would be associations between plasma amino acid concentrations and dietary protein concentrations and ingredients. The study did provide data on plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations for a large population of adult cats fed commercial diets. Whole body taurine concentration is considered to be a more accurate measure of taurine status than plasma taurine concentration in cats and reflects the skeletal muscle concentrations more accurately. Gender and neuter status had an affect on plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations where age, body weight, and BCS did not. Dietary protein concentration and dietary ingredients were not directly associated with plasma amino acid or whole blood taurine concentrations in this study. [VT]
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Related articles:
Wakefield L, Shofer F, Michel K: Evaluation of cats fed vegetarian diets and attitudes of their caregivers, J Amer Vet Med Assoc 229:70, 2006.
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Zaghini G, Biagi G: Nutritional peculiarities and diet palatability in the cat, Vet Res Commun 29 Suppl 2:39, 2005.
>> PubMed Abstract
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