Associate Scientist Hill's Pet Nutrition Topeka, KS, United States
Abstract:
Background: Kidneys require energy to maintain function; renal disease (CKD) manifests decreased oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial function. Medium chain fatty acids are more efficiently digested, transported to the liver, and absorbed into mitochondria than longer fatty acids. They also generate higher levels of ketone bodies such as beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), which is the kidneys’ preferred energy source. Inflammation is another predominant feature of renal disease, and complex lipids are important mediators of inflammation.
Objective: Assess circulating markers of energy status and inflammation in felines with renal disease. Animals: Cats with naturally occurring CKD (IRIS stage at least 1 and elevated SDMA; n=16) housed at Hill’s Pet Nutrition Center.
Methods: Based on gender and age cats were assigned to the order of feeding of both a control (dry food for management of CKD) or test (control plus 8% C8 medium chain triglyceride (MCT)) food, fed for eight weeks in a cross-over study design. Analyses included plasma metabolomics (Metabolon), serum biochemistries (in-house laboratory), and symmetric dimethylarginine (IDEXX). Statistical analyses performed by Linear Mixed Model analysis and MANOVA (JMP).
Results: Fasting levels of circulating BHB and metabolites of BHB (e.g., carnitine adducts) were increased by the test food, as compared to control food (p< 0.05). There was also a decrease in inflammatory lipid mediators including dihydrosphingomyelins, plasmalogens, and lysoplasmalogens with test food (p< 0.05 vs control).
Conclusions: The results indicate feeding MCTs to cats improves energy status and reduces pro-inflammatory lipids. Feeding MCTs may benefit management of renal disease by correcting energy deficiencies and reducing inflammation.
