Essential nutrient intakes and plasma amino acid concentration in cats with obesity undergoing either complete or partial weight reduction

Abstract

Abstract Limited data are available regarding essential nutrient intake during weight reduction in cats with obesity fed a therapeutic diet. Fifty-three cats were included in this non-randomised observational cohort study. Weight loss outcomes and body composition changes were assessed in cats undergoing either complete (44 cats, 81%) or partial (9 cats, 19%) weight reduction. Essential nutrient intake during weight reduction was compared with European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) and National Research Council (NRC; MR: minimum requirements; AI: adequate intake; RA: recommended allowance) recommendations. All cats remained healthy losing a median (range) of 23% (10–41%) of starting body weight over 221 days (54–976 days). There were no differences in duration, percentage weight loss or rate of weight loss between cats that underwent a complete versus partial weight loss regimen. However, whilst lean mass decreased significantly in cats undergoing complete weight reduction (before 4.2 kg, 2.6–5.7 kg; after 3.9 kg, 2.8–5.2 kg, P < 0.001), there was no change in cats undergoing partial weight reduction (before 3.4 kg, 2.8–4.7 kg; after 3.4 kg, 2.9–4.6 kg, P = 0.109). Average daily selenium intake was less than NRC AI and RA in 40 cats (75%), and less than FEDIAF recommendation in 31 cats (58%), whilst average daily choline intake was less than NRC MR, NRC RA and FEDIAF recommendations in 20 (38%), 50 (94%) and 48 (91%) cats, respectively. Intakes of phenylalanine/tyrosine and potassium were marginally less than recommendations in a minority (≤ 13%) of cats. No other essential nutrient deficiencies were observed. In conclusion, widespread essential nutrient deficiencies are not observed when purpose-formulated therapeutic diets are used for either partial or complete weight reduction in cats with obesity. Partial weight reduction protocols might minimise lean tissue loss in cats during weight reduction, and can be used for older cats and those with severe obesity.