Cobalamin, folate and inorganic phosphate abnormalities in ill cats

Abstract

Hypocobalaminaemia in cats has previously been identified, but the incidence reported has varied, and the frequency of folate deficiency is unknown. The aims of this study were to evaluate the incidence of low cobalamin and folate levels in a population of cats that were suffering predominantly from diseases of the alimentary tract (including the liver and pancreas) and to ascertain whether severity of disease (as assessed by bodyweight and body condition score (BCS)) related to degree of deficiency. The study population comprised 103 cats, of which 16.5% had low cobalamin levels and 38.8% had low folate levels. A serendipitous finding was inorganic phosphate levels below the reference range in 48% of the cases. Significant associations were found between subnormal cobalamin levels and median BCS ( P=0.049); combined low folate and low cobalamin and bodyweight ( P=0.002), BCS ( P=0.024) and inorganic phosphate levels ( P=0.003). The finding of low levels of folate and cobalamin in clinical cases suggests that supplementation may be indicated more frequently than is currently recognised.