High-Protein diets help control Glucose in Cats

The feeding of companion animals plays a key role in their correct development, as well as in the general health of pets, which may have specific needs depending on their size, age or pathologies.

To know the effects that different types of diet have on companion animals, there are different scientific studies. In this regard, new research has recently been published that has evaluated whether diets rich in protein and carbohydrates exert differential effects on serum concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides and fructosamine in healthy cats.

To carry out the study, a randomized crossover diet trial was performed in 35 healthy shelter cats. After the baseline health exams, the cats were randomly assigned into groups that received a high-protein or high-carbohydrate diet during 4 weeks.

The cats were subsequently fed a wash diet for 4 weeks before switching to either of the two diets studied that they had not yet received. Fasting serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and fructosamine concentrations were determined at the end of each 4-week diet period.

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The researchers note that cats on a high-carbohydrate diet had significantly lower serum cholesterol concentrations compared to baseline measurements. They also note that cats on a high-protein diet had significantly higher serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, but lower fructosamine concentrations compared to baseline measurements.

In contrast, overweight cats (body condition score [BCS]> 5) had lower concentrations of cholesterol and triglycerides in the high protein diet than cats in other BCS groups.

All this indicates, according to the researchers, that high-protein and low-carbohydrate diets appear to be beneficial for short-term glucose control in healthy cats. A high-protein diet was associated with significantly elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in healthy cats, although the increase was significantly less pronounced in overweight cats.

"This finding suggests that overweight cats process rich in protein diets, cholesterol, and triglycerides differently from non-overweight cats," the researchers conclude in the study.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTEINS IN CAT DIETS

The results of the study are in line with the recommendations recently published by Virbac on some important factors to consider when choosing a food for pets.

Thus, from the company, they emphasized the importance of choosing the diet based on the pathologies that the animals present, since, as this study has shown, for example, overweight cats may not process diets in the same way as cats that do not suffer from this pathology do it.

In addition, the company has always stressed the importance of taking into account the nature of pets when feeding them. In this sense, Sébastien Huron, CEO of  Virbac Group, recalled in a video the carnivorous nature of cats and the importance of providing them with a diet rich in animal protein.

For this reason, from Virbac they insist that the premise of "high in protein of animal origin and low in carbohydrates" must always be taken into account, something very present in their Veterinary HPM range of food.

And the fact is that the Veterinary HPM range, thanks to a low-carbohydrate and high-protein nutritional profile and the precise selection of functional ingredients, provides multiple benefits to companion animals, allowing them to enjoy greater protection of their condition. physiological and maintain good general health

by Jorge Jiménez - Animal's Health