title: Effect of processing on fate of dietary [14C]taurine in cats.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the fate of a pulse-labeled oral dose of uniformly labeled [14C]taurine in cats fed four separate diets. The diets were a heat-processed commercial diet, the same diet frozen-preserved and two purified diets containing 0 or 1325 mg taurine/kg. The commercial formulations contained 1070 mg taurine/kg dry matter (by analysis). The excretion of 14C in CO2, urine and feces was monitored. Significant quantities of 14CO2 were produced, with greater amounts excreted by cats fed the heat-processed commercial diet (9.4% of initial dose) than by those fed the frozen-preserved diet (0.09%), indicating extensive taurine degradation by the intestinal microflora. Purified diet groups were intermediate between the two commercial diet groups. Carbon-14 excreted in urine peaked at 24 h and was highest for cats fed the frozen-preserved commercial diet or 1325 mg taurine/kg purified diet. Carbon-14 excreted in feces was highest for cats fed the two commercial diet formulations, with peak amounts at 48-72 h. Because the frozen-preserved commercial diet had previously been shown to maintain plasma taurine concentration, whereas the heat-processed diet did not, these results indicate that processing affects the digestive and/or absorptive process in a manner that increases the catabolism of taurine by gastrointestinal microorganisms.
authors: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Hickman
authors: Q R
authors: QR
authors: Rogers
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Morris
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats / Q000378:metabolism*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D005519:Food Preservation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D011897:Random Allocation; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013654:Taurine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D013654:Taurine