Acid-base balance affects dietary choice in cats.
The effect of acid-base status on self-selection of dietary protein was examined in three groups of adult male cats fed 20% soybean-protein and lactalbumin diets formulated to produce acidic, neutral or alkaline status. In two experiments, cats were offered a choice between the 20% protein diets or (1) the same diet with additional protein as casein (49% total crude protein) or (2) the same diet with added soybean-protein and lactalbumin (43% crude protein). Casein contained 0.63 mmol H+/g and caused all three groups to avoid the high casein diets by day 4. The high soybean-protein-lactalbumin diets did not contain added acid but would produce some extra acid upon catabolism of the sulfur-containing amino acids. Again, all three groups avoided the high protein diets by day 4. In a third choice trial, cats adapted to three low protein diets containing appropriate electrolytes to cause neutrality, acidemia or alkalemia, were offered a choice between: neutral vs. acidic; acidic vs. neutral or basic vs. acidic. The cats chose the neutral, neutral and basic diet respectively, restoring or maintaining acid-base homeostasis for each situation. The diets producing acidosis lowered serum sodium and potassium concentrations. We conclude that cats select appropriate diets in an attempt to maintain acid-base homeostasis.
Cook
N E
NE
Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
Rogers
Q R
QR
Morris
J G
JG
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000502:physiology*; D000138:Acidosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D007768:Lactalbumin / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013025:Glycine max / Q000592:standards; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology
D000596:Amino Acids; D002364:Caseins; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D013654:Taurine; D007768:Lactalbumin; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium