title: The clinical and metabolic effects of rapid weight loss in obese pet cats and the influence of supplemental oral L-carnitine.
abstract: The efficacy, safety, and metabolic consequences of rapid weight loss in privately owned obese cats by means of a canned weight-reduction diet and the influence of orally administered L-carnitine on rate of weight loss, routine clinical evaluations, hepatic ultrasonography, plasma amino acid profiles, and carnitine analytes were evaluated. A double-blinded placebo-controlled design was used with cats randomly divided into 2 groups: Group 1 (n = 14) received L-carnitine (250 mg PO q24h) in aqueous solution and group 2 (n = 10) received an identical-appearing water placebo. Median obesity (body condition scores and percentage ideal body weight) in each group was 25%. Caloric intake was restricted to 60% of maintenance energy requirements (60 kcal/kg) for targeted ideal weight. The reducing formula was readily accepted by all cats. Significant weight loss was achieved by week 18 in each group without adverse effects (group 1 = 23.7%, group 2 = 19.6%). Cats receiving carnitine lost weight at a significantly faster rate (P < .05). Significant increases in carnitine values developed in each group (P < .02). However, significantly higher concentrations of all carnitine moieties and a greater percentage of acetylcarnitine developed in cats of group 1 (P < .01). The dietary formula and described reducing strategy can safely achieve a 20% weight reduction within 18 weeks in obese cats. An aqueous solution of L-carnitine (250 mg PO q12h) was at least partially absorbed, was nontoxic, and significantly increased plasma carnitine analyte concentrations as well as rate of weight loss.
authors: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. sac6@cornell.edu
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Center
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Harte
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Watrous
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Reynolds
authors: T D
authors: TD
authors: Watson
authors: P J
authors: PJ
authors: Markwell
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Millington
authors: P A
authors: PA
authors: Wood
authors: A E
authors: AE
authors: Yeager
authors: H N
authors: HN
authors: Erb
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001682:Biological Availability; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D002415:Cats; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary*; D016339:Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment / Q000662:veterinary; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D002331:Carnitine; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid