title: Protein intake during weight loss influences the energy required for weight loss and maintenance in cats.
abstract: The effects of 2 diets with different protein contents on weight loss and subsequent maintenance was assessed in obese cats. The control group [Co; n = 8; body condition score (BCS) = 8.6 +/- 0.2] received a diet containing 21.4 g crude protein (CP)/MJ of metabolizable energy and the high-protein group (HP; n = 7; BCS = 8.6 +/- 0.2) received a diet containing 28.4 g CP/MJ until the cats achieved a 20% controlled weight loss (0.92 +/- 0.2%/wk). After the weight loss, the cats were all fed a diet containing 28.0 g CP/MJ at an amount sufficient to maintain a constant body weight (MAIN) for 120 d. During weight loss, there was a reduction of lean mass in Co (P < 0.01) but not in HP cats and a reduction in leptinemia in both groups (P < 0.01). Energy intake per kilogram of metabolic weight (kg(-0.40)) to maintain the same rate of weight loss was lower (P < 0.04) in the Co (344 +/- 15.9 kJ x kg(-0.40) x d(-1)) than in the HP group (377 +/- 12.4 kJ. x kg(-0.40) x d(-1)). During the first 40 d of MAIN, the energy requirement for weight maintenance was 398.7 +/- 9.7 kJ.kg(-0.40) x d(-1) for both groups, corresponding to 73% of the NRC recommendation. The required energy gradually increased in both groups (P < 0.05) but at a faster rate in HP; therefore, the energy consumption during the last 40 d of the MAIN was higher (P < 0.001) for the HP cats (533.8 +/- 7.4 kJ x kg(-0.40) x d(-1)) than for the control cats (462.3 +/- 9.6 kJ x kg(-0.40) x d(-1)). These findings suggest that HP diets allow a higher energy intake to weight loss in cats, reducing the intensity of energy restriction. Protein intake also seemed to have long-term effects so that weight maintenance required more energy after weight loss.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia Veterinária, 14884-900 Jaboticabal-São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ricardo S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Naida C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Karina N V
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Júlio C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Canola
authors.forename: Francisco J A
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Euclides B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Malheiros
authors.forename: Marcio A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Brunetto
authors.forename: Aulus C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Carciofi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D002415:Cats; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D009584:Nitrogen