title: Intestinal fermentation modulates postprandial acylcarnitine profile and nitrogen metabolism in a true carnivore: the domestic cat ( Felis catus).
abstract: N balance and postprandial acylcarnitine profile following intestinal fermentation of oligofructose and inulin were investigated in healthy cats. Two diets were tested in a crossover design: a commercial high-protein cat food supplemented with 4 % DM oligofructose and inulin (spectrum: degree of polymerisation (DP) 2-10: 60 (SE 5) % DM; DP>10: 28 (SE 5) % DM) as high-fermentable fibre (HFF) diet, and the same commercial diet supplemented with 4 % DM cellulose as low-fermentable fibre diet. Eight adult cats were randomly allotted to each of the two diets at intervals of 4 weeks. At the end of each testing period, faeces and urine were collected over a 5-d period, and blood samples were obtained before and at the selected time points postprandially. No differences were found for N intake, N digestibility and faecal N excretion, whereas urinary N excretion was lower when the HFF diet was fed (P = 0.044). N balance was positive in all the cats, and tended to be increased when the HFF diet was fed (P = 0.079). Propionylcarnitine concentrations (P = 0.015) and their area under the curve (AUC) (P = 0.013) were increased when the HFF diet was fed, revealing a more pronounced production and absorption of propionate. Yet, methylmalonylcarnitine concentrations and concurrent AUC were not elevated when the HFF diet was fed, indicating reduced amino acid catabolism. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcarnitine concentrations (P = 0.026) and their AUC (P = 0.028) were also reduced when the HFF diet was fed, implying diminished use of branched-chain amino acids as well. In healthy cats, oligofructose and inulin added to a high-protein diet were suggested to reduce postprandial amino acid-induced gluconeogenesis by substitution with propionate.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. adronie.verbrugghe@ugent.be
authors.forename: Adronie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verbrugghe
authors.forename: Geert P J
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Meininger
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daminet
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Piron
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wuyts
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buyse
authors.forename: Myriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hesta
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D002331:Carnitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism*; D002415:Cats; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D005943:Gluconeogenesis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D007444:Inulin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019518:Postprandial Period; D056692:Prebiotics; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D056692:Prebiotics; D011422:Propionates; C120489:oligofructose; D007444:Inulin; C029658:propionic acid; D009584:Nitrogen; D002331:Carnitine