title: Associations between meal size, gastric emptying and post-prandial plasma glucose, insulin and lactate concentrations in meal-fed cats.
abstract: Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations are increased for 12-24 h in healthy cats following moderate- to high-carbohydrate meals. This study investigated associations between gastric emptying time and post-prandial plasma glucose, insulin and lactate concentrations in cats fed an extruded dry, high-carbohydrate, moderate-fat, low-protein diet (51, 28, 21% metabolizable energy, respectively) once daily by varying meal volume. Eleven healthy, non-obese, neutered adult cats were enrolled in a prospective study and fed to maintain body weight. Ultrasound examinations were performed for up to 26 h, and blood collections over 24 h after eating meals containing approximately 100% and 50% of the cats' daily caloric intake (209 and 105 kJ/kg BW, respectively). Gastric emptying time was increased after a meal of 209 kJ/kg BW compared with 105 kJ/kg BW (median gastric emptying times 24 and 14 h, respectively; p = 0.03). Time for glucose to return to fasting was longer after the 209 kJ/kg BW meal (median 20 h; 25th and 75th percentiles 15 and 23 h, respectively) than the 105 kJ/kg BW meal (13, 12 and 14 h; p < 0.01); however, peak glucose was not higher after the 209 kJ/kg BW meal compared with the 105 kJ/kg BW meal [(mean ± SD) 6.6 ± 0.6 and 7.8 ± 1.2 mmol/l, respectively, p = 0.07]. Times for insulin to return to fasting were not significantly longer after the 209 kJ/kg BW meal than the 105 kJ/kg BW meal (p = 0.29). d- and l-lactate concentrations were not associated with gastric emptying time or post-prandial blood glucose and insulin. Based on results obtained, prolonged gastric emptying contributes to prolonged post-prandial hyperglycemia in cats meal fed a high-carbohydrate, low-protein, dry diet and fasting times for cats' meal-fed diets of similar composition should be 14-26 h, depending on meal size.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coradini
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rand
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Filippich
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: O'Leary
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000502:physiology*; D002415:Cats / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019518:Postprandial Period
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: antral area; antral volume; gastric emptying; glycemia; insulin; lactate