Dietary Fatty Acids Change Circulating Fatty Acids, Microbial Putrefactive Postbiotics and Betaine Status in the Cat

Abstract

There is a normal variation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the foods consumed both by the domestic cat and wild felines. This variation may lead to specific changes in metabolites and circulating fatty acids that influence health and response to disease. Therefore, in order to evaluate the response to these changes in dietary PUFA three foods were formulated: a complete and balanced control food (COF) with no enhanced source of added PUFA (ARA = 0.08%, EPA & DHA = 0.01%), Test food 1 (E&DF) like the COF with added eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA (E&D = 0.36%)) from menhaden fish oil, and Test Food 2 (ARAF) like the COF with added arachidonic acid (ARA = 0.16%) from liver. All test foods had similar protein concentrations and similar vitamin and mineral concentrations while the PUFA supplemented foods had slightly higher fat concentrations. Cats (n = 36) were fed a pre-trial food for 28 days and then assigned to a group fed either the control, E&DF or ARAF for 56 days (12 cats per group). Blood samples were drawn and serum analyzed for fatty acids, albumin, urea, creatinine, cholesterol and triglycerides at the beginning of the study and after consuming the test foods for 28 and 56 days. Plasma was similarly analyzed for metabolomics. Increasing dietary E&D resulted in reduced cholesterol, betaine, dimethyl glycine, sarcosine and 4-ethylphenylsulfate. Increasing dietary ARA resulted in reduced betaine, dimethyl glycine and sarcosine and an increased concentration of indoleacetate, indolepropionate and indoleacetylglutamine. These data suggest a benefit of dietary single carbon metabolism support for cats supplemented with ARA or E&D. Moreover, the reduction in circulating cholesterol and triglycerides through dietary E&D supplementation could benefit cats with hyperlipidemia. Further research into the interrelationship between dietary PUFA and the gut microbe will benefit from the data showing that ARA increased specific positive postbiotics (i.e., indoleacetate, indolepropionate) while E&D supplementation showed the benefit of reducing some postbiotics which have been associated with reduced health (4-ethylphenylsulfate, 3-methyl catechol sulfate and 4-vinylphenol sulfate).

Metabolomic changes in cats with renal disease and calcium oxalate uroliths

“…The elevation of 1-palmitoyl-GPI has been associated with an increased inflammatory condition in humans where it was correlated to the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-8 (Gao et al, 2021 ) and was increased in the inflammation associated with periodontitis in mice (Ilievski et al, 2016 ). Increased concentrations of inflammatory glycosylphosphatidylinositols were observed in the cats eating the more inflammatory foods as compared to initial values or those cats eating a less inflammatory (high fish oil) food (Jewell & Jackson, 2020 ). It is an intriguing basis for further research to better understand if dietary changes which change the microbiota in cats with CaOx stones would aid in the management of this disease.…”

A multimodal intervention for Alzheimer’s disease results in multifaceted systemic effects reflected in blood and ameliorates functional and cognitive outcomes

“…This metabolite is derived from dietary tryptophan and the gut microbiome, so is expected to change following dietary interventions. Other highly significant analytes, such as 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-GPI, are also known to change in response to diet (e.g., Jewell et al, 2020). The COCOA intervention may have benefits to health unrelated to cognitive amelioration, mediated by such analytes.…”

Dietary Betaine Interacts with Very Long Chain n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids to Influence Fat Metabolism and Circulating Single Carbon Status in the Cat

“…Flax has been used as a source of soluble fiber and αLA for some time and is known to increase circulating αLA [ 3 ]. We have shown that increased dietary PUFA influenced circulating single carbon metabolites in the cat [ 4 ] and that there was an effect of dietary betaine on the response to dietary PUFA in the dog [ 5 ]; however, the interaction of increasing dietary PUFA and betaine is to our knowledge unreported in the cat.…”

“…The alternative hypothesis was that there would be an effect of both dietary betaine and PUFA on circulating fatty acids, specifically increasing the concentration of EPA and n-3 fatty acids. This was based on our original observation that dietary PUFA had influenced single carbon metabolism in the cat [ 4 ] and subsequently that dietary betaine and PUFA had an interaction together on circulating concentration of the n-3 PUFA and specifically on circulating EPA and total PUFA in then dog [ 5 ]. This design compared the effects of dietary betaine, flax, and fish oil alone and when present together.…”