Longitudinal assessment of taurine and amino acid concentrations in dogs fed a green lentil diet

Abstract A recent association between the inclusion of pulses in canine diets and taurine deficiency has become a prevalent issue in the pet food industry. Although there is not a nutritional requirement for taurine by dogs, the appearance of taurine deficiencies has been related with more serious health issues, such as dilated cardiomyopathy. The objective of this study was to determine the circulating concentrations of plasma and whole blood taurine, indispensable and dispensable amino acid concentrations in the plasma, and taurine and creatinine concentrations in the urine of adult dogs fed a green lentil diet. Twelve, adult, female beagles were randomly assigned to a diet containing 45% green lentils (GLD) or a poultry byproduct meal diet (CON) for 90 days. Fresh urine samples were collected every 30 d and analyzed for taurine and creatinine concentrations. A blood sample also was collected every 30 d and analyzed for amino acids including taurine. Animal procedures were approved by the University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. All diets were formulated to meet or exceed the nutrient requirements outlined by AAFCO (2018) and all dogs remained healthy throughout the study. The concentrations of taurine in the plasma and whole blood showed no differences (P > 0.05) between dietary treatments or across time points. Similarly, no differences (P > 0.05) in plasma methionine concentrations were observed between treatments or across time points. A treatment effect (P < 0.05) showed dogs fed GLD had higher total primary fecal bile acid (BA) excretion compared with dogs fed CON. The differential abundance of fecal microbial communities showed Firmicutes as the predominant phyla in dogs fed both GLD and CON, with Bacteroidaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Lactobacillaecae as predominant families in dogs fed GLD. The α-diversity of dogs fed GLD ( P < 0.05) was lower than in dogs fed CON. These data suggest that the inclusion of 45% green lentil in extruded diets does not lower whole blood and plasma taurine concentrations during a 90 d period and is appropriate for use in a complete and balanced formulation for dogs.

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Rabbit Carcasses for Use in Feline Diets: Amino Acid Concentrations in Fresh and Frozen Carcasses With and Without Gastrointestinal Tracts

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2020.592753 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

Author(s):

Tammy J. Owens ◽

Andrea J. Fascetti ◽

C. Christopher Calvert ◽

Jennifer A. Larsen

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Amino Acid ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Protein Body ◽

National Research Council ◽

Body Water ◽

Taurine Supplementation ◽

Frozen Ground ◽

Taurine Deficiency ◽

Amino Acid Concentrations

Whole-prey diets for exotic feline species are common, and this practice has also increased in popularity for domestic cats. However, prior analyses of prey indicate possible essential amino acid inadequacy, and dilated cardiomyopathy from taurine deficiency was reported in cats fed whole ground rabbit. Crude protein, body water, and amino acid concentrations were evaluated in fresh and frozen ground rabbits with (n=10) or without (n = 10) gastrointestinal tracts. Amino acids were greater in fresh samples without gastrointestinal tracts (p < 0.05) except taurine, glycine, and cysteine. When normalized for protein content, only glutamate, alanine, methionine, isoleucine, tyrosine, lysine, histidine, and arginine were greater in fresh rabbits without gastrointestinal tracts (g/16 g N basis; p < 0.05). Freezing at −18°C for 30 days had no effect on crude protein or body water content. After freezing, only methionine was lower and only proline was higher when gastrointestinal tracts were omitted (g/16 g N basis; p < 0.05). Regardless, all essential amino acids except taurine exceeded Association of American Feed Control Officials and National Research Council nutrient recommendations for all feline life stages. In contrast, there was minimal impact of treatment on taurine concentrations. However, although feline taurine requirements for prey and other raw or fresh food diets remain undefined, none of the rabbit samples met any recommendation for taurine concentrations for commercial canned or dry extruded diets, ranging from 20 to 90% of the minimum values. Taurine supplementation is recommended when feeding rabbit to cats. Determination of taurine requirements of cats fed whole-prey diets is warranted.

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Effect of different lysing and washing methods on free amino acid concentrations of sheep whole blood and erythrocytes

Clinical Biochemistry ◽

10.1016/s0009-9120(76)80052-5 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. 180-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

G.W. Wolfrom ◽

J.M. Asplund

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Free Amino Acid ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Free Amino ◽

Amino Acid Concentrations

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83 The acute effects of feeding a grain-free diet with or without methionine, taurine or methyl donor/acceptor supplementation on plasma and whole blood amino acid concentrations in dogs

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skaa278.112 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽

pp. 62-62

Author(s):

Sydney Banton ◽

Julia G Pezzali ◽

Renan Antunes Donadelli ◽

Marica Bakovic ◽

Katharine M Wood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Whole Blood ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Latin Square ◽

Acute Effects ◽

Treatment Groups ◽

Time Points ◽

Postprandial Response ◽

Donor Acceptor ◽

Amino Acid Concentrations ◽

Time Point

Abstract Grain-free pet foods have been sold for over a decade and comprise more than 40% of dog and cat diets sold today. Grain-free diets replace grain ingredients with pulse ingredients, which are high in lysine but low in methionine and cysteine, the precursor amino acids to taurine synthesis in the dog. The objective of this study was to evaluate the postprandial response of plasma methionine and taurine and whole blood taurine concentrations of dogs fed a grain-free diet without supplementation (CON) or with methionine (MET), taurine (TAU) or creatine, carnitine and choline (CCC) supplementation. Eight Beagles were pair housed and fed one of the four experimental diets for seven days in a 4x4 Latin Square Design. On the morning of d 7, cephalic catheters were placed and one fasted sample (0 min) and nine post-meal blood samples (15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 min) were collected. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using the PROC GLIMMIX function in SAS (Version 9.4). Dogs supplemented with MET had significantly higher plasma methionine concentrations from 30 to 360 minutes post-meal compared to dogs on CON, TAU and CCC treatments (P < 0.05). However, no differences were observed in plasma methionine concentrations between CON, TAU and CCC treatments at any time point (P > 0.05). Plasma taurine concentrations were significantly higher across time points in all treatment groups compared to CON (P < 0.05). Whole blood taurine concentrations tended to be higher across time points in MET and TAU treatment groups compared to CCC (P = 0.0513). Overall, MET, TAU and CCC supplementation increased plasma taurine concentrations compared to CON, but only MET supplementation increased plasma methionine concentrations from 30 to 360 minutes post-meal.

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Supplemental protease with phytase and xylanase and cereal grain source affected nutrient digestibility and performance of broilers

Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition ◽

10.3920/jaan2021.0010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

K.W. McCafferty ◽

A.F. Moss ◽

N.K. Morgan ◽

A.J. Cowieson ◽

M. Choct

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Control Diet ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Nutrient Digestibility ◽

Broiler Chicks ◽

Cereal Grain ◽

And Performance ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

Amino Acid Concentrations

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental protease and cereal grain type on nutrient digestibility (jejunum and ileum) and performance of broilers offered diets with reduced amino acid concentrations and supplemental xylanase and phytase. A total of 624 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into 48 floor pens (13 chicks/pen; 0.07 m2/bird) and offered one of six dietary treatments with eight replicates per treatment. Dietary treatments were either maize- or wheat-based with a positive control (PC) reference diet, a negative control diet without protease (NC; 60 g/kg lower amino acid density than PC), and an NC diet with protease. The reduction in amino acid density affected (P<0.05) nutrient digestibility by varying degrees depending on cereal grain source. At 14 d of age, cereal grain and protease showed a significant interaction (P<0.05) which affected jejunal and ileal starch digestibility, whereby protease increased digestibility in birds fed wheat-based diets but not in those fed maize-based diets. Cereal grain source affected (P<0.05) nitrogen (jejunum and ileum) and digestible energy (DE; ileum), where birds fed wheat-based diets had higher digestibility than those fed maize-based diets. At 28 d of age, birds fed wheat-based diets had a higher (P<0.01) jejunal and ileal nitrogen digestibility, whereas protease reduced ileal nitrogen digestion. Protease affected ileal starch digestion in birds fed wheat, but not maize-based diets, resulting in a significant cereal grain × protease interaction (P<0.05). Wheat-based diets had a higher DE than maize-based diets in both the jejunum and ileum. From 15 to 35 d of age, cereal grain source (P<0.05) affected performance, whereby broilers offered maize-based diets had better performance than those fed wheat-based diets.

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Short-term amino acid, clinicopathologic, and echocardiographic findings in healthy dogs fed a commercial plant-based diet

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0258044 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. e0258044

Author(s):

Sarah M. Cavanaugh ◽

Ryan P. Cavanaugh ◽

Gregory E. Gilbert ◽

Elena L. Leavitt ◽

Jennifer K. Ketzis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acid ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Control Group ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Short Term ◽

Taurine Deficiency ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Echocardiographic Findings

Consumer demand for commercially prepared plant-based (PB) dog food is increasing, but studies evaluating the short- or long-term effects of PB diets on canine health are lacking. The objective of this study was to assess the short-term amino acid (AA), clinicopathologic, and echocardiographic findings in 34 client-owned dogs fed a commercial extruded plant-based diet (PBD) in which pea protein was the primary protein source and 4 control dogs fed a commercial extruded traditional diet (TD). Plasma AA and whole blood taurine concentrations were measured in dogs at baseline and after 4 weeks on the PBD or the TD. Hematologic, serum biochemical, and echocardiographic testing were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks on the PBD or the TD. Four dogs in the PBD group did not complete the study. All essential AAs, except methionine, were higher in dogs after 4 weeks on the PBD compared to baseline. Taurine (plasma and whole blood) was also higher after 4 weeks on the PBD compared to baseline. A meaningful difference was detected in whole blood taurine between the PBD group and the control group at 4 weeks (P = .026) with the PBD group being higher. Median hematologic and biochemical results for the PBD group were within normal limits at baseline and at 12 weeks. In the PBD group, left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd, P = < .001) and normalized LVIDd (P = .031) were higher 12 weeks post-PBD compared to baseline. There were no meaningful differences in left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs), normalized LVIDs, or fractional shortening 12 weeks post-PBD. There was no statistical evidence of difference between the 2 groups of dogs for any of the echocardiographic parameters at baseline or at 12 weeks. Essential AA or taurine deficiency was not observed in this cohort of dogs fed a commercial extruded PBD. Additionally, clinically relevant hematologic, serum biochemical and echocardiographic alterations were not detected. Further research is required to determine if long-term static feeding of PB diets can meet and maintain AA and other nutrient targets in dogs.

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