Effect of dietary medium-chain triglycerides in healthy cats

Abstract

We compared the lipid metabolism in cats by feeding medium-chain triglycerides（MCT）using coconuts oil and long-chain triglycerides（LCT）（using lard and soybean oil）to investigate the effects of dietary MCT on glucose and lipid metabolism. We fed the control diet（low fat diet: 2.8 g of fat content/100 kcal）and control diet with 3 different sources of fat（coconuts oil, lard, and soybean oil）using 6 healthy cats. Each diet was fed for 14 days, and body weight, body fat and physical signs and blood examinations were evaluated. All diet can be fed during study period with no effect on dietary preference detected without any side effects. No significant differences were observed in body weight, body fat and physical signs during the study period. Furthermore, for blood examinations, serum glucose, insulin, triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid（NEFA）concentrations and plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide（GIP）and glucagon-like peptide 1（GLP-1）concentrations were measured. However, all serum and plasma blood test did not show any significant difference. There is a positive effect of MCT on lipid metabolism in human as an efficient energy source, however, further study with different amount of MCT and log-term study should reveal more information about the kinetics, body fat accumulation, and nutrient metabolism in cats.