Abstract
Ileal fluxes, urinary losses and taurine balance were determined in six taurine-replete and four taurine-depleted cats. Digesta samples collected at the terminal ileum were used to assess ileal flux of taurine. Four diets were tested: a commercial diet in two forms (heat-processed and frozen) and two purified diets containing either 1225 or 0 mg taurine/kg diet. Five-day balance trials were performed on d 3-7 with measurement of food intake and taurine in urine and ileal digesta. Substantially greater quantities of total taurine (free + bound) were found in ileal digesta from cats fed the heat- processed rather than the frozen preserved diet (205 vs. 101% of the average daily taurine intake, respectively), with calculated taurine balances of -609 vs. -212 μmol/d, respectively. The quantity of taurine in ileal digesta from taurine-replete cats fed the 1225 or 0 mg taurine/kg purified diets was not significantly different, indicating that taurine found at the terminal ileum is mostly of endogenous origin. Taurine-depleted cats had significantly lower amounts of taurine in ileal digesta, with a taurine balance of -77 μmol/d. These results demonstrate that a heat-processed diet causes substantially greater losses of taurine from the intestine than does a frozen diet. This phenomenon may explain the inability of some heat-processed diets to maintain normal plasma taurine concentrations in cats.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 553-559 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Nutrition |
Volume | 122 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 1992 |
Keywords
- cats
- heat processing
- ileal digesta taurine
- taurine
- taurine balance
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Nutrition and Dietetics