Dietary choline, a fat burner for obese cats

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Obesity represents a major health risk for the feline population, especially as obese cats are predisposed to devastating health complications that have a large negative impact on the quality of life and reduce life span. Moreover, the prevalence, reaching 53% in North America already, continues to increase. Weight reduction is recommended in overweight cats yet current weight-loss programs tend to have disappointing outcomes and are not without risks. During periods of severe energy restriction, obesity predisposes cats to hepatic lipidosis, which is characterized by lipid accumulation in the liver. Although the precise pathogenesis remains a mystery, it is believed that specific characteristics of feline protein and lipid metabolism are involved. Choline is metabolically linked to lipid metabolism. It is the precursor for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, a structural component of very-low-density lipoproteins which accelerate the removal of fat from the liver. Furthermore, choline also enhances the hepatic synthesis of carnitine, which is known to promote fatty acid oxidation. It is hypothesised that dietary choline supplementation will decrease body weight, even in the absence of energy restriction, and alter body composition by decreasing fat mass and increasing lean body mass. The objective of this research project is to describe the effects of dietary choline supplementation on body composition in obese cats during weight maintenance. Eventually results from this research project could provide a new nutritional strategy to achieve faster yet safe weight loss in obese cats by maximizing loss of adipose tissue and conservation of lean body tissue, while minimizing lipid accumulation in the feline liver.