Dietary choline and betaine in the prevention and treatment of feline obesity

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With a prevalence of more than 50% in industrialised countries, 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, current spay/neuter practices are known to be a major risk factor for fat deposition and development of obesity. 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 fat accumulation in the liver. Although the precise pathogenesis remains a mystery, it is believed that specific characteristics of feline protein and fat metabolism are involved. Dietary choline and betaine are metabolically linked to fat metabolism and may pose a benefit when treating and preventing obesity in cats. Choline as the precursor of phosphatidylcholine, a structural component of very-low-density lipoproteins, accelerates the removal of fat from the liver. Furthermore, choline and its derivate betaine, being methyl group donors, enhance the hepatic synthesis of carnitine, which is known to promote fat oxidation. In livestock, betaine not only reduces fat accumulation in the liver, but also decreases abdominal storage of fat and improves carcass lean percentage. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of dietary choline and betaine supplementation on energy and lipid metabolism in obese cats during an episode of energy restriction and in growing kittens following spay/neuter. This university-government-industry partnership will support future pet nutrition research opportunities and growth of the domestic and export pet food markets. Comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pet obesity and how these mechanisms are affected by functional foods that uncouple energy metabolism will lead to the development of new nutritional strategies that will make maintaining an ideal body weight much easier, prevent obesity and related health consequences and improve lifespan and quality of life of pets.