Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diet changes did not improve heart disease in cats with hypertrophic
By Freeman, L M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2014·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: A randomized study assessing the effect of diet in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 29 cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a heart condition, were put on different diets to see if food could help their health. After six months, some cats showed changes in their blood tests and heart measurements, but not all diets had the same effects. One diet led to weight loss and improvements in heart size and liver health, while others showed increases in certain blood markers. This suggests that diet may play a role in managing HCM in cats, but more research is needed to determine the best options.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Diet might influence progression of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether diet composition could alter clinical, biochemical, or echocardiographic variables in cats with HCM. ANIMALS: Twenty-nine cats with HCM (International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council stage 1b) examined at a university teaching hospital. METHODS: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial. After physical examination, echocardiogram, and blood collection, cats were randomized to 1 of 3 diets, which varied in carbohydrate and fat content and ingredients. Measurements were repeated after 6 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences among the 3 groups at baseline. After 6 months, there were no significant changes in the primary endpoints, left ventricular free wall (Group A, P = .760; Group B, P = .475; Group C, P = .066) or interventricular septal thickness in diastole (Group A, P = .528; Group B, P = .221; Group C, P = .097). Group A had significant increases in BUN (P = .008) and cholesterol (P = .021), while Group B had significant increases in BUN (P = .008), cholesterol (P = .007), and triglycerides (P = .005), and significant decreases in NT-proBNP (P = .013) and hs-troponin I (P = .043). Group C had significant decreases in body weight (P = .021), left atrial dimension (P = .035), interventricular septal thickness in systole (P = .038), and liver enzymes (P = .034-.038). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These data suggest that diet might influence some clinical, biochemical, and echocardiographic variables in cats with HCM.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24697827/