Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How protein and phosphorus in food affect early kidney disease in cats
By Schauf, Sofia et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2021·WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical progression of cats with early-stage chronic kidney disease fed diets with varying protein and phosphorus contents and calcium to phosphorus ratios.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) was fed different diets to see how it affected their health. Initially, they were given a low-protein and low-phosphorus diet, which helped lower their kidney markers to normal levels after six months. Later, when switched to a moderate-protein diet, their kidney function remained stable, and their calcium levels improved. This suggests that cats with early CKD may do better on a diet that moderately restricts protein and phosphorus, rather than a very low one.
People also search for: cat kidney disease diet · chronic kidney disease in cats · protein phosphorus diet for cats
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dietary protein and phosphorus (P) restriction is the mainstay for nutritional management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, adequate restriction levels for cats with early CKD remain unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate responses in cats with early CKD to varying dietary protein, P, and calcium (Ca) : P ratio. ANIMALS: Nineteen research colony cats with International Renal Interest Society stages 1-2 CKD. METHODS: In an opportunistic longitudinal case study, cats were fed a low protein (59 g/Mcal), low P (0.84 g/Mcal) dry diet (LP-LP; Ca : P = 1.9) for 18 months and later transitioned onto a moderate protein (76-98 g/Mcal), moderate P (1.4-1.6 g/Mcal) dry-wet diet regimen (MP-MP; Ca : P = 1.4-1.6) for 22 months. Fold-changes in serum creatinine, total Ca (tCa) and P (primary outcomes) and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) were assessed by linear-mixed models. RESULTS: While feeding LP-LP, mean serum creatinine decreased (0.87-fold, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81, 0.93, P < .001) to within reference range after 6 months, while increases in total Ca (tCa; 1.16-fold, 95% CI 1.11, 1.22, P < .001) and FGF23 (2.72-fold, 95% CI 1.72, 4.31, P < .001), but not in P (1.03-fold, 95% CI 0.945, 1.124, P = .94), were observed after 17 months. On MP-MP, mean creatinine, tCa and P remained within reference ranges and did not significantly change (P = .11, P = .98, and P = 1, respectively), while FGF23 significantly decreased (0.58-fold, 95% CI 0.36, 0.95, P = .02) after 22 months. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Cats with early CKD developed hypercalcemia after long-term feeding of a highly P-restricted diet. Increasing dietary P and reducing Ca : P ratio maintained renal markers, while improving Ca-P balance. Cats with early CKD could benefit from moderately protein- and P-restricted diets.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34545958/