Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Canned food linked to higher hyperthyroidism risk in cats
By Edinboro, Charlotte H et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2004·Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Epidemiologic study of relationships between consumption of commercial canned food and risk of hyperthyroidism in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study found that older cats, especially those eating pop-top canned food, are at a higher risk of developing hyperthyroidism, a condition that affects the thyroid gland. Researchers looked at medical records from over 169,000 cats and discovered that the prevalence of hyperthyroidism has increased significantly over the years. Both male and female cats showed a greater risk linked to eating canned food, particularly those in pop-top cans. This suggests that while aging is a factor, the type of food cats eat may also contribute to the rise in hyperthyroidism cases.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the increasing prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism is the result of aging of the cat population and whether consumption of canned foods at various times throughout life is associated with increased risk of hyperthyroidism. DESIGN: Retrospective and case-control studies. STUDY POPULATION: Medical records of 169,576 cats, including 3,570 cats with hyperthyroidism, evaluated at 9 veterinary school hospitals during a 20-year period, and 109 cats with hyperthyroidism (cases) and 173 cats without hyperthyroidism (controls). PROCEDURE: Age-adjusted hospital prevalence of hyperthyroidism was calculated by use of Veterinary Medical Database records. On the basis of owners' questionnaire responses, logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between consumption of canned food and development of hyperthyroidism. RESULTS: Age-specific hospital prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism increased significantly from 1978 to 1997. Overall, consumption of pop-top canned (vs dry) food at various times throughout life and each additional year of age were associated with greater risk of developing hyperthyroidism. In female cats, increased risk was associated with consumption of food packaged in pop-top cans or in combinations of pop-top and non-pop-top cans. In male cats, increased risk was associated with consumption of food packaged in pop-top cans and age. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings suggest that the increasing prevalence of feline hyperthyroidism is not solely the result of aging of the cat population and that canned foods may play a role.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15070058/