Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Low taurine linked to low methionine in Newfoundland dogs
By Backus, Robert C et al.·Published in The Journal of nutrition·2006·Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Low plasma taurine concentration in Newfoundland dogs is associated with low plasma methionine and cyst(e)ine concentrations and low taurine synthesis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Newfoundland dogs was found to have low levels of taurine, an important nutrient that can affect heart health. This deficiency was linked to lower levels of other amino acids and was more common in older, less active dogs with health issues. In a small group of taurine-deficient dogs, three had heart problems that improved after they were given taurine supplements. This suggests that Newfoundland dogs may need more sulfur amino acids in their diet compared to other breeds like Beagles.
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Abstract
Although taurine is not dietarily essential for dogs, taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are sporadically reported in large-breed dogs. Taurine status and husbandry were examined in 216 privately owned Newfoundlands, a giant dog breed with high incidence of idiopathic DCM (1.3-2.5%). Plasma taurine concentration was positively correlated (P < 0.01) with plasma cyst(e)ine (r = 0.37) and methionine (r = 0.35) concentrations and was similar across age, sex, neutering status, body weight, and body-condition scores. Plasma taurine concentration was low (< or =40 micromol/L) in 8% of dogs. Dogs with low plasma taurine were older, less active, had more medical problems and treatments, and had lower plasma albumin, cyst(e)ine, tryptophan, and alpha-amino-n-butyric acid concentrations than the other dogs (P < 0.05). Of 9 taurine-deficient, clinically evaluated dogs, 3 had DCM that was reversed by taurine supplementation and 1 had retinal degeneration. When given a diet apparently adequate in sulfur amino acids (5.4 g/kg) for 3 wk, 6 Newfoundlands (52.5 +/- 2.3 kg, 3.5-7 y), compared with 6 Beagles (13.2 +/- 2.3 kg, 5.5 y), had lower (P < 0.01) concentrations of plasma taurine (49 +/- 16 vs. 97 +/- 25 micromol/L) and cyst(e)ine and blood glutathione, lower (P < 0.01) de novo taurine synthesis (59 +/- 15 vs. 124 +/- 27 mg x kg(-0.75) x d(-1)), and greater (P < 0.05) fecal bile acid excretion (1.7 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.2 micromol/g). Newfoundlands would appear to have a higher dietary sulfur amino acid requirement than Beagles, a model breed used in nutrient requirement determinations.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16988121/