Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Oxidative stress and immune changes in cats with diabetes and diet
By Webb, Craig B & Falkowski, Lauren·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2009·Clinical Sciences Department, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Oxidative stress and innate immunity in feline patients with diabetes mellitus: the role of nutrition.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 15 diabetic cats was studied to see if their bodies were under more oxidative stress compared to healthy cats. The diabetic cats had lower levels of a protective enzyme called superoxide dismutase, indicating higher oxidative stress. After being fed a special diet designed for diabetic cats for 8 weeks, another enzyme, glutathione peroxidase, increased in both groups, but other measures of oxidative stress and immune function did not change. This suggests that while the diet may help in some ways, diabetic cats might still benefit from additional antioxidant support.
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Abstract
This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress is increased and neutrophil function is decreased in cats with diabetes mellitus (DM). Measures of oxidative stress and neutrophil function were evaluated in 20 control and 15 diabetic cats. Cats were then fed a diet designed specifically for feline diabetics (Purina DM Dietetic Management Feline Formula) for 8 weeks, after which all assays were repeated. Cats with DM had significantly less plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) than control cats, consistent with a greater degree of oxidative stress in the DM group. Following 8 weeks of consuming a diabetes-specific diet glutathione peroxidase, an antioxidant enzyme increased significantly in both groups. Other parameters of oxidative stress, as well as neutrophil function, were similar between groups and did not change following dietary intervention. The DM cats were significantly older and heavier than the control cats, which may have contributed to differences in parameters of oxidative stress and levels of antioxidant enzymes between these groups, but the decreased level of SOD enzyme in the diabetic group would appear to support the continued development of targeted antioxidant supplementation for this cats with this disease.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18783975/