Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Does feeding affect blood test results for vitamin and enzyme levels
By Melco, Ashley et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·Department of Medical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The effect of feeding on serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, trypsin-like immunoreactivity, and pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in dogs with signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 51 dogs showing signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease had their blood tested for certain nutrients and enzymes after eating and after fasting. The results showed that for many dogs, the levels of cobalamin (a vitamin), folate (another vitamin), and trypsin-like immunoreactivity (an enzyme) were similar whether they had just eaten or had been fasting for 12 hours. However, in a significant number of cases, the feeding changed how the results were interpreted, suggesting that it’s better to fast dogs before blood tests to get accurate readings.
People also search for: dog gastrointestinal disease symptoms · dog blood test fasting · dog cobalamin levels after eating
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is unknown if serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI), and canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) obtained postprandially are equivalent to measurements obtained after withholding food in dogs with suspected gastrointestinal disease. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: Measurements of serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, cPLI, and cTLI postprandially will be equivalent to measurements after 12 hours of withholding food in dogs with signs of chronic gastrointestinal disease. Changes observed will not alter clinical interpretation. ANIMALS: 51 client-owned dogs with signs of gastrointestinal disease. METHODS: Prospective single arm clinical trial. Serum concentrations of cobalamin, folate, cPLI and cTLI 2, 4, and 8 hours postprandially were compared by equivalence testing to values after withholding food for 12 hours (baseline). RESULTS: Mean serum cobalamin concentrations 2 hours (498.1 ± 213.1 ng/L; P = 0.024) and 4 hours (501.9 ± 207.4 ng/L; P = 0.008) postprandial were equivalent to baseline (517.3 ± 211.5 ng/L). Mean serum cTLI 2 hours (31.3 ± 14 μg/L; P < 0.001) and 4 hours (29.6 ± 13.1 μg/L; P = 0.027) postprandial were equivalent to baseline (31.1 ± 15 μg/L). Mean serum folate concentration 2 hours postprandial (15 ± 7.7 μg/L) was equivalent to baseline (13.7 ± 8.3 μg/L; P < 0.001). Equivalence could not be assessed for cPLI due to results below the lower limit of quantification. Feeding altered the clinical interpretation in 27% (cobalamin), 35% (folate), 20% (cTLI), and 12% (cPLI) of dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The clinical interpretation for a substantial number of samples changed after feeding, therefore withholding food before sample collection is prudent.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38580455/