June 22, 2023

Interpretive Summary: Effects of five carbohydrate sources on cat diet digestibility, postprandial glucose, insulin response, and gut microbiomes

Interpretive Summary: Effects of five carbohydrate sources on cat diet digestibility, postprandial glucose, insulin response, and gut microbiomes

By: Shu Zhang, Yang Ren, Yuqin Huang, Yingchun Wang, Han Dang, Tizhong Shan

Pet obesity is becoming increasingly common and may have a negative impact on pet health. The exploration of measures to alleviate pet obesity is urgently needed. Carbohydrates are an important component of pet food, and their digestion and absorption affect the levels of blood glucose and blood lipids and the procession of obesity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different sources of carbohydrates on cat digestibility, postprandial glucose response, serum biochemical immune index, and microbiomes. The results showed that cat food with cassava and sweet potato as the main source of carbohydrates has a better effect on controlling blood glucose and blood lipids and improving the intestinal flora of pet cats. This provides a valuable reference for the research and development of pet food.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.