Obesity in cats is a widespread issue that increases the risk of serious health conditions, including feline fatty liver disease. There has been interest in two micronutrients, choline and L-carnitine, for their potential to support liver health in cats, particularly in those that are obese. In the present study, 18 cats (nine lean and nine obese) were fed a commercial dry food supplemented with either choline, L-carnitine, or no supplement for 6 wk. While both L-carnitine and choline supplements may enhance fatty acid metabolism, neither broadly affected the one-carbon cycle, a pathway associated with liver function and fatty liver across species. However, independent of treatment, obese cats had different concentrations of certain one-carbon metabolites compared to lean cats, suggesting that obesity may alter this important metabolic pathway associated with liver health and function. These findings highlight the need for further research to explore how feline obesity affects liver metabolism and the development of fatty liver disease.

Read the full article in the Journal of Animal Science.