Influence of high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets on serum lipid and fructosamine concentrations in healthy cats

The study was a randomised, crossover clinical trial that was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of the University of Pretoria (V079-18).

The aim of this study was to determine whether high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets exert differential effects on serum cholesterol, triglyceride and fructosamine concentrations in healthy cats.

Methods: A randomised, crossover diet trial was performed in thirty-five healthy shelter cats. Following baseline health assessments, cats were randomised into groups receiving either a high-protein or high-carbohydrate diet for four weeks. The cats were then fed a washout diet for four weeks before being transitioned to whichever of the two studied diets they had not yet received. Fasting serum cholesterol, triglyceride and fructosamine concentrations were determined at the end of each four-week diet period.