The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of a L-carnitine dietary supplementation in obese cats undergoing a protocol of hepatic lipidosis induction (Biourge et al., 1994).

Eleven queens of same age and origin, were spayed and randomly assigned to 2 groups. They are fed ad libitum a commercial diet for adult cats containing 40 ppm of L-carnitine (CL group, n=4) or 1000 ppm of L-carnitine (CH group, n=7). When obese, the queens are split to a semi-purified diet, until clinical hepatic lipidosis (HL). Plasma fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations are measured at each step and once a week during fasting.

Differences between CH and CL groups were analyzed by an unbalanced analysis of variance followed when necessary by a pairwise analysis of variance.

Ketosis is significantly lower in CH group, after 4 and 5 weeks of fasting (respectively F4 and F5) and during HL, with the following concentrations (in mmol/L, mean±SEM) in CH group and CL group respectively: 0.74±0.22 versus 2.47±0.73 at F4, 0.75±0.28 versus 3.83±0.64 at F5 and 1.42±0.48 versus 3.13±0.96 at HL.

This study demonstrates a lowering effect of L-carnitine supplementation during obesity induction on fasting ketosis in cats.

Biourge VC, Groff JM, Munn RJ, Kirk CA, Nyland TG, Madeiros VA., Morris J.G., Rogers Q.R. (1994) Experimental induction of hepatic lipidosis in cats. Am. J. Vet. Res. 55:1291-1302