Studying Overweight Cats To Combat Human Obesity
Recent research suggests that studying the gut microbiome of obese cats may offer valuable insights into how gut bacteria impact human conditions like obesity and type 2 diabetes. The study, detailed in Scientific Reports, found that dietary changes in overweight cats produce similar effects on gut bacteria as those observed in humans. This similarity makes cats a promising model for exploring human gut health and related disorders.
In the study, seven obese cats were fed a specialized diet over a 16-week period. Their diet initially included unrestricted commercial cat food, followed by a weight-loss diet, and finally, a calorie-restricted version of the same diet. The researchers observed significant changes in the cats’ gut microbiomes throughout this period, with a notable increase in propionic acid—a short-chain fatty acid linked to appetite regulation and fat reduction—when the cats were on the calorie-restricted diet.
This increase in propionic acid was associated with higher levels of the gut bacterium Prevotella 9 copri. The fluctuations in propionic acid levels in response to dietary changes indicate that diet can profoundly influence the gut microbiome and metabolic outcomes. These findings underscore the potential of using cats to study the microbiome’s role in metabolic health.
Dr. Jenessa Weston, the lead researcher, emphasized that these results highlight the value of cats as models for developing microbiome-targeted therapies for human obesity. Given the similarities in microbial responses between cats and humans, this research could provide relevant insights for improving human gut health and managing obesity.
Currently, Dr. Weston is leading trials to explore fecal transplants as a method for weight loss in overweight dogs and cats. The study was supported by Nestle Purina, which provided the specialized weight-loss food used in the research.
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