JP2021010316A - Cat food - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide cat food that improves the lipid metabolism of cats, and suppresses the weight gain in cats after contraception and castration without adversely affecting the liver.SOLUTION: There is provided cat food containing protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, taurine, leucine, and fats and oils, the content of oleic acid in the total fatty acids contained in the fats and oils being 40 to 50%, and additionally ω3 fatty acids, L-carnitine, vitamin E and vitamin C being added.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to cat food, and particularly to cat food suitable for the health of contraceptive / castrated cats.

Binge eating induces obesity in cats as well as in humans by fat accumulation. During overeating, catabolism (burning, β-oxidation) of body fat and dietary fat is enhanced in order to suppress fat accumulation. The liver and skeletal muscle are the main organs responsible for lipid catabolism. During overeating and obesity, lipids that exceed the capacity of the fat catabolism are transported, and excessive lipid catabolism causes oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages hepatocytes and causes inflammation by inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α. At the same time, oxidative stress promotes liver damage such as inducing apoptosis of hepatocytes by damaging mitochondria, and causes a decrease in the fat burning ability of the liver. Lipids that exceed the liver's ability to catabolize fat accumulate in the liver, resulting in ectopic fat accumulation, so-called fatty liver.

As cat foods that suppress obesity, those containing barley as a carbohydrate source, those containing fats and oils having a high content of diacylglycerol, and those containing leucine, L-carnitine, etc. are known (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). ..

JP-A-2007-110915 Special Table 2016-516405

Many cats kept as pets may be treated with contraception / castration for reasons such as prevention of unwanted breeding, control of diseases caused by sex hormones, and control of problem behaviors caused by estrus behavior. It is widely generalized. However, in cats, contraception and castration reduce sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone and impair appetite regulation. As a result, it induces an increase in appetite, a decrease in energy demand, a decrease in physical activity, and an increase in body weight.

In order to suppress weight gain after contraception and castration, food intake restriction by restricted feeding and low-fat food feeding have been performed, but the effect is limited, and the problem of obesity in captive cats has become apparent. .. It may also have a negative effect on the liver when reducing the weight of obese cats by diet. It is desirable to safely maintain and manage cats after contraception and castration without obesity.

An object to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cat food that suppresses weight gain without adversely affecting the liver even in cats after contraception and castration.

The cat food according to one embodiment of the present invention contains protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, taurine, leucine, fat and oil, and the content of oleic acid in the total fatty acid contained in the fat and oil is 40 to 50%, and further. ω3 fatty acid, L-carnitine, vitamin E and vitamin C are added.

According to this cat food, lipid metabolism in cats is improved, and weight gain is suppressed even in cats after contraception and castration without adversely affecting the liver.

In the above cat food, preferably, in terms of dry matter, protein is 46.00% by weight or more, total digestible nutrients (carbohydrate) is 20.00% by weight or less, dietary fiber is 7.00% by weight or more, and taurine is 0.25% by weight. It contains ~ 0.50% by weight, leucine 2.50% by weight or more, fats and oils 9.00 to 12.00% by weight, ω3 fatty acid 2.9-14.4 g / kg, and carnitine 500-1000 mg / kg. In kg, vitamin E is added at 250 to 800 IU / kg, and vitamin C is added at 100 to 300 mg / kg.

According to this cat food, lipid metabolism of cats is improved without excess or deficiency in exerting useful effects of each component, and weight gain is suppressed even in cats after contraception and castration.

In the cat food, preferably, the content of palmitic acid in the total fatty acids contained in the fat and oil is 25% or less, and the content of stearic acid is 10% or less.

According to this cat food, the amount of saturated fatty acids in all fatty acids is low, and obesity is suppressed.

In the cat food, the fats and oils preferably contain high oleic sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil or rapeseed oil.

According to this cat food, the content of oleic acid in the total fatty acids is 40 to 50% without requiring a special compounding operation.

In the cat food, the ratio of the vitamin C to the vitamin E per unit weight is preferably 1 or more in terms of molar ratio.

According to this cat food, in order to reduce the oxidized vitamin E, there is vitamin C in the same amount as the vitamin E to be reduced, so that there is no excess or deficiency in the reduction of vitamin E.

In the above cat food, preferably, ω6 fatty acid is further added.

According to this cat food, unsaturated fatty acids in total fatty acids are increased, and the effect of suppressing obesity is increased.

In the cat food, preferably, selenium is further added.

According to this cat food, antioxidant capacity is improved and oxidative stress is suppressed.

Zinc is preferably further added to the cat food.

According to this cat food, the liver protective effect is improved.

According to the cat food according to the present invention, the lipid metabolism of cats is improved, and weight gain is suppressed even in cats after contraception and castration without adversely affecting the liver.

Graph showing body weight change during the test period of the experimental group, control group and sham surgery group Graph showing changes in fat accumulation per calorie intake during the test period of the experimental group, control group and sham surgery group Graph showing changes in blood fat concentration (serum TG concentration) during the test period of the experimental group, control group and sham surgery group Graph showing changes in blood free fatty acid concentration (serum NEFA concentration) during the test period of the experimental group, control group and sham surgery group

The cat food according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention has 46.00% by weight or more of protein, 20.00% by weight or less of fatty acid (total digestible nutrients), 7.00% by weight or more of dietary fiber, and 0.25% of taurine in terms of dry matter. It contains ~ 0.50% by weight, leucine 2.50% by weight or more, 9000% by weight of fats and oils, and the content of oleic acid in all fatty acids contained in fats and oils is 40 to 50%. , Ω3 fatty acid is added at 2.9 to 14.4 g / kg, L-carnitine is added at 500 to 1000 mg / kg, vitamin E is added at 250 to 800 IU / kg, and vitamin C is added at 100 to 300 mg / kg. The addition ratio of vitamin E and vitamin C is preferably a molar ratio of 1: 1.

Protein is an essential nutrient for the composition of muscles and organs. In order to obtain an effective effect in this regard, the protein content in the cat food of the present embodiment is 46.00% by weight or more in terms of dry matter.

Cats are poor at carbohydrate metabolism and do not need it as a nutrient. Cats are genetically deficient in glucokinase. Since general cat food foams, it usually contains about 40% of carbohydrates, but such cat foods tend to raise blood sugar levels rapidly and worsen glucose metabolism, so low-carbohydrate design for weight management Must be.

Therefore, the content of carbohydrate content (total amount of digestible nutrients) of the cat food of the present embodiment is 20.00% by weight or less in terms of dry matter. Reducing the total amount of digestible nutrients also contributes to increasing the proportion of protein and crude fiber.

Dietary fiber acts to dilute energy and provide a feeling of fullness. In order to obtain an effective effect in this regard, the content of dietary fiber in the cat food of the present embodiment is 7.00% by weight or more in terms of dry matter. The cat food of the present embodiment may further contain crude fibers having a content of about 3 to 12% by weight in terms of dry matter.

Taurine has the effect of suppressing the onset of liver lipidosis, which is a liver disease characteristic of cats. In order to obtain an effective effect in this regard, the taurine content in the cat food of the present embodiment is 0.25 to 0.50% by weight in terms of dry matter.

Leucine has the effect of enhancing the muscle protein synthesis system via mTOR. In order to obtain an effective effect in this regard, the content of leucine in the cat food of the present embodiment is 2.50% by weight in terms of dry matter.

In particular, cat food containing high protein and high leucine maintains muscle mass by enhancing the muscle protein synthesis system via mTOR, and enhances the performance of energy metabolism by exercise.

The cat food of the present embodiment has an oleic acid content of 40 to 50% in all fatty acids contained in fats and oils, and a large content of unsaturated fatty acids enhances lipid metabolism. Lipid metabolism is involved in body fat accumulation, blood triglyceride concentration, and blood free fatty acid concentration affected by weight gain.

The cat food of the present embodiment further contains ω3 fatty acid and ω6 fatty acid as unsaturated fatty acids. This further increases the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the total fatty acids contained in fats and oils. The content of ω3 fatty acid is 2.90 to 14.40 g / kg in terms of dry matter in order to obtain an effective anti-inflammatory effect and a small liver fat accumulation inhibitory effect. Omega-6 fatty acids may be included in a ratio of 5: 1 to 10: 1 to ω3 fatty acids for cell membrane repair of ω3 fatty acids and suppression of synthesis of ω6 inflammatory cytokines.

The cat food of the present embodiment preferably contains 30% or less of saturated fatty acids in all fatty acids contained in fats and oils, and 70% or more of unsaturated fatty acids including oleic acid, ω3 fatty acid and ω6 fatty acid. The content of palmitic acid, which is a saturated fatty acid in the total fatty acids contained in fats and oils, is 25% or less, and the content of stearic acid is preferably 10% or less.

Suitable fats and oils used in the cat food of the present embodiment include high oleic sunflower oil, safflower oil, olive oil, and rapeseed oil. These fats and oils are characterized by having a high content of oleic acid and a low content of saturated fatty acids palmitic acid and stearic acid as compared with other vegetable fats and oils and animal fats and oils (beef tallow, lard). Vegetable oils such as sunflower oil, red flower oil, olive oil, and rapeseed oil are vegetable oils with high oleic acid, low palmitic acid, and low stearic acid, and the saturated fatty acids in the total fatty acids contained in the oils and fats are 30% or less and unsaturated. Fatty acids achieve 70% or more.

Achieve 40-50% oleic acid, 15-25% palmitic acid, and 10% or less stearic acid in all fatty acids with only animal ingredients derived from cows and pigs (beef tallow, lard, meat meal, pork mill, etc.) That is difficult. Similarly, it is difficult to achieve 30% or less of saturated fatty acids and 70% or more of unsaturated fatty acids in total fatty acids.

By adding the above-mentioned high oleic acid, low palmitic acid, and low stearic acid vegetable oils and fats to chicken meal alone or chicken meal and meat meal, which are the main animal raw materials in general pet food, as described above. Fatty acid composition is achieved.

This suppresses the intake of dietary saturated fatty acids, especially palmitic acid and stearic acid, and reduces the oxidative stress caused by enhanced β-oxidation during binge eating and mobilization of accumulated fat.

Vitamin E is fat-soluble and dissolves in adipocytes and cell membranes to protect lipids from oxidative stress. However, when oxidative vitamin E becomes excessive, it itself becomes a source of oxidative stress and damages cells. Vitamin C is water-soluble and plays a role in reducing oxidative vitamin E and excreting oxidative stress to the outside of the body via blood and urine. Vitamin C is also required for carnitine synthesis. Simultaneous feeding of vitamin C, vitamin E and β-carotene enhances antioxidant status.

The same amount of vitamin C is required to reduce oxidized vitamin E. From this, it is preferable that the addition ratio of vitamin C to vitamin E per unit weight is 1 or more in terms of molar ratio. More preferably, the addition ratio of vitamin E and vitamin C per unit weight is 1: 1 in molar ratio.

Selenium works complementarily with Vitamin E and Vitamin C and can enhance their antioxidant capacity.

Oleic acid is a fatty acid that has antioxidant capacity in itself and acts as the last antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative stress after vitamin E and vitamin C are consumed.

By combining antioxidants having different properties in this way, the efficiency of oxidative stress excretion from the body can be improved.

In addition, the improvement of antioxidant capacity by oleic acid, vitamin E, vitamin C, and other antioxidants reduces the oxidative stress caused by β-oxidation of excess lipids in the liver during overeating and weight loss, and enhances the fat burning function. It maintains the mitochondria in the hepatocytes responsible and suppresses hepatocytes and hepatocyte apoptosis. This maintains the fat burning function of the liver.

ω3 fatty acid suppresses the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines derived from ω6 fatty acid and exhibits anti-inflammatory effect on the liver. It is also useful for repairing cell membranes damaged by oxidative stress and the like.

Maintaining mitochondria leads to improved carnitine performance. L-carnitine is responsible for membrane transport of higher fatty acids that cannot cross the mitochondrial membrane, streamlining β-oxidation by mitochondria.

Increased β-oxidation by mitochondria is accompanied by an increase in oxidative stress, but vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, oleic acid, etc. suppress antioxidant stress by the above antioxidant mechanism and lipid without damaging mitochondria and hepatocytes. It works to improve the efficiency of metabolism. This series of cycles is a mechanism for improving the efficiency of β-oxidation ability of the liver, suppressing hepatic fat accumulation and blood fat concentration, and suppressing weight gain due to overeating.

This mechanism is thought to work in the muscle tissue responsible for another energy consumption as well. By maintaining mitochondria in muscle, it is expected that the efficiency of lipid metabolism by muscle tissue will be improved. In particular, it is expected that energy consumption during exercise will be more efficient.

The cat food of the present embodiment may further contain ash, selenium, iron and zinc.

Selenium has the effect of increasing antioxidant capacity. The content of selenium in the cat food of the present embodiment may be 0.50 to 1.30 mg / kg in terms of dry matter.

Since the accumulation of iron in the liver is a causative component for generating active oxygen, the iron content of the cat food of the present embodiment is preferably 450 mg / kg or less in terms of dry matter.

Zinc is involved in urea production, glutathione concentration, immunity, and has hepatoprotective effects (lipid peroxidation prevention, lysosomal membrane stabilization, antifibrosis). The content of cat food zinc in this embodiment may be 75 to 350 mg / kg in terms of dry matter.

The cat food of the present embodiment is a comprehensive nutritional cat food that meets the nutritional requirements during the growth and maintenance phases of the cat, improves the lipid metabolism of the cat, and is a cat after contraception and castration without adversely affecting the liver. However, it has the effect of suppressing weight gain. Lipid metabolism means body fat accumulation, blood triglyceride concentration, and blood free fatty acid concentration affected by weight gain.

The cat food of the present embodiment can also be used as a cat food for weight loss, which makes β-oxidation of the liver efficient during weight loss, suppresses hepatic fat accumulation, and suppresses the occurrence of hepatic lipidosis.

The main cause of weight gain after contraception and castration is thought to be increased food intake. Cats have an innate appetite-regulating ability, but this ability is lost by contraception and castration.

After contraception and castration, an energy limit of at least 30% is required to maintain weight. Some individuals require a 50% dietary restriction. However, there is no difference in energy expenditure based on lean body mass between contraceptive / castrated cats and non-contraceptive / uncastrated cats.

After contraception and castration, cats reduce their spontaneous activity by about 52%. In particular, the amount of exercise during the day was significantly reduced, and the amount of exercise at night decreased by 33% compared to the time of non-contraception and non-castration, while it decreased by 60% during the day.

Overeating and excessive energy increase the amount of lipids transported to the liver, which promotes lipid synthesis in the liver. Fat metabolism in the liver is also enhanced, but at the same time, oxidative stress is also enhanced. Especially, the lipotoxicity of saturated fatty acids is high. Oxidative stress damages hepatocytes and mitochondria. As a result, hepatitis occurs, TNF-α production increases, and it acts on cytochrome C in mitochondria to promote its release. The released cytochrome C induces hepatocyte apoptosis, resulting in a chain of hepatic dysfunction. As a result, lost lipids accumulate in the liver, causing fatty liver.

(test)
Pseudo-operation of 8 contraceptive female cats that ate the following experimental diet, a control group of 8 contraceptive female cats that ate the following target diet, and 4 contraceptive female cats that ate the following control diet A test was conducted to evaluate body weight, fat accumulation per calorie intake, blood fat concentration (serum TG concentration), and blood free fatty acid concentration (serum NEFA concentration) in the group.

In this test, eating was performed twice a day for 24 weeks, and the first 12 weeks was the amount of body weight maintenance (DER equivalent), and the latter 12 weeks was the amount of binge eating twice the body weight maintenance food amount. Weight was obtained by scale. The amount of fat accumulated was obtained by double X-ray absorption spectroscopy every 6 weeks. Serum TG concentration and serum NEFA concentration were obtained by blood test by blood sampling every 6 weeks.

The experimental diet was 57.70% crude protein, 3.89% leucine, 0.49% taurine, 13.3% crude fat, 13.80% total digestible nutrients, 49.6 mg / 100 g of carnitine, in terms of dry matter. The amount of ω3 fatty acid was 0.32 g / 100 g, vitamin E73.6 IU / 100 g, and vitamin C 14 mg / 100 g. Oleic acid was 40.70% of the total fatty acid content contained in the fats and oils.

The control diet was 40.60% crude protein, 2.78% leucine, 0.31% taurine, 17.70% crude fat, 34.40% total digestible nutrients, 2.1 mg / 100 g carnitine, in terms of dry matter. The ω3 fatty acid was 0.29 g / 100 g, and the vitamin E was 39.4 IU / 100 g. Oleic acid was 38.00% of the total fatty acid content contained in the fats and oils.

As a result of this test, FIG. 1 shows the body weight, FIG. 2 shows the amount of fat accumulated per calorie intake, FIG. 3 shows the serum TG concentration, and FIG. 4 shows the serum NEFA concentration as an average value. In each figure, the solid line shows the test result of the experimental group, the alternate long and short dash line shows the test result of the sham surgery group, and the broken line shows the test result of the control group.

After 24 weeks, the body weight of the experimental group was 3.7% lower than that of the control group.

The amount of fat accumulated per calorie intake in the experimental group after 24 weeks was 18. % Decreased.

After 24 weeks, the serum TG concentration in the experimental group decreased by 25.0% as compared with the control group.

After 24 weeks, the serum NEFA concentration in the experimental group increased by 21.0% as compared with the control group.

In this way, the experimental group and the sham-operated group that ate the experimental diet had any of body weight, fat accumulation per calorie intake, serum TG concentration, and serum NEFA concentration as compared with the control group that ate the control diet. A good score was also obtained for.

The present invention has been described above with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, but as can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and deviates from the gist of the present invention. It can be changed as appropriate as long as it does not. In addition, not all of the components shown in the above embodiments are indispensable, and they can be appropriately selected as long as they do not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

Claims (8)

It contains protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, taurine, leucine, and fat, and the content of oleic acid in the total fatty acids contained in the fat is 40 to 50%.
Furthermore, cat food to which ω3 fatty acid, L-carnitine, vitamin E and vitamin C are added. In terms of dry matter, protein is 46.00% by weight or more, carbohydrate is 20.00% by weight or less, dietary fiber is 7.00% by weight or more, taurine is 0.25 to 0.50% by weight, and leucine is 2.50% by weight. % Or more, containing 9000 to 12.00% by weight of fats and oils, 2.8 to 14.4 g / kg of ω3 fatty acids, 500 to 1000 mg / kg of carnitine, 250 to 800 IU / kg of vitamin E, and vitamin C. The cat food according to claim 1, wherein 100 to 300 mg / kg of the cat food is added. The cat food according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the content of palmitic acid in the total fatty acids contained in the fat and oil is 25% or less, and the content of stearic acid is 10% or less. The cat food according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oil and fat contains high oleic sunflower oil, olive oil, safflower oil, or rapeseed oil. The cat food according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ratio of the vitamin C to the vitamin E per unit weight is 1 or more in terms of molar ratio. The cat food according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising ω6 fatty acid. The cat food according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising selenium. The cat food according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising zinc.

Images