Vol. 44, No. 4, 2000 content next

THE HIGH INTAKE OF MEDIUM-CHAIN TRIGLYCERIDES ELEVATES PLASMA CHOLESTEROL IN DOGS (An Observation)

Dongen, A. M. van 1, Stokhof, A. A. 1, Geelen, M. J. H. 2, Beynen, A. C. 3

1 Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Utrecht University
Utrecht
The Netherlands		 2 Laboratory of Veterinary Biochemistry
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Utrecht University
Utrecht
The Netherlands		 3 Department of Nutrition
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Utrecht University
Utrecht
The Netherlands

Summary

In a pilot study on the acceptance by dogs of a diet rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), plasma lipids were measured. Three dogs were either fed their habitual, commercial dry food or the experimental diet containing 22% of metabolizable energy in the form of MCT. A sequential A-B-A design was used. It was found that the MCT diet raised plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations by 70, 80, and 22%, respectively. Although MCT was not the only dietary variable, this study indicates that a high intakes of MCT may have hyperlipidemic activity in dogs.

Key words: medium-chain triglycerides; plasma lipids; dogs

References

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Folia Veterinaria / 2000