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Effect of Diet on Plasma Taurine in the Cat¹

Departments of Physiological Sciences and Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616

Near adult cats were deprived of dietary taurine until the plasma levels were consistently below 10 µM. The source of dietary lipid (animal versus vegetable), source of protein (soy versus casein versus tuna) and level (17%, 34%, 70%) and the sulfur amino acid content of the diet were then independently varied to determine their respective effects on plasma taurine. Plasma taurine was not influenced by the source of dietary fat but was sensitive to the sulfur amino acid content of the diet independent of total protein when methionine plus cystine was below 1.55% of the diet. Therefore, it is suggested that below 1.55% total sulfur amino acids the taurine requirement of the cat may be a function of the sulfur amino acid content of the diet. No retinal lesions in the area centralis occurred.

KEY WORDS: • taurine • cat • protein • lipid • sulfur amino acids

¹ Supported in part by a grant from the Pet Food Institute, 1101 Connecticut Ave., N. W., Washington, DC 20036. The tuna used in this experiment was a gift from Star-Kist Foods Inc., Terminal Island, CA. The research described in this report involved animals maintained in animal care facilities fully accredited by the American Association for the Accredition of Laboratory Animal Care.

² To whom reprint requests should be sent: Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616.

Manuscript received 26 January 1981.

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