Design of diets based on gene expression data produces foods which improve renal health and ameliorate sarcopenic obesity (246.3)

Abstract

Etiology of aging manifests reduced renal health and sarcopenic obesity with characteristic changes in gene expression. Cats were fed a control food (CD), known to improve indices of age‐related pathology, or one of two diets (ED1 & ED2; n = 27 each diet) that contained ingredients producing expression profiles reflective of a young animal in cell models. The protocol was approved by IACUC. Health was monitored via clinical and physical indices. Results from ED1 & ED2 were the same and were significant with P < 0.05, unless noted. Renal health improved on all diets, as indicated by improved glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and reduced levels of symmetrical dimethylarginine. Analysis of plasma metabolomics showed that creatine, betaine, dimethylarginines, acylcarnitines and cortisol were negatively correlated with GFR, indicating possible value as renal health markers. Body weight was unchanged, but cats fed ED1 & ED2 lost fat mass and retained (ED1) or increased (ED2) lean mass. Metabolomics showed that circulating amino acids, including the felinine analog of glutathione, and glycerophospho‐lipids were positively correlated with lean mass. Thus, design of diets based on gene expression data led to foods capable of improving renal health and ameliorating sarcopenic obesity, while metabolomic profiling of cats consuming these foods identified markers predicting ameliorated age‐related co‐morbidities.