Abstract
To test if arginine and ornithine, both components of the Krebs-Henseleit cycle, or zeolite, a potential ammonium absorber, can modulate the excretion of harmful bacterial metabolites, intestinal microbial protein fermentation was stimulated by feeding a high-protein (60.3%) diet as a single daily meal to 10 adult cats. The diet was supplemented without or with arginine (+50, 75, 100% compared to arginine in the basal diet), ornithine (+100, 150, 200% compared to arginine in the basal diet), or zeolite (0.125, 0.25, 0.375 g/kg body weight/day). The cats received each diet for 11 days. Urine, feces, and blood were collected during the last 4 days. Arginine and ornithine enhanced the postprandial increase of blood urea, but renal urea excretion was not increased. Zeolite decreased renal ammonium excretion and fecal biogenic amines. The data indicate an increased detoxification rate of ammonia by arginine and ornithine supplementation. However, as urea was not increasingly excreted, detrimental effects on renal function cannot be excluded. Zeolite had beneficial effects on the intestinal nitrogen metabolism, which should be further evaluated in diseased cats. Clinical studies should investigate whether dietary arginine and ornithine might improve hepatic ammonia detoxification or could be detrimental for renal function.
Highlights
Undigested protein undergoes microbial fermentation in the large intestine [1]
Basal diet supplemented without (W/O) or with arginine (Arg1–3: +50%, +75%, and +100% compared to the arginine provision by the basal diet), ornithine (Orn1–3: +100%, +150%, and +200% compared to the arginine provision by the basal diet), or zeolite (Ze1–3: 0.125 g, 0.25 g, and 0.375 g/kg body weight/day). It was the hypothesis of the present study that the dietary supplementation of arginine, ornithine, and zeolite could modulate the excretion of selected end products of the protein metabolism in cats
Different underlying mechanisms were assumed, on one side an increased detoxification of ammonia to urea by arginine and ornithine, both components of the Krebs-Henseleit cycle [12], and an associated enhanced renal urea excretion
Summary
Undigested protein undergoes microbial fermentation in the large intestine [1]. The resulting metabolites include ammonia, biogenic amines, phenols, indoles, and branched-chain fatty acids [2], which exert varying effects in the organism [2,3]. -called uremic toxins can be considered as a group of waste products originating predominantly from bacterial protein breakdown [4]. As a consequence of an impaired excretory capacity, uremic toxins are retained in the blood of individuals suffering from chronic kidney disease [5]. This accumulation of waste molecules can promote the progression of chronic kidney disease, as well as contribute to inflammation in the organism and cardiovascular disease [5,6,7]. Examples of uremic toxins are urea, p-cresyl sulfate, indoxyl sulfate, and hippuric acid [4]. The European Uremic Toxin Work Group has currently published 130 different uremic solutes in their database (http://www.uremic-toxins.org/DataBase.html)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
