Preventing Diabetes in Cats, A Group of IPB Researchers Created Feed from Mahogany Seeds
Obesity in pets occurs when excessive adipose tissue accumulates in the body, and is generally defined as occurring when an animal's body weight is at least 20% greater than its optimal body weight. Obesity is associated with metabolic and hormonal changes. Obesity in pets is usually due to excessive food intake or lack of physical exercise. In cats, neutering increases the risk of obesity, partly because the alteration in sex hormones after neutering lowers the basal metabolic rate, and partly because neutered cats have a reduced inclination to roam compared to non-neutered cats. Obese cats have a four-time greater risk of developing diabetes.
Adi Winarto, a researcher from the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bogor Agricultural University (FKH IPB) said Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a carbohydrate metabolism disorder characterized by hyperglycemia (relatively high blood sugar). If cat already has diabetes, then weight loss can make it easier to regulate his diabetes and increase the chances of him going into remission. Food for diabetic cats should be low in carbohydrates, and canned food is preferable to dry kibble. DM disease causes glucose in the body to be discharged through the kidneys (sweet nose), and the longer will cause the animal to become weak and cause death due to lack of food substances.
Together with Tutik Wresdiyati of the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology (FKH IPB); Deni Noviana of the Department of Clinics, Reproduction, and Pathology (FKH IPB); and Dewi Apri Astuti of the Department of Nutrition Science and Feed Technology (FAPET IPB) implemented the research program on this matter.
Adi said there has been a dramatic increase in recent years in the number of pets being diagnosed with diabetes. It’s estimated that approximately one in 1200 cats will develop the disease while one in 200 dogs will be diagnosed with diabetes. Pets can suffer from both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Increased DM disease that attacks cats and dogs is one of them caused by unbalanced feed nutrition and tend to contain excessive carbohydrates. Obesity and a lack of exercise are the primary reasons pets will develop this condition. Therefore, it needs a good feed content in order to prevent the increase of DM disease.
"One of the ingredients that can be used to prevent DM disease in these cats is mahogany, so this study was conducted with the aim of formulating extracts of mahogany seeds (Swietenia mahagoni) into obesity and diabetic cat feed, through palatability test, and clinical trials in cats, "He said.
Adi explained that the results showed that the best mahogany seed extract formulas with the highest palatability was the formula containing 0.25 percent of the extract. Clinical trials of the best cat feed formulas shows that the content of mahogany seed extract in the diet can control weight, control body mass index (BMI) or indicator of the relative levels of fat in the body, control blood glucose levels, and control lipid profile (lipid levels in blood) .
Oral test results of glucose tolerant test (OGTT) in cats showed that the capsule-based extract of mahogany seeds can give effect hypoglycemic or decrease in blood sugar. The results of this study concluded that such formula is the best feed to be used as a prevention of obesity and diabetes in cats. (Wied)
