Taurine utilization by cats
Odle, J.; Roach, M.; Baker, D.H.
Journal of Nutrition 123(11): 1932-1933
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3166 PMID: 8229310 Document Number: 408104
The bioavailability of the amino acid taurine was determined in poultry by-product meal, an ingredient commonly used in dry cat foods. Urinary taurine excretion was measured in response to ingestion of taurine at levels sufficient to elevate plasma taurine concentrations beyond the renal threshold for the amino acid. The analysis revealed that the commercial-type basal diet used in the study contained 0.35 g/kg of taurine from intact ingredients, but it was fortified with crystalline taurine to bring the total dietary taurine to 1.3 g/kg. Addition of crystalline taurine resulted in a linear increase in free urinary taurine excretion while plasma concentrations remained unchanged, whereas addition of taurine from poultry by-product meal had no such effect. .