High protein intake affects lean body mass but not energy expenditure in nonobese neutered cats

Dietary composition affects body composition; the role of fat and carbohydrates is well documented. Proteins are more satiating than carbohydrates, may produce different effects on glycemia , and are more thermogenic. Indeed the efficiency of cellular conversion of energy to high-energy yielding phosphate bonds from fatty acids is 90%, from carbohydrates 75%, but only 55% for amino acids.

High-protein diets produced greater weight loss in some studies of obese humans but not others. Other human studies found that although the high-protein diet did not promote weight loss in excess of control diets, it did preserve lean tissue mass and promoted the loss of fat tissue .

Companion animals also suffer from obesity , and a high-protein, energy-restricted diet was successful in reducing the body weight and body fat of overweight dogs and cats , and in conserving lean body mass of dogs . However, there have been few studies of the effects of protein intake on the body composition in normal-weight individuals of any species.

The current study aimed to determine the effect of a limited energy intake of a high-protein diet on the body composition and least observed metabolism (LOM)5 of adult neutered cats.