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Dietary fibre and the importance of the gut microbiota in feline nutrition : a review
- Source :
- NUTRITION RESEARCH REVIEWS
- Publication Year :
- 2014
-
Abstract
- Domestic cats are obligate carnivores and in this light hindgut fermentation has been considered unimportant in this species. However, a diverse microbiota has been found in the small and large intestines of domestic cats. Additionally,in vitroandin vivostudies support the hypothesis that microbial fermentation is significant in felines with potential benefits to the host. Results on microbiota composition and microbial counts in different regions of the feline gastrointestinal tract are compiled, including a description of modulating host and technical factors. Additionally, the effects of dietary fibre supplementation on the microbiota composition are described. In a second section,in vitrostudies, using inocula from fresh feline faeces and focusing on the fermentation characteristics of diverse plant substrates, are described.In vivostudies have investigated the effects of dietary fibre on a broad range of physiological outcomes. Results of this research, together with studies on effects of plant fibre on colonic morphology and function, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and the effects of plant fibre on disease conditions that require a decrease in dietary protein intake, are shown in a third section of the present review. Conclusively, for fructans and beet pulp, for example, diverse beneficial effects have been demonstrated in the domestic cat. Both dietary fibre sources are regularly used in the pet food industry. More research is warranted to reveal the potential benefits of other fibre sources that can be used on a large scale in feline diets for healthy and diseased cats.
- Subjects :
- Dietary Fiber
CHRONIC KIDNEY-DISEASE
In vitro studies
Nutritional Status
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Oligosaccharides
Biology
Gut flora
In vivo studies
MACRONUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY
Microbiology
Fructan
In vivo
Domestic cats
INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA
NUTRIENT DIGESTIBILITY
Animals
Food science
Veterinary Sciences
BACTERIAL-FLORA
Beet pulp
Feces
HEALTHY CATS
Nutrition and Dietetics
Obligate
Microbiota
Dietary fibre
Biology and Life Sciences
IN-VITRO FERMENTATION
Pets
biology.organism_classification
Gastrointestinal Tract
ALIMENTARY-TRACT
CAT FECAL INOCULUM
Cats
GASTROINTESTINAL-TRACT
Hindgut fermentation
Fermentation
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09544224 and 14752700
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- NUTRITION RESEARCH REVIEWS
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....de1b6b6c19cb6341c3a229c5e6cc1118