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Table 3 Daily intake of essential nutrients in 14 lean cats during maintenance (L-MAINT) and in 16 obese cats during maintenance (O-MAINT) and during energy restriction (O-RESTRICT), compared to NRC minimum requirement, adequate intake and recommended allowance. The frequency and prevalence of not meeting NRC requirement for essential nutrient intake for nutrients for which at least one cat in the group was below the requirement as well as the mean difference between essential nutrient intake and NRC requirement

From: Dietary intake of amino acids and vitamins compared to NRC requirements in obese cats undergoing energy restriction for weight loss

Group

Period

Nutrient

Intake

NRC MRg

NRC AIh

NRC RAi

Req.d

No. Lesse

Diff.f

p-value

Req.

No. Less

Diff.

p-value

Req.

No. Less

Diff.

p-value

L-MAINT

Mina

CP (g)

6.39 (3.92–10.78)

3.97

1

−2.92

0.0005

 

4.96

4

−1.93

0.0096

Arg (mg)

0.17 (0.10–0.28)

 

0.19

9

0.01

0.6022

 

Phe + Tyr (mg)

0.51 (0.31–0.86)

0.38

4

− 0.17

0.0048

Thre (mg)

0.19 (0.12–0.33)

0.13

2

−00.08

0.0013

Chol (mg)

61.16 (37.59–103.28)

50

5

−15.95

0.021

 

63

8

−2.95

0.63

Avgb

Arg (mg)

0.23 (0.17–0.28

 

0.19

1

−0.04

0.0008

 

Chol (mg)

84.61 (62.76–103.47)

50

0

−34.55

< 0.0001

 

63

1

−21.54

< 0.0001

O-MAINT

Mina

CP (g)

9.19 (4.60–10.68)

3.97

0

−4.42

< 0.0001*

 

4.96

1

−3.43

< 0.0001*

Arg (mg)

0.24 (0.12–0.28)

 

0.19

4

−0.03

0.05*

 

Phe + Tyr (mg)

0.74 (0.37–0.86)

0.38

1

−0.29

< 0.0001*

Chol (mg)

87.97 (44.05–102.32)

50

2

−30.33

0.0002*

 

63

3

−17.33

0.0022

Avgb

Arg (mg)

0.24 (0.17–0.28)

 

0.19

1

−0.05

< 0.0001*

 

O-RESTRICT

Mina

CP (g)

5.75 (4.94–6.35)

3.97

0

−1.75

< 0.0001

 

4.96

1

−0.76

< 0.0001

Arg (mg)

0.15 (0.13–0.17)

 

0.19

16

0.04

< 0.0001

 

Chol (mg)

55.26 (47.36–60.80)

50

2

−4.82

0.0001

 

63

16

8.18

< 0.0001

Maxc

CP (g)

5.89 (4.94–6.58)

3.97

0

−1.90

< 0.0001

4.96

1

−0.91

< 0.0001

Arg (mg)

0.15 (0.13–0.17)

 

0.19

16

0.04

< 0.0001

 

Chol (mg)

56.93 (47.36–63.06)

50

1

−6.25

< 0.0001

 

63

15

6.75

< 0.0001

Avgb

CP (g)

5.83 (4.94–6.58)

3.97

0

−1.82

< 0.0001

 

4.96

1

−0.83

< 0.0001

Arg (mg)

0.15 (0.13–0.17)

 

0.19

16

0.38

< 0.0001

 

Chol (mg)

55.98 (47.36–63.0)

50

1

−5.47

< 0.0001

 

63

15

7.53

< 0.0001

  1. The daily intake of all essential nutrients was calculated from each cat’s food intake and the average nutrient content of the diet (Table 5) and expressed per kg BW ^0.67. Results are written as median (range)
  2. CP Crude protein, Arg Arginine, Phe + Tyr Phenylalanine plus tyrosine, Thre Threonine, Chol Choline, Min Minimum, Avg Average, Max Maximum, Req Requirement, No. Less Number less, Diff Difference, MR Minimum requirement, AI Adequate intake, RA Recommended allowance
  3. *Not normally distributed, expressed as signed-rank
  4. aMinimum daily intake defined as the least daily intake that the cat consumed during the maintenance period
  5. bAverage daily intake was defined as the mean daily intake for the whole maintenance period
  6. cMaximum daily intake defined as the greatest daily intake that the cat consumed during the maintenance period
  7. d All requirements are expressed as the unite stated per kg BW^0.67
  8. eThe number of cats with nutrient intakes less than the NRC cut-off based upon minimum, maximum and average daily intakes, respectively
  9. f Mean difference between intake and NRC requirement
  10. g Minimum requirement: the minimal concentration of a maximally bioavailable nutrient that will support a defined physiological state [4]
  11. hAdequate intake: the concentration of nutrient demonstrated to support a defined physiological state when no minimal requirement has been demonstrated [4]
  12. i Recommended allowance: the concentration of nutrient demonstrated to support a defined physiological stage [4]