Table 4 Taurine status (in μmol/L) as assessed in whole blood, plasma and urine (fresh and pooled). Values are means with 95% confidence intervals for each diet group (Control, n = 5; Test, n = 6) and sampling time (baseline and 3, 14 and 28/30 days), as well as results of the statistical analysis (es). Parameters measured in fresh urine samples are from fasted dogs

Whole blood taurine

Baseline

181

(155, 211)

205

(178, 236)

–

–

Day 3

188

(161, 219)

205

(179, 236)

NS

NS

Day 14

233*

(200, 271)

253*

(220, 291)

< 0.001

NS

Day 28

217*

(186, 253)

211

(183, 242)

NS

NS

Plasma taurine

Baseline

98.2

(65.6, 147)

109

(75.4, 157)

–

–

Day 3

92.1

(61.5, 138)

120

(83.0, 173)

NS

NS

Day 14

88.7

(59.2, 133)

161*

(111, 233)

0.011

0.048

Day 28

126

(84.3, 189)

120

(83.0, 173)

NS

NS

Fresh urine taurine

Baseline

523

(152, 1800)

740

(239, 2290)

–

–

Day 3

1350

(391, 4640)

326

(105, 1010)

NS

0.033

Day 14

1250

(363, 4310)

1540

(499, 4770)

NS

NS

Day 28

547

(159, 1890)

451

(146, 1400)

NS

NS

Fresh urine Tau: Creat ratio

Baseline

0.112

(0.039, 0.321)

0.114

(0.044, 0.298)

–

–

Day 3

0.164

(0.057, 0.469)

0.028*

(0.011, 0.074)

< 0.001

< 0.001

Day 14

0.131

(0.046, 0.374)

0.106

(0.041, 0.277)

NS

NS

Day 28

0.053

(0.019, 0.153)

0.026*

(0.010, 0.067)

< 0.001

NS

Pooled urine taurine

Baseline

598

(214, 1670)

1300

(508, 3330)

–

–

Day 30

611

(218, 1710)

282*

(110, 721)

< 0.001

< 0.001