Effect of age, sex and body weight on the serum concentrations of cobalamin and folate in cats consuming a consistent diet

Objectives Multiple feline diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver and biliary tract are known to cause abnormal serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. Measuring the serum concentration of these vitamins can therefore be a helpful diagnostic tool. However, factors other th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2018-02, Vol.20 (2), p.135-141
Main Authors: Hill, Sarah A, Cave, Nicholas J, Forsyth, Sandra
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animals
Body Weight
Cats
Diet - veterinary
Female
Folic Acid - blood
Male
Nutritional Status
Original
Reference Values
Sex Factors
Vitamin B 12 - blood
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Summary:Objectives Multiple feline diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, liver and biliary tract are known to cause abnormal serum cobalamin and folate concentrations. Measuring the serum concentration of these vitamins can therefore be a helpful diagnostic tool. However, factors other than disease, in particular age, have also been suggested to have an effect on the serum concentration of cobalamin and folate. In previous studies, the dietary intake was not standardised, or even known, despite diet being the prinicpal source of both vitamins. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of age, sex and body weight on the serum concentration of folate and cobalamin in cats fed the same diet. Methods The serum cobalamin and folate concentrations were measured in 65 apparently healthy cats in a nutrition colony that had been fed an identical diet. A linear model was used to test the relationship between the serum concentration of cobalamin and folate with the variables age, sex and body weight. Results There was a large variation in the serum concentration of both folate and cobalamin, despite identical intake. Serum cobalamin was inversely associated with age (P = 0.002), and males had higher concentrations than females (P = 0.039). Serum folate was positively associated with age (P = 0.01). Conclusions and relevance Independent of diet, serum cobalamin concentration decreases with age. Changes in gastrointestinal function, microflora or metabolism may be responsible. Older cats may be more susceptible to cobalamin deficiency secondary to inappetence or gastrointestinal disease.
ISSN:1098-612X
1532-2750
DOI:10.1177/1098612X17699680