Effect of Renoprotective Amino Acids and a Dipeptide on Disease Progression, Nutritional Status, and Blood-Serum Phosphate Concentration in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Low-protein, low-phosphorus therapeutic diets (TDs) are often recommended for cats (Felis catus) with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in an attempt to slow disease progression. Studies in humans with CKD reveal that dietary supplementation with certain amino acids slows or prevents time-related increases in blood-serum creatinine concentration (SCr) and phosphate concentration (PHOS). The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of a renoprotective amino acid and a dipeptide complex (AB070597) on disease progression, PHOS, and protein oxidation/nitrogen-balance in non-protein, non-phosphorus-restricted diet cats with CKD. The treatment group included 67 privately-owned domestic cats with SCr and clinical signs consistent with CKD. A retrospective control group included 57 non-AB070597-treated CKD cats. Cats in the treatment group received 300-mg oral bi-daily doses of AB070597 for up to 104 weeks. SCr and PHOS were measured at approximate 12-week intervals.Treated cats experienced significantly reduced SCr (mg/dL) from baseline during all observation periods (P≤0.004), except week 12 (P=0.054). The overall least squares mean (LS-mean) difference between treatment and control groups was-0.5 (P<0.001). When International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) disease stage was expressed as LS-means change-frombaseline, treatment values were negative, whereas control values were positive, indicating a decline in stage for treatment and an increase for controls. The overall difference at 104 weeks for treatment was-0.4 (P<0.001). Treatment group mean and median PHOS (mg/dL) declined from baseline-1.3 (P < 0.002) and-0.2 (P <0.002), respectively, at 104 weeks, whereas control group mean and median values increased 0.14 (P<0.004) and 0.3 (P<0.002), respectively. Treatment group cats' body weights (kg, standard deviation [SD]) remained stable: mean change (0.0, 0.75), P<0.001; while controls lost weight: mean change (-0.9, 1.07), P <0.001.Oral supplementation of renoprotective amino acids and a specific dipeptide prevented disease progression, maintained nutritional status, and preserved PHOS homeostasis in treated cats and may benefit the greater population of companion cats diagnosed with CKD.