Fish oil supplementation maintains adequate plasma arachidonate in cats, but similar amounts of vegetable oils lead to dietary arachidonate deficiency from nutrient dilution.

Because fatty acid (FA) metabolism of cats is unique, effects of dietary fish and vegetable oil supplementation on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, lecithin/cholesterol acyl transferase activities, and plasma phospholipid and esterified cholesterol (EC) FAs were investigated. Cats were fed a commercial diet supplemented with 8 g oil/100 g diet for 4 weeks using either high-oleic-acid sunflower oil (diet H), Menhaden fish oil (diet M), or safflower oil (diet S). When supplemented, diet M contained sufficient arachidonate (AA), but diets H and S were deficient.

Plasma LCAT activity and lipid subfraction composition in obese beagles undergoing weight loss.

The relationship between lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity and weight loss in dogs was investigated. Four experimental weight-loss diets were fed to 12 obese female beagles for 56 days in a partial crossover design (n = 6). High- (HGI) or low- (LGI) glycemic index starch and diacylglycerol or triacylglycerol oils were combined to compose experimental diets with similar fatty acid profiles.