L-Carnitine

kittylover77

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Your Cat May Need Supplemental Carnitine

• A new study shows that the amount of L-carnitine in commercial cat food is insufficient to protect the liver. Researchers gave obese cats approximately 150 mg of L-carnitine per quarter pound of food versus the approximate 5 mg approved for commercial cat food. The higher amount approaches what cats would get from a natural diet. The added carnitine had significant effects on liver function, specifically the utilization of fatty acids. For obese cats, supplemental carnitine is essential. They are prone to developing anorexia, which leads to the life-threatening condition, hepatic lipidosis, where fat builds up in the liver. Cats with this condition have drastic alterations in fatty acids, with liver triglycerides off the chart. Cats given adequate amounts of L-carnitine have a much better ability to weather this metabolic crisis. Supplement L-carnitine suppresses these drastic alterations in lipids.

• L-carnitine also maintains good metabolic function during obesity. When cats become obese on a commercial diet, carnitine levels shoot up drastically in the liver. This is apparently because the amino acid is not being utilized: normally it carries fat for fuel. But cats maintained on natural high levels of L-carnitine everyday in their diet don't have drastic increases of unused carnitine in their liver when they become obese. Their carnitine levels remain steady, indicating less stress on the system, and better metabolism.

http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2002/...t_dhea_01.html

This sounds very interesting, now I am wondering if its worth to seek out the foods with 150mg or more of carnitine.

What are your opinions?
 

sharky

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many higher end wt control and indoor formulas already have it ... Not for thin cats
 
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kittylover77

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Ah, I only saw a few Nutro formulas mentioning such high amounts of L-Carnitine, and a few new Wellness formulas.
The rest have much much less amounts (30-40mg).
 

jennyr

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My Ellie has been on Carnitine for a month now, in liquid form as a supplement, to help her GAIN weight. The vet says it helps metabolise her foods better. With that and hte special C-Diet she is on, she is slowly gaining weight, I can't see her spine any more, which I am really glad about.
 

whuckleberry

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Originally Posted by kittylover77

Ah, I only saw a few Nutro formulas mentioning such high amounts of L-Carnitine, and a few new Wellness formulas.
The rest have much much less amounts (30-40mg).
Bear in mind that most cat food lables list L-carnitine per kilogram, not per quarter pound as mentioned in your quote from the article. 150 mg per kg is much less than 150 mg per quarter pound.

Also, jennyranson, that's very interesting about using it to gain weight. I wonder how it can help with both gain and loss.
 

sharky

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It should increase lean muscle mass in thin cats.... and aid in fat metabolism in chubby cats... The cats I worry about are the right wt .... My Kandie lost 2lb s in like six weeks ...only diet difference was a food with l carnitine
 
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kittylover77

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My kitties weight is very stubborn.
With recommendation of this forum, I am trying high quality wet foods, but also want to introduce the dry that will help with weight loss as well.
She is not too thrilled with wet foods so far anyways, just like the previous time I tried this.

I realize the amount of L-Carnitine in that article is really large, but I figure if I just find the food with the most of it already included in it, thats a good start.
The largest I have seen is 150mg/kg.

Does anyone know of any foods with larger amount than that, without including liquid supplements?


Thanks!!
 

whuckleberry

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Originally Posted by sharky

It should increase lean muscle mass in thin cats.... and aid in fat metabolism in chubby cats... The cats I worry about are the right wt .... My Kandie lost 2lb s in like six weeks ...only diet difference was a food with l carnitine
Ok, that makes sense as muscle weighs a lot. What a dramatic effect with Kandie, definitely something to keep in mind.
 
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kittylover77

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Wow.
Performatrin Ultra Slim Care Salmon & Olive oil has 675 mg/kg min of L-Carnitine!

Guaranteed Analysis
NUTRIENT \t
Crude Protein \t33.0% min
Crude Fat \t10.0% min
Crude Fiber \t5.0% max
Moisture \t10.0% max
Ash \t6.0% max
Leucine \t2.2% min
Taurine \t0.2% min
Calcium \t0.8% min
Phosphorus \t0.6% min
Magnesium \t0.09% max
Vitamin E \t200 IU/kg min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* \t6.5% min
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* \t2.4% min
Glucosamine* \t400 mg/kg min
Chondroitin Sulfate* \t100 mg/kg min
Carnitine* \t675 mg/kg min

Ingredients:
* Salmon
* Salmon Meal
* Whole Brown Rice
* Oatmeal
* Chicken Meal
* Dried Egg Product
* Pearled Barley
* Herring Meal
* Dried Potato Product
* Brewers Dried Yeast
* Dehydrated Vegetables (Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach)
* Dried Whey Protein Concentrate
* Green Peas
* Alfalfa Meal
* Olive Oil (stabilized with mixed tocopherols)
* Chicken Cartilage (source of Chondroitin)
* Whole Cranberries
* Lentils
* Sunflower Oil (stabilized with mixed tocopherols)
* Canola Oil (stabilized with mixed tocopherols)
* Fresh Whole Sweet Potato
* Fresh Whole Carrots
* Whole Blueberries
* Kelp
* Fresh Whole Apples
* Whole Flaxseed
* Sea Salt
* DL-Methionine
* Chicory Root Extract
* L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)
* Green Tea Extract
* L-Carnitine
* Glucosamine Hydrochloride
* Taurine
* Lecithin
* L-Leucine
* Lactobacillus Acidophilus
* Bacillus Subtilis
* Bifidobacterium Thermophilum
* Bifidobacterium Longum
* Enterococcus Faecium
* Spirulina
* Vitamin E Supplement
* Yucca Schidigera Extract
* Choline Chloride
* Zinc Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc)
* Iron Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron)
* Rosemary
* Manganese Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese)
* Basil
* Sage
* Dandelion
* Potassium Chloride
* Copper Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper)
* Niacin
* Vitamin B12 Supplement
* Vitamin A Supplement
* Calcium Pantothenate
* Thiamine Hydrochloride
* Riboflavin
* Cobalt Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Cobalt)
* Vitamin D3 Supplement
* Folic Acid
* Biotin
* Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
* Potassium Iodine
* Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity)
* Sodium Selenite

I've never heard of this food, is it any good?
 

sharky

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Do you want it discected or an overall looks good??
 
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kittylover77

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Sharky, I value your opinion very highly.
If you have a second to dissect it, please, I'd really appreciate it.
 

sharky

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Guaranteed Analysis
NUTRIENT
Crude Protein 33.0% min... Good I like higher but this is solid
Crude Fat 10.0% min... touch low
Crude Fiber 5.0% max
Moisture 10.0% max
Ash 6.0% max.. good
Leucine 2.2% min
Taurine 0.2% min... GREAT
Calcium 0.8% min
Phosphorus 0.6% min... very nice
Magnesium 0.09% max.. the highest I like to see
Vitamin E 200 IU/kg min
Omega 6 Fatty Acids* 6.5% min... WOWOWOW
Omega 3 Fatty Acids* 2.4% min.. WOW
Glucosamine* 400 mg/kg min... good
Chondroitin Sulfate* 100 mg/kg min.. good though my vet swears it isnt needed
Carnitine* 675 mg/kg min..
WOW

Ingredients:
* Salmon.. with cooking falls around the egg
Salmon Meal
* Whole Brown Rice
* Oatmeal
* good grains
Chicken Meal
* Dried Egg Product
* Pearled Barley grain with protein like wheat okay if no allergies
* Herring Meal
* Dried Potato Product I Have to question what it truely is...
* Brewers Dried Yeast
* Dehydrated Vegetables (Carrot, Celery, Beet, Parsley, Lettuce, Watercress, Spinach)
* Dried Whey Protein Concentrate DAIRY derived
* Green Peas
* Alfalfa Meal
some are allergic and tumy trouble can happen
* Olive Oil (stabilized with mixed tocopherols)
* Chicken Cartilage (source of Chondroitin) Good in theroy but EVAN my raw eaters WONT eat
* Whole Cranberries Prefer powder as it is more concentrated
* Lentils a legume like alfalfa and soy many allergies
* Sunflower Oil (stabilized with mixed tocopherols)
* Canola Oil (stabilized with mixed tocopherols) Not a fan
* Fresh Whole Sweet Potato
* Fresh Whole Carrots
* Whole Blueberries
* Kelp
* Fresh Whole Apples
* Whole Flaxseed
* Sea Salt
* DL-Methionine

* Chicory Root Extract
* L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C)
* Green Tea Extract
* L-Carnitine
* Glucosamine Hydrochloride
* Taurine
* Lecithin
* L-Leucine
* Lactobacillus Acidophilus
* Bacillus Subtilis
* Bifidobacterium Thermophilum
* Bifidobacterium Longum
* Enterococcus Faecium

* Spirulina
* Vitamin E Supplement
* Yucca Schidigera Extract
* Choline Chloride
* Zinc Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Zinc)
* Iron Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Iron)
* Rosemary can cause stomach issues
* Manganese Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Manganese)
Basil
* Sage see rosemary
* Dandelion
* Potassium Chloride
* Copper Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Copper)
* Niacin
* Vitamin B12 Supplement
* Vitamin A Supplement
* Calcium Pantothenate
* Thiamine Hydrochloride
* Riboflavin
* Cobalt Amino-Acid Complex (source of Chelated Cobalt)
* Vitamin D3 Supplement
* Folic Acid
* Biotin
* Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
* Potassium Iodine
* Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity) some worry about this ... I dont when it is in the last of the ingrediants
* Sodium Selenite

meat to grain is ration is good... a bit veggie heavy ( would be great for those prone to hairballs)
 
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kittylover77

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Thank you sharky! you rawk.

Can you tell I am getting desperate.
My kitty has one of those flyaway bellies that is almost touching the floor these days.
 

jean44

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Originally Posted by sharky

It should increase lean muscle mass in thin cats.... and aid in fat metabolism in chubby cats... The cats I worry about are the right wt .... My Kandie lost 2lb s in like six weeks ...only diet difference was a food with l carnitine
I think my Kolohe and Eric need something like that. Both are overweight and not losing on a wet food diet, primarily Natural Balance non-fish flavors. They also both have issues with crystals. I'm hiding S/D and C/D in their wet food. Eric is also diabetic. I've been able to control his blood glucose with a high protein, low carb wet food diet.

Do you know of any wet foods that contain l-carnitine that will fit with their other dietary issues. My vet is no help. I'll also do a Google search but I trust your judgment about food. Thank you!
 
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kittylover77

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Originally Posted by Jean44

I think my Kolohe and Eric need something like that. Both are overweight and not losing on a wet food diet, primarily Natural Balance non-fish flavors. They also both have issues with crystals. I'm hiding S/D and C/D in their wet food. Eric is also diabetic. I've been able to control his blood glucose with a high protein, low carb wet food diet.

Do you know of any wet foods that contain l-carnitine that will fit with their other dietary issues. My vet is no help. I'll also do a Google search but I trust your judgment about food. Thank you!
I'm no sharky, but I think all nutro indoor/senior canned formulas have l-carnitine.
I'm sure sharky will suggest more choices.
 
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