Use of the breath hydrogen test to assess the effect of age on orocecal transit time and carbohydrate assimilation in cats

Abstract

Objective - To evaluate the effect of age on orocecal transit time (OCTT) in cats, using the breath hydrogen test, and to assess potential differences in nutrient absorption. Animals - 27 healthy cats. Procedure - Cats were allocated to the following 3 groups on the basis of age: group A (9 kittens 5 to 7 months old), group B (9 young adults 3 to 5 years old) and group C (9 older cats, 12 to 15 years old). Cats were fed a standard canned diet for 2 weeks prior T measurement of OCTT. Exhaled hydrogen concentration (parts per minute [ppm•min]) was monitored for 8 hours after feeding 60 g of the canned diet. Results - Mean OCTT in group-A cats was 203 minutes (range 90 to 345 minutes), which was significantly different from that in group-B (317 minutes; range, 180 to 435 minutes) and group-C (309 minutes; range, 225 to 375 minutes) cats. Median area under the breath hydrogen excretion time curve (ppm•min) for the 8-hour monitoring period first 45 minutes and 105 minutes after OCTT for the 3 groups was not significantly different among groups. Conclusions - Kittens had significantly faster OCTT than did adult cats.