The cat as a model for studying human obesity and diabetes - (10/10/06)
Document Actions
Obesity and diabetes are very common in humans and cats, and their prevalence is increasing sharply in both species. This review examines comparative aspects of feline and human energy metabolism as well as the pathophysiology of obesity and diabetes so as to identify causative and protective factors. Recent experiments show that feline glucose metabolism is more similar and lipid metabolism less similar to that of humans as previously thought, which may explain why classic metabolic syndrome does not occur in cats. According to the authors, the cat is an excellent model for studying human obesity and diabetes.
