ENERGY-EXPENDITURE IN DOGS WITH LYMPHOMA FED 2 SPECIALIZED DIETS

Background. Cancer-caused cachexia has been reported to be caused in p art by an increase in energy expenditure, and diets with nutrient prof iles containing 30-50% nonprotein calories as fat instead of carbohydr ate may exacerbate this state of inefficient energy utilization. Metho ds. Indirect calorimetry was performed on 22 dogs with high-grade lymp hoblastic lymphoma that were randomized into a blind study and fed iso caloric amounts of a high-fat diet (Diet A) or a high-carbohydrate die t (Diet B) before and after remission was attained with up to five dos es of doxorubicin chemotherapy (30 mg/m2 intravenously). Indirect calo rimetry was also performed on 30 normal dogs for comparison. Results. During the initial evaluation period, the resting energy expenditure ( REE/kg0.75, P < 0.05) and respiratory quotient (RQ, P < 0.05) were sig nificantly lower than in the controls. Six weeks after the start of th e study, the REE/kg0.75 and oxygen consumption VO2/kg0.75) were signif icantly (P < 0.05) lower in both groups of dogs with lymphoma compared with the controls. The RQ determined 6 weeks after the start of the s tudy for the dogs fed Diet A was significantly (P < 0.05) lower compar ed with that in the controls evaluated at the same time. When the two groups of dogs with lymphoma were compared with each other, there was no significant difference in any of the outcomes. The REE/kg0.75 and V O2/kg0.75 values were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the group fed Diet A after the third evaluation period compared with the second eval uation. The REE/kg0.75 and VO2/kg0.75 values were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the group given Diet B at the fourth evaluation period c ompared with the fifth. Conclusions. These data suggest that energy ex penditure of dogs with lymphoma decreases transiently in response to c hemotherapy and remission, but these values are less than those determ ined in normal dogs and not altered significantly by diet.