VETN 211B: Carbohydrates, Fats, Proteins

What are the 3 types of fats?

1. Simple

2. Compound

3. Derived

Simple fats are…

Triglyecerides

The higher the quality of protein…

The less quantity will be needed

What are the forms of polysaccharides?

They are classified/complex carbohydrates

• Starches

• Sugars - glycogen

• Dietary fiber

What is the essential amino acid for cats?

Taurine

Are oligosaccharides easy for animals to digest?

False

What are some fat’s functions?

• Source of energy

• Forms structural component of cell membranes

• Absorbs vitamins A, E, D, K

• Source of EFA (essential fatty acids)

What are monosaccharides?

Simple sugars

What is the ideal diet in regards to carbs for a cat is?

Low carbs, high protein

Do cats catabolize amino acids at a slower rate than dogs?

No

What is a major source of energy?

Carbohydrates

What are disaccharides?

Two sugars linked together

What are the classifications of carbohydrates?

• Monosaccharides

• Disaccharides

• Oligosaccharides

• Polysaccharides

What happens to excess carbs?

They are converted to body fat and stored

What are some purposes of carbs?

• Energy source for tissues

• Proper functioning of CNS

• Emergency energy source for the heart muscle

• Sole energy for RBCs

• Source of heat

• Stored as glycogen or converted to fat (excess)

Lipids that are solid at room temp are…

Fats

Lipids that are liquid are room temp are…

Oil

What are the functions of fat?

• Structural component of cell membranes

• Source of energy storage

• Absorbs/carries fat soluble vitamins (ADEK)

• Source of EFA

• Insulator

• Transport of nutrients and metabolites across membranes (lipoproteins)

Triglycerides are…

3 fatty acids linked to one molecule of glycerol

Fatty acids with no double bonds of C atoms are…

Saturated fats

Fatty acids with 1 or more double bond C atoms are called…

Unsaturated fats

What are compound fats and an example?

They are fatty acid linked to a phospholipid → transport of fats through bloodstream

• Ex: Lipoproteins

What are derived fats and what is an example?

They are sterol compounds

• Cholesterol

• Fat soluble vitamins - ADEK

What does cholesterol do?

Form bile salts for fat digestion/absorption

What are the essential fatty acids and for which animal? (EFA)

Omega 3 (alpha-linoleic acid) - dogs

Omega 6 (linoleic acid) - dogs

Arachidonic acid (Omega 6) - cats

What is the non-essential and saturated EFA?

Omega 9

What are the functions of EFAs?

• Synthesis of prostaglandins and leukotrins

• Improve skin condition*

Why can’t cats be sole vegetarians?

They need arachidonic acid or Omega 6 and they can only get them from animals fats (or meat)

What are proteins?

Linear polymers made up of a lot of amino acids connected by a peptide bond

Dipeptide, tripeptide, polypeptide

What are the classifications of proteins?

1. Simple

2. Conjugated

What are examples of simple proteins?

• Albumin

• Collagen

• Elastin

What are examples of conjugated proteins?

• Glycoproteins

• Lipoproteins

• Phosphoproteins

• Chromoproteins

• Nucleoproteins

Anything + proteins

What are amino acids?

Building blocks for proteins

What are amino acids composed of?

C, H, O, N

What are essential amino acids?

They don’t synthesize the specific amino acid and they need it in diet

Wha are non-essential amino acids?

They can synthesize them on their own so they don’t need it in their diet

What are some functions of amino acids?

• Major structural components of integument

• Regulation of muscle action (actin/myosin)

• Hormones

• Enzymes essential for nutrient digestion and assimilation

• carrier substances in blood

• Acid-base balance

Why do cats require a higher level of protein?

They break down or catabolize amino acids at a higher rate (fixed rate)

The higher the quality of the protein in the diet…

The less quantity that will be needed by the animal

How is biologic value of protein determined?

By the % of absorbed protein that stays in the body

What is the function of taurine in cats?

Bile acid conjugation to aid in the digestion of fats

Normal retinal function

Where is taurine found?

In animal tissues

• So diets high in plant products and cereal grains may not provide enough taurine

Why do cats need taurine?

They have a limited ability to synthesize them

Why do cats need more taurine when fed canned food?

When processing canned foods, the heat can damage the proteins inside and degrade the taurine → less taurine from food