Introduction

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3, is essential for metabolic processes; when present in the diet it reduces chronic inflammation. Altering the ratio and intake of omega-3 and omega-6 can modulate and control the severity of inflammation. Acute-phase proteins appear early in the blood during inflammatory processes and may act as early and reliable indicators of the presence, degree and time course of any form of inflammatory disease or inflammation.

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of DHA in the inflammatory response of cats undergoing castration.

Methods

Forty cats were divided into five groups receiving diets supplemented with different levels (0 to 0.9%) of DHA, and after 60 days of castration. Blood samples were collected preoperatively and 3 days after surgery for quantification and evaluation of acute-phase proteins by electrophoretic fractionation on SDS-PAGE.

Results

The serum ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and transferrin increased 55%, 32% and 85%, respectively, after surgery, while albumin concentrations decreased by 4% and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein was not changed.

Conclusions

Supplementation with DHA in cats was not effective to prevent or reduce inflammation caused by castration and confirmed by the changes in acute-phase proteins.