Table 2.
Betaine, choline, TMAO and renal markers in CKD-susceptible felids and CKD-protected hibernating bears in comparison to CKD stage 3 patients.
| N | Captive lions | Captive tigers | Hibernating free-ranging brown bears | Patients with CKD stage 3 | p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 11 | 15 | 30 | ||
| Age (years) | 5.0 (3.0) | 2.5 (1.5) | 3.2 (1.1) | 58.7 (31.1)a,b,c | < 0.001 |
| Sex (male/female) | 6/5 | 7/4 | 4/11 | 22/8 | 0.028 |
| Body weight (kg) | 155 (33) | 110 (30) | 48 (24)a,b | 78 (20)a,c | < 0.001 |
| Body temperature (°C) | 38.5 (0.9) | 40.3 (1.7) | 32.9 (2.0)a,b | – | < 0.001 |
| Creatinine (µmol/l) | 175 (81) | 173 (41) | 206 (50)b | 173 (55)c | 0.008 |
| Urea (mmol/l) | 8.5 (2.9) | 7.6 (1.8) | 3.5 (5.0) | 14.3 (4.0)c | < 0.001 |
| Betaine (ng/µl) | 7.9 (2.5) | 7.5 (1.0) | 47.7 (36.5)a,b | 8.6 (4.3)c | < 0.001 |
| Choline (ng/µl) | 9.2 (5.2) | 9.2 (33.9) | 4.0 (1.4)a,b | 6.3 (2.6)c | < 0.001 |
| TMAO (ng/µl) | 0.13 (0.16) | 0.16 (0.14) | 0.00 (0.00) | 0.80 (0.90)a,b,c | < 0.001 |
Betaine, choline, TMAO, and renal markers in different animal species with a chronic kidney disease (CKD)-like status, e.g. in captive lions, captive tigers, and hibernating, free-ranging brown bears, as well as in patients with CKD stage 3. CKD, Chronic kidney disease; all other abbreviations as indicated in Table 1. Values for median (interquartile range) or total number are shown. Continuous parameters were analysed by Kruskal–Wallis test followed by post-hoc analysis, whereas Chi-squared-test was used for all categorical variables. p values for overall group differences are depicted. Letters in superscript indicate p < 0.05 as compared to captive lionsa, captive tigersb, or hibernating, free-ranging brown bearsc in post-hoc tests.