Effect of Dietary Methylsulfonylmethane Supplementation on Growth Performance, Hair Quality, Fecal Microbiota, and Metabolome in Ragdoll Kittens
July 2022
in “
Frontiers in Microbiology
”
TLDR MSM supplementation in kittens improves hair quality and growth rate without harming their health.
The research studied the effects of dietary Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) supplementation on 21 Ragdoll kittens' growth, hair quality, fecal microbiota, and metabolome. The kittens were divided into three groups: control (0% MSM), low dose (0.2% MSM), and high dose (0.4% MSM) for 65 days. The study found that MSM supplementation increased food intake without affecting the kittens' health. It also improved hair quality, making it smoother and glossier. Hair growth was faster in the high MSM group from day 0 to day 35, but slowed down from day 36 to day 65. The low MSM group showed slower hair growth from day 0 to day 35 but developed faster from day 36 to day 65. The study concluded that a high dose of MSM (0.4%) is suitable for short-term use, and a low dose (0.2%) is more suitable for long-term inclusion. MSM had no detrimental influence on the gastrointestinal health of kittens. Further research is needed to systematically elucidate the beneficial effects of MSM treatment, particularly 0.2% MSM, on kittens.