THERAPEUTIC USES
A study in the 1998 journal, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, reported that chondroitin sulfate is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis. Because chondroitin production by the body decreases with aging, supplementation with this compound may be especially helpful for older pets with arthritis.

SOURCE
Animal cartilage is the only dietary source of chondroitin.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
For years, experts stated that oral chondroitin couldn’t work because its molecules are so big that it seemed doubtful they could be absorbed through the digestive tract. However, in 1995, researchers laid this objection to rest when they found evidence that up to 15 percent of chondroitin is absorbed intact. Another study found that up to 70 percent of radio-labeled chondroitin sulfate was well absorbed and showed affinity for articular (joint) cartilage. This evidence for chondroitin absorption holds true for pets as well as people.

The effect of both oral and injected chondroitin was assessed in rabbits with damaged cartilage in the knee. After 84 days of treatment, the rabbits that were given chondroitin had significantly more healthy cartilage remaining in the damaged knee than the untreated animals. Receiving chondroitin by mouth was as effective as taking it through an injection. It appears quite likely that chondroitin can slow the progression of osteoarthritis. However, more studies are needed to confirm this very exciting possibility. It would also be wonderful if chondroitin could repair damaged cartilage and thus reverse arthritis, but none of the research so far shows such an effect. Chondroitin may simply stop further destruction from occurring.

How does chondroitin work for osteoarthritis? Scientists are unsure how chondroitin sulfate works, but one of several theories (or all of them) might explain its mode of action. At its most basic level, chondroitin may help cartilage by providing it with the building blocks it needs to repair itself. It is also believed to block enzymes that break down cartilage in the joints. Another theory holds that chondroitin increases the amount of hyaluronic acid in the joints. Hyaluronic acid is a protective fluid that keeps the joints lubricated. Finally, chondroitin may have a mild anti-inflammatory effect.

Chondroitin is often added to supplements containing glucosamine. While significant studies are lacking, some doctors (but not all) feel adding chondroitin to glucosamine enhance the ability of both substances to repair cartilage due to a synergistic effect.

SAFETY ISSUES
Chondroitin sulfate, like glucosamine, has not been associated with any serious side effects. Mild digestive distress appears to be the only real concern in people and possibly pets.

The post Chondroitin for Pet Care appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

THERAPEUTIC USES
Bilberry is most commonly taken internally in people to help with disorders of the eyes, including macular degeneration and cataract formation due to its antioxidant effects. Its flavonoid compounds (anthocyanosides) are the most pharmacologically active. These flavonoids have several effects, including collagen stabilization (due to their vitamin C content), which may make them useful for pets with arthritis. Other effects include improved capillary strength (once again due to vitamin C), decreased platelet clumping, lowering of blood sugar (making it potentially useful for diabetic pets), and protective effects against gastric ulcers (due to increased mucus production). Bilberry’s anthocyanosides have a special attraction to the retina, which may explain this herb’s apparent usefulness in eye diseases.

Bilberry is used throughout Europe today for the treatment of poor night vision and day blindness in people. Regular use of bilberry is also thought to help prevent of treat other eye diseases such a macular regeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.

European physicians additionally believe that bilberry’s blood vessel stabilizing properties also make it useful as a treatment before surgery to reduce bleeding complications, as well as for other blood vessel problems such as easy bruising, but the evidence as yet is only suggestive. On the basis of very limited evidence, bilberry has also been suggested as a treatment for improving blood sugar control in people with diabetes, as well as for reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.

Bilberry can be tried in pets with cataracts (combining it with other antioxidants including vitamin E), arthritis, ulcers, and diabetes (if not yet on hypoglycemic therapy).

SAFETY ISSUES
Bilberry is a food and as such is quite safe. Do not use in pets on hypoglycemic therapy without veterinary supervision. In people, rare side effects such as mild digestive distress, skin rashes, and drowsiness can be seen. Safety in patients with severe liver or kidney disease is not known.

• There are no known drug interactions.
• Bilberry does not appear to interfere with blood clotting.

The post Bilberry for Pet Eye Health, Arthritis & More appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Vitamin D in food or supplements is converted into an active form by ultraviolet light from the sun acting on the vitamin D precursor located in the skin, and then metabolism by the liver and kidney.

Vitamin D is both a vitamin and a hormone. It is a vitamin because your pet’s body cannot absorb calcium without it; it’s a hormone because your pet’s body manufactures it in response to the skin’s exposure to sunlight. Processed foods contain enough vitamin D and do not need supplementation; homemade diets contain adequate vitamin D due to the recommendation for supplementation with vitamin supplements.

There are two major forms of vitamin D, and both have the word calciferol in their names (in Latin, calciferol means “calcium carrier”). Vitamin D3 is made by the body and is found in some foods. Vitamin D2 is the form most often added to milk and other foods, and the form most likely to be included in synthetic supplements; it is also the form found in plants.

Therapeutic Uses
Vitamin D promotes the intestinal absorption of calcium and subsequent urinary calcium excretion. Reducing dietary phosphorus increases activation of vitamin D, which promotes more intestinal absorption of calcium and urinary calcium excretion. Pets with oxalate urinary (bladder) stones should not be fed diets with restricted levels of dietary phosphorus for this reason.

Vitamin D supplementation is not usually needed as part of a holistic treatment for pets, as vitamin D deficiency is unlikely to occur (unless it occurs as part of calcium deficiency due to the interaction of these compounds). In people, there is reasonably good evidence that the combination of vitamin D and calcium supplements can be quite helpful for preventing and treating osteoporosis (an extremely unlikely disease in most pets). Vitamin D deficiency causes a bone disorder called rickets and osteomalacia. Vitamin D toxicity results in calcification of blood vessels and organs.

Vitamin D and the Skin
Vitamin D is the only vitamin that can be produced in the skin. In the epidermis (outer layer of skin), vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is formed from pro-vitamin D3 (7-dehydrocholesterol) on exposure to sunlight. The cholecalciferol is then transported to the circulation from the skin via the vitamin D-binding protein in plasma. Cholecalciferol is then transported to the liver where it is hydroxylated to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, transported to the kidney, and hydroxylated in 12,25-dihydrovitamin D3, which is used in the regulation in the proliferation and differentiation of the epidermis.

In people, exposure to sunlight provides adequate levels of vitamin D. However, recent research suggests that dogs and cats have low levels of vitamin D activation by UV-B light due to low levels of vitamin D in the skin, indicating that supplementation of vitamin D may be needed.

Sources
Fish liver oil (cod liver oil), cold water fish (such as mackerel, salmon, and herring), butter, egg yolks, dairy products, liver, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes are good sources of vitamin D. Most vegetables provide little vitamin D, but dark green leafy vegetables do contain some. Also green foods and herbs, including horsetail and nettle, contain vitamin D.

Scientific Evidence
Some evidence suggests that vitamin D may help prevent cancer of the breast, colon, pancreas, and prostate, but the research on this question has yielded mixed results. Vitamin D is sometimes mentioned as a treatment for psoriasis. However, this recommendation is based on Danish studies using calcipotriol, a variation of vitamin D3 that is used externally (applied to the skin).

Today, severe vitamin D deficiency in people is rare in the developed world. However, it is sometimes seen in elderly people who don’t get enough sunlight. Marginal vitamin D deficiency may also occur in people who live in northern latitudes and don’t drink vitamin D-enriched milk. Additionally, carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone and phenobarbital (for seizure), corticosteroids, cimetidine (for ulcers), colestipol and cholestyramine (older drugs used for lowering cholesterol), and the antituberculois drug isoniazid (INH) may interfere with vitamin D absorption or activity.

It is unlikely for most pets to develop vitamin D deficiency. Reptiles most commonly develop vitamin D and calcium deficiency due to lack of vitamin D and calcium in the diet, as well as lack of exposure to UV light.

Dosages
AAFCO recommendations for dietary vitamin D are 500 IU/ kg of food for dogs (maintenance, growth, and reproduction) and 500 IU/kg of food (maintenance) to 750 IU/kg of food (reproduction) for cats. Kittens seem to require 250 IU/kg of food, which is less than the current AAFCO recommendations of 750 IU/kg of food.

Safety Issues
When taken at recommended dosages, vitamin D appears to be safe. However, when taken to excess, vitamin D can build up in the body and cause severe symptoms of toxicity. In people, toxic symptoms (ranging from headaches, weight loss, and kidney stone, to deafness, blindness and death) are seen when dosages above 1200 mg daily are taken for long periods of time.

In pets, vitamin D levels should not exceed 10,000 IU/kg of food, although some brands of moist foods exceed this level.

People with sarcoidosis or hyperparathyroidism should never take vitamin D without first consulting a physician. Pets do not get sarcoidosis; however, similar precautions are probably warranted in pets with hyperparathyroidism when taking vitamin D supplements.

Vitamin D toxicity will not occur when using whole food sources rather than synthetic forms of vitamin D.

In people taking anti-seizure drugs (carbamazepine, phenobarbital, primidone, valproic acid or phenytoin), corticosteroids, Coumadin (warfarin), H2 blockers (Zantac, for example), heparin , isoniazid (INH), rifampin, verapamil, or the older cholesterol-lowering drugs colestipol and cholestyramine, there may be a need for extra vitamin D. The same need may also apply to pets, although this has not been well researched and most doctors do not give additional vitamin D to pets taking these medications.

Vitamin D toxicity can occur in pets. The D3 form appears to be more toxic than the D2 form. In reptiles, vitamin D toxicity commonly occurs due to over-supplementation by owners.

In dogs and cats, vitamin D toxicity most commonly results from poisoning with vitamin D rodenticides (rat poison). These poisons cause increased levels of blood calcium that can be fatal.

The post Vitamin D For Pet Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

No matter which type of diet—homemade or processed—is chosen, it must meet at least five requirements:

1. The diet must contain the proper amount and balance of essential nutrients required by the pet.
2. The ingredients must be of high nutritional quality so that the animal can effectively digest, absorb and utilize the dietary nutrients.
3. The diet should be palatable so that the pet will eat it.
4. The diet should contain minimal to no fillers such as animal or plant by-products (or if by-products are present, as in the case of some prescription-type diets for sick pets, the diet should contain the least amount of by-products).
5. The diet should contain no artificial colors, flavors, chemical preservatives or additives, when possible.

No matter which type of diet you choose to feed your pet, it should meet the above requirements.

While many holistic pet owners prefer to cook for their pets, many others must choose a processed diet for a variety of reasons. If you are one of those who must feed processed food, it is important to learn as much as possible about processed pet foods so you can make the most intelligent choice. The following information will be helpful when you make your choice. Processed foods have been around for about 40 to 50 years. Prior to the introduction of processed foods, our pets ate what people ate (or leftovers of what people ate). Many holistic pet owners feel that pets fared much better as a result of these fresher homemade diets and that many diseases (such as immune disorders and arthritis) are diseases of processed food.

Processed foods were introduced (like vitamin-mineral supplements) for two main reasons:

• Convenience
• Prevention/treatment of nutritional diseases.

There is no question that it takes time to prepare properly homemade pet diets and that using processed foods saves pet owners a large amount of time. It is convenient to simply open a can or scoop a cup of food from a bag and feed the pet. Processed foods not only save people time when it comes to food preparation but they make feeding the pet quick and easy.

Processed foods were also introduced to prevent (and treat) nutritional diseases. It takes a lot more than simply tossing him some scraps to give your pet a complete, balanced and nutritional diet. Prior to our understanding of nutrition, people and pets alike suffered from diseases resulting from dietary imbalances.

For example, people who didn’t receive citrus fruits were diagnosed with scurvy as a result of vitamin C deficiency. Pets fed mainly meat developed nutritional osteodystrophy (nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism) as a result of calcium deficiency. Cats fed only fish developed thiamine deficiency and steatitis. By learning about the nutritional needs of pets and formulating balanced diets, you can avoid these nutritional problems. While many of the nutritional diseases seen prior to the introduction of processed diets have been all but eliminated, many holistic veterinarians believe without question that processed foods, specifically those of little nutritional quality and loaded with by-products and chemicals, may actually contribute to a whole new set of problems such as immune diseases, cancers, allergies and arthritis.

Many years ago we had but few choices of processed pet foods. As manufacturers have seen the profit in the pet food industry, we now see more players and many more choices. As well-known manufacturers of pet foods have reaped huge profits, large corporations have purchased the ownership of the foods. As a result, even many conventional veterinarians who promoted certain brands of food in the past have seen a decline in food quality and pet health as the dietary formulations have changed.

For example, let’s take a look at Hill’s Science Diet, formally manufactured by the Morris Company. Science Diets were originally designed as a line of medical, therapeutic diets for pets with medical conditions (the first diets for pets with kidney failure). The company, under the leadership of Dr. Mark Morris, was the first pet food company to look at the potential beneficial role of diet in helping pets with medical disorders—many of which can be managed only by dietary therapy as no drug therapy is available to correct the problem.

Science Diet is now owned by Colgate-Palmolive. In 1986 Hill’s prescription diet formulation and production was still under the direct supervision of Mark Morris Associates. Since that time there have been some major changes. Mark Morris Associates was reformed as an independent group and Colgate-Palmolive made some major marketing changes. About this time, meals started showing up on the ingredient list. Formulations underwent major changes, supposedly for “nutritional” reasons, though most changes seemed to use cheaper ingredients. They violated the basic principle that premium diets are more expensive because they adhere to consistent formulation, regardless of commodity cost. Thus they were “better” than popular diets because the animal wouldn’t be subjected to unexpected variations in the diet, reducing the risk of diarrhea in sensitive animals. Formulations were changed significantly without warning. Many doctors who still promote the Science Diet line believe that current formulations are not of the higher quality they were 15 years ago.

Note: This discussion is not meant to pick on Science Diet, as many of the better—known processed foods are also questioned as to their use for long-term feeding by many holistic veterinarians. These include: Proctor & Gamble (Iams), Colgate-Palmolive (Hills), Nestle (Friskies, Alpo) and Heinz (9 Lives, Nature’s Recipe, Kibbles n Bits). However, since Science Diet is among the better-known foods, it is used here as our example.

While Hill’s (and Iams and a few other well-known brands) used to be the “gold standard” in commercial pet foods, most holistic veterinarians do not recommend their long-term use for most pets.

These companies, as a rule, maintain beautiful, spotless, accredited production facilities. Those facilities aren’t where the problem lies; instead, the raw materials coming in the back door are suspect (not to mention the facilities from whence these raw materials come: slaughterhouses and rendering plants).

Individual pets have specific needs and some do better on one diet than on another. For example, Science Diet is a line of a number of scientifically formulated diets tested on several breeds of dogs during formulation. Some pets can handle their diets, whereas others develop diarrhea, vomiting or itching.

However, the man-made diets are made with human-grade fresh ingredients without the addition of chemical additives, whereas many commercial foods are not made using the best ingredients and have hormones, pesticides and a number of additives. Ultimately, since your pet is an individual, you will need to work with your veterinarian to see just which diet is best for your pet.

Processed foods purport to be complete and balanced. Consumers feed them because they are convenient. Yet processing removes many nutrients (such as enzymes and probiotic bacteria, as well as many of the yet undiscovered phytonutrients) that are not added back to the diet after processing. While most pets can live seemingly normal lives on many processed foods, we have to admit that we really don’t know every nutrient (and every level of nutrient) that every dog or cat needs. Many foods contain ingredients dogs and cats were not designed to eat—for example cereals such as wheat, barley and oatmeal; meat and bone meal; soybean meal; ground corn; soy flour and soy grits. Additionally, many processed foods designed for feeding cats contain large amounts of grain, especially corn. This occurs since grains are less expensive sources of protein than meat. However, cats are true carnivores, not omnivores; even dogs, being more omnivorous than cats, benefit from diets composed of meat. A strict dietary carbohydrate requirement for cats has not even been identified. Many holistic diets point to processed, high-grain cat foods as a cause of diseases such as diabetes, which are much less common in cats that are fed meat-based (true carnivore) diets.

Feeding the better wholesome processed foods (or better yet, homemade diets) supplemented with natural vitamins and minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, enzymes, probiotics, green foods and health blend formulas allow us to match as closely as possible diets consumed by wild relatives of our domestic pets.

There are at least three classifications of processed diets: the least expensive generic diets, the more expensive premium diets and the most expensive natural diets.

Generic diets are the least expensive but also the least healthful for your pet. Manufacturers use the cheapest ingredients possible. These are the foods that contain ingredients such as animal and plant by-products. Generic diets also are more likely to contain numerous preservatives and additives. Once again, read the label. Most generic foods are not fed to pets in feeding trials but rather meet arbitrary nutritional standards. Owners should not consider this type of food because health problems, due to nutritional deficiencies, may result.

Premium foods are available at many pet stores and veterinary hospitals. They usually have higher quality ingredients than do generic diets. However, you must read the label on these foods. While these diets are far better than generic diets, many contain animal and plant products raised with chemicals and hormones. While some of these premium foods can be acceptable choices when properly augmented with natural supplements, they are not usually the first choice of holistic veterinarians and pet owners if the more natural diets are available. For many of these diets, however, the only thing premium about them is the price. Reading the label will help give you some guidelines about which foods to avoid and which ones are appropriate to feed your pet.

The natural diets are the most premium of foods. These diets usually contain nothing artificial—no artificial colors or flavors. They use more expensive ingredients; depending upon the brand, these ingredients are raised organically without chemicals or hormones. However, some of these diets may also rely too much on grains, especially in their diets for cats, making homemade diets the best choice when this option is possible. Because of this insistence on quality and health, natural diets are the best processed foods (and many would argue the only prepared foods) you should feed your pet if you choose not to prepare a homemade diet. (Once again, read the label. Many new companies see the potential profit in making “natural diets,” often leaving it up to the owner or doctor to read the label and pick which foods are truly better for the pets.) Since these natural diets are the most popular with owners seeking a holistic approach to raising pets and the most healthful for the pets, let’s take a closer look at what makes these diets so good for your pet.

The natural diets differ from most other prepared diets in four ways:

• They use only human grade, high-quality ingredients. (Other prepared diets may use by-products of foods processed for but declared “unfit” for use by humans.)
• They use foods, especially grains, in their whole state rather than parts of the foods.
• They use no artificial colors, additives, chemicals or preservatives.
• They formulate diets for optimum nutrition.

In order to appreciate the difference between these three classes of prepared diets, it’s important to learn to read the label and understand the differences behind the ingredients listed in the diets.

The post Healthy Pet Diets appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Pyridoxine affects physical and mental health and is needed for most body functions. It maintains sodium and potassium balance and is necessary in water regulation by the body. It is needed for fat and protein absorption. Vitamin B6 is a coenzyme to over 50 different reactions in the body’s cells transamination (where nitrogen is added to a fatty acid to form an amino acid) and decarboxylation (where a carbon is removed to shorten an amino acid chain).

Pyridoxine promotes red cell production, is needed for normal brain function, and also is needed for DNA and RNA synthesis. Vitamin B6 is needed for the absorption of vitamin B12 and is also used for antibody formations and immune system functioning.

SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE
Homocysteine, which in people is involved in heart muscle damage and the formation of atherosclerosis, is inhibited by pyridoxine. There is convincing evidence in people that an adequate nutritional intake of vitamin B6 (as low as 2 to 4 mg daily) can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. According to data gathered in the Nurses Health Study, one of the largest long-term medical studies ever performed, vitamin B6 supplements can significantly reduce a woman’s risk of developing heart disease. A total of 80,000 women with no history of heart disease were studied for possible links between vitamin B6, folic acid, and the development of heart disease. The results showed that adequate intake of B6 (3 to 4 mg daily) could significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Folic acid was also effective.

As mentioned, vitamin B6 reduces blood levels of homocysteine, a chemical that has been linked to hardening of the arteries and heart disease. At first, it was assumed that the benefits of vitamin B6 were all due to reducing homocysteine. However, a subsequent study found no association between high homocysteine levels and heart disease. Instead, researchers found a connection between heart disease and low levels of vitamin B6. People with the highest levels vitamin in B6 were 25 percent less likely than those with the lowest vitamin levels. This study has led to the hypothesis that is vitamin B6 itself that reduced heart disease risk, and the reduction of homocysteine seen at the same time is simply incidental. However, the matter remains controversial.

Vitamin B6 may help the heart in several ways. Preliminary studies suggest that it can reduce the tendency of platelets in the blood to form clots, and also lower blood pressure to some extent.

A large double-blind study suggests that a higher dose (30 mg daily) of vitamin B6 can reduce the nausea of morning sickness (as can the herb ginger).

Other common uses of B6 are not very well established. For example, vitamin B6 is widely recommended by conventional physicians as a treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome. However, there is little or no evidence that it actually works. Similarly, although B6 is frequently suggested as a treatment for PMS (premenstrual syndrome), there is some fairly good evidence that it doesn’t work for this purpose.

Some natural medicine authorities state that vitamin B6 is a useful treatment for diabetes neuropathy. This idea is based on the fact that B6 deficiency can cause neuropathy, and people with diabetes may be low in B6. However, there is clinical evidence that B6 supplements do not help diabetic neuropathy.

Very weak evidence suggests that B6 may be helpful for depression, allergy to monosodium glutamate (MSG, a highly allergenic food additive used to enhance flavor), asthma, diabetes caused by pregnancy (gestational diabetes), and kidney stones.

A double-blind study of 76 children with asthma found significant benefit after one month. Children in the vitamin B6 group were able to reduce their doses of asthma medication (bronchodilators and steroids).

However, a recent double-blind study of 31 adults who used either inhaled or oral steroids did not show any benefit. The dosages of B6 used in these studies were quite high, in the range of 200 to 300 mg daily. Because the risk of nerve injury, it is not advisable to take this much B6 without medical supervision.

Finally, an interesting series of studies suggests (but certainly don’t prove) that the combination of vitamin B6 and magnesium can be helpful in autism.

THERAPEUTIC USES
Patients with kidney stones made of oxalate can benefit from this vitamin. Like other B vitamins, vitamin B6 may aid in cancer prevention.

In pets, there is no specific indications for additional supplementation with vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 increases the transamination of glyoxylate, which is the precursor of oxalic acid, to glycine. Experimentally induced B6 deficiency predisposes the precipitation of calcium oxalate in the kidneys of kittens. A naturally occurring form of this syndrome, called oxalate precipitation, has not been identified, although B6 dietary deficiency will increase endogenous production of and urinary excretion of oxalic acid. Additional B6 was associated with decreased oxalic acid excretion in diets of cats consuming diets deficient in vitamins B6. It is unknown whether giving additional vitamin B6 will reduce the urinary excretion of oxalic acid and therefore reduce the incidence of oxalic acid bladder stones.

SOURCES
Good sources of B6 include nutritional (torula) yeast, brewer’s yeast, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, soybeans, walnuts, lentils, lima beans, buckwheat flour, bananas, fish, eggs, meat, spinach, carrots, broccoli, brown rice, whole grains, potatoes, and avocados, as well as wheat, green foods, alfalfa, and catnip.

DOSAGES
The AAFCO recommendations for vitamin B6 are 1 mg/kg of food daily for dogs and 4 mg/kg of food daily for cats.

SAFETY ISSUES
Vitamin B6 appears to be completely safe for adults and pets. However, dogs fed more than 200 mg/kg of body weight per day have a very real risk of nerve damage. In people, dietary deficiency can be worsened by use of estrogen, progesterone, antibiotics in the tetracycline family, corticosteroids (such as prednisone), hydralazine (for high blood pressure), penicillamine (used for rheumatoid arthritis and certain rare diseases). Dilantin (phenytoin foe seizures), theophylline (an older drug for asthma), and the antituberculosis drug isoniazid (IHN), all of which are thought to interfere with B6 to some degree. Additional B6 is recommended for people in these circumstances, similar recommendations may be prudent in pets.

The post Vitamin B6 For Pet Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Pantothenic acid, vitamin B5, is known as the anti-stress vitamin since it is involved in the production of adrenal hormones and antibodies produced by the body’s white blood cells. Like other vitamins, it assists in vitamin metabolism and helps in the conversation of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into energy for the body.

It is an essential part of acetyl coenzyme A, also called coenzyme A (by acetylating acetic acid in the cell). Acetyl coenzyme A is involved in energy production for the cell via the production of ATP.

Vitamin B5 enhances stamina, and is involved in the production of neurotransmitters. It may help prevent and treat depression and anxiety and is useful for normal function of the intestinal tract.

Vitamin B5 deficiency causes fatigue, nausea, and headache in people.

There are no specific disease condition in pets for which vitamin B5 is indicated.

Sources
Vitamin B5 is obtained in the diet from beef, brewer’s yeast, eggs, vegetables, organ meats (especially liver and heart), rice and wheat bran, mushroom, saltwater fish, and whole wheat. The AAFCP recommends levels of 10 ppm for dogs and 5 ppm for cats.

Safety Issues
Vitamin B5 is considered a safe vitamin.

The post Vitamin B5 For Pet Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Vitamin B3 is required for proper function of more than 50 enzymes. Without it, your body would not be able to release energy or make fats from carbohydrates. Vitamin B3 is also used to make sex hormones and other important chemical signal molecules.

Vitamin B3 is needed for healthy skin and proper circulation of the blood throughout the body. As with other B vitamins, it also aids in proper functioning of the nervous system and in the metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. The secretion of bile and stomach acids requires niacin. Niacin lowers cholesterol and helps with the synthesis of hormones, including estrogen and testosterone. It is often used to enhance memory.

Similar to riboflavin, vitamin B3 is used in energy production by the cell. It is an integral part of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. These enzymes are also used to transfer hydrogen ions (which are supplied by sugars and fatty acids in the diet)to the cytochrome and hydrogen ion transfer systems to supply energy to the body.

Tryptophan metabolism is intrinsically linked to niacin (niacin may also be synthesized from dietary tryptophan if the diet is low in niacin and adequate tryptophan is available). In cats, however, one of the intermediate compounds formed during tryptophan metabolism to niacin is quickly utilized by another pathway; therefore, cats cannot convert tryptophan to niacin. Thus cats, unlike dogs, have a strict dietary requirement for niacin.

Vitamin B3 comes in two principal forms niacin (nicotinic acid) and niacinamide (nicotinamide). When taken in low doses for nutritional purposes, they are essentially identical. However, each has its own particular effects when taken in high doses. High-dose niacin is principally used for lowering cholesterol. High-dose niacinamide may be helpful in presenting type I (childhood-onset) diabetes and reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis in people. However, these are concerns regarding liver inflammation when any form of niacin is taken at high dosages.

Scientific Evidence
There is no question that niacin (but not niacinamide) can significantly lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol in people. However, unpleasant flushing reaction and the risk of liver inflammation have kept niacin from being widely used. According to numerous studies, niacin can lower cholesterol and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol by 15 to 25 percent, lower triglycerides by two to 50 percent, and raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol by 15 to 25 percent. Furthermore, long-term use of niacin has been shown to significantly reduce death rates from cardiovascular disease.

Intriguing evidence suggests that regular use of niacinamide (but not niacin) may help prevent diabetes in children at special risk of developing it. Risk can be determined by measuring the ratio of antibodies to islet cells (ICA antibody test). Niacinamide may improve blood sugar control in both children and adults who already have diabetes.

Exciting evidence from a huge study conducted in New Zealand suggests that niacinamide can prevent high-risk children from developing diabetes. In this study more than 20,000 children were screened for diabetes risk by measuring ICA antibodies. It turned out that 185 of these children had detectable levels. About 170 of these children were then given niacinamide for seven years (not all parents agreed to give their children niacinamide or stay in the study for that long). About 10,000 other children were not screened, but were followed to see whether they developed diabetes.

The results were impressive. In the group in which children were screened and given niacinamide if they were positive for ICA antibodies, the incidence of diabetes was reduced by as much as 60 percent. These findings suggest that niacinamide is a very effective treatment for preventing diabetes. (It also shows that tests for ICA antibodies can very accurately identify children at risk for diabetes.)

At present, an enormous-scale, long-term trial called European Nicotinamide Diabetes Intervention Trial is being conducted to definitely determine whether regular use of niacinamide can prevent diabetes.

If a child has just developed diabetes, niacinamide may prolong what is called the honeymoon period. This is in the interval in which the pancreas can still make insulin, and insulin needs are low. A recent study suggests that niacinamide may also improve blood sugar control in type II (adult-onset) diabetes, but it did not use a double-bind design.

According to several good-size, double-bind studies involving a total of over 500 individuals, a special form of niacin, inositol hexaniacinate, may be able to improve walking distance in intermittent claudication (severe leg cramps caused by hardening of the arteries). For example, in one study, 120 individuals were given either placebo or 2 g of inositol hexaniacinate daily. Over a period of three months, walking distance improved significantly in the treated group. (Other treatments that may help intermittent claudication include carnitine and ginkgo.)

Preliminary evidence (one small double-bind study) suggests that insoitol hexaniacinate niacinamide may be able to reduce symptoms of Raynaud’s phenomenon as well. This condition includes a response to cold, usually most severely in the hands. The dosage used in he study was 4 g daily, again a dosage high enough for liver inflammation to be a real possibility.

Preliminary evidence suggests that niacinamide may be able to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis. There is some evidence that niacinamide may provide some benefits for those with osteoarthritis. In a double-bind study, 72 individuals with arthritis were given either 3,000 mg daily of niacinamide (in five equal doses) or placebo for 12 weeks. The results showed that treated patients experienced a 20 percent improvement in symptoms, whereas those given placebo worsened by 10 percent. However, at this dose, liver inflammation is a concern that must be taken seriously.

Very weak evidence suggests one of the several forms of niacin may be helpful in bursitis, cataracts, and pregnancy.

Therapeutic Uses
Niacin was discovered to be the specific chemical that cured black tongue (pellagra) in dogs fed niacin-deficient diets. Niacin deficiency (pellagra) causes dermatitis, diarrhea, dementia and death.

Niacinamide has been recommended for the treatment of several disorders in pets, including discoid lupus erythematosus and pemphigus erythematosus in dogs. When combined with tetracycline, niacinamide (at a dosage of 500 mg of tetracycline and 500 mg of niacinamide per dog given every eight hours for dogs weighing more than 10 kg) has been found to show an excellent response in 25 to 65 percent of cases. While no studies support the use of niacinamide for dogs with atopic dermatitis, since niacinamide works by inhibiting antigen-IgE-induced histamine release, it may be an option for atopic dogs.

Sources
Good food sources of niacin are seeds, yeast, bran, peanuts (especially with skins), wild rice, brown rice, whole wheat, barley, almonds, liver, brewer’s yeast, broccoli, carrots, cheese, eggs, fish, milk, pork, potatoes, and peas. Tryptophan is found in protein foods (meat, poultry, dairy products, and fish). Turkey and milk are particularly excellent sources of tryptophan. Other sources include green alfalfa and the herbs catnip, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, licorice, mullein, nettle, peppermint, raspberry leaf, red clover, rose hips, slippery elm, and yellow dock.

Dosages
The AAFCO recommends 11.4 mg/kg of niacin daily for dogs and 60 mg/kg of niacin for cats.

Safety Issues
In people, when taken at a dosage of more than 100 mg daily, niacin frequently causes annoying skin flushing, especially in the face. This reaction may be accompanied by stomach distress, itching and headache. In studies, as many as 43 percent of individuals taking niacin quit because of the unpleasant side effects.

A more dangerous effect is liver inflammation. Although most commonly seen with slow-release niacin, it can occur with any type of niacin,when taken at a daily dose of more than 500 mg. Regular blood tests to evaluate liver function are therefore mandatory when using high-dose (or niacinamide or inositol hexaniacinate). This side effect almost always goes away when niacin is stopped. People with liver disease, ulcers (presently or in the past), gout, or diabetes should not take high-dose niacin except on medical advice.

Maximum safe dosages for young children and pregnant or nursing women have not been established. Pets are not routinely treated with niacin. However, similar precautions are probably warranted if your pet is prescribed niacin.

As in the case in human medicine, if your pet is taking cholesterol-lowering drugs in the statin family, he should probably not take additional niacin. Pets taking older cholesterol-lowering drugs such as cholestyramine or colestipol should take niacin at a different time of day to avoid absorption problems based on the recommendation in human medicine. Pets taking the anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid may need extra niacin. However, because niacin can interfere with INH, doctor supervision is necessary.

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Riboflavin functions as part of a number of coenzymes in most cells. It is an integral part of flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide. These enzymes are used to transfer hydrogen ions (which are supplied by sugars and fatty acids in the diet) to the cytochrome and hydrogen ion transfer systems to supply energy to the body (via production of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP).

Vitamin B2 is also used for the production of red blood cells and antibodies that help fight disease. It helps prevent cataracts and aids in energy production by cells of the body. Riboflavin works with vitamin A to maintain mucous membranes and helps the absorption of iron and vitamin B6 in the intestines. Riboflavin is needed for metabolism of the amino acid tryptophan, which is then turned into niacin. Like other B vitamins, riboflavin assists in metabolism of nutrients including fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, and helps activate vitamins B6 and folic acid.

Deficiency resembles signs seen with vitamin A deficiency and includes cracks and sores of the mucous membranes, dermatitis, weight loss, and hair loss.

Therapeutic Uses
There are no specific needs for additional supplementation with riboflavin for pets: there are no studies suggesting their use as a cataract preventative.

Scientific Evidence
In people, preliminary evidence suggests that riboflavin may offer benefits for two illnesses: migraine headaches and cataracts.

For migraine headaches, the typical recommended dosage of riboflavin—400 mg daily—is much higher than nutritional needs. According to a three month double-blind study of 55 people with migraines, 400 mg of riboflavin daily can reduce the frequency of migraines by 50 percent.

For cataract prevention, riboflavin may be taken at nutritional dosages described.

One very large study suggests that riboflavin at nutritional doses may be helpful for cataracts, but in this study it was combined with another B vitamin, niacin or vitamin B3, so it’s hard to say which vitamin was responsible for the effect. In this large, double-blind placebo-controlled study, 3,249 people were given either placebo or one of four nutrient combinations (vitamin A/zinc, riboflavin/niacin, vitamin C/molybdenum, or selenium/beta-carotene/vitamin E) for a period of six years. Those receiving the niacin/riboflavin supplement showed a significant (44 percent) reduction in the incidence of cataracts. Strangely, there was a small, but statistically significant higher incidence of a special type of cataract (called subcapsular cataracts) in the niacin/riboflavin group. However, it is unclear whether the effects seen in this group were due to niacin, riboflavin, or the combination of the two.

Riboflavin has also been proposed as a treatment for sicklecell anemia and canker sores, and a performance enhancer for athletes, but there is no real evidence that it is effective for these uses.

Sources
Cheese, fish, egg yolks, milk, beef, pork, poultry, yogurt, spinach, kelp, leafy greens, and mushrooms are sources of riboflavin. The green food alfalfa, as well as, the herbs catnip, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, ginseng, hops, mullein, nettle, peppermint, raspberry leaves, red clover, rose hips, sage, and yellow dock also contain vitamin B2.

Riboflavin is also found in organ meats (such as liver, kidney, and heart) and in many nuts, legumes, and leafy greens. The richest sources are torula (nutritional) yeast, brewer’s yeast, and calf liver. Almonds, wheat germ, and wild rice are good sources as well.

For pets, riboflavin must be supplied in the diet, as little is stored in the body ( as is true with most water soluble vitamins).

Dosages
The new recommendation for adult dogs is 2.7 mg/kg of food, which is higher than the amount (2.2 mg/kg of food) currently recommended by the AAFCO, (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

Safety Issues
Riboflavin seems to be an extremely safe supplement. Toxicity has not been reported in pets.

If your pet is taking tetracycline-family antibiotics, he may need extra riboflavin.

The post Vitamin B2 For Pet Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Because most foods contain B vitamins, deficiencies of vitamins are rare in pets. An exception is thiamine deficiency in cats. Supplementation with the B vitamin choline is indicated in older pets, especially those exhibiting signs of cognitive disorder, often incorrectly referred to as senility. Supplementation with this vitamin may also be helpful for pets with epilepsy to calm the brain and for liver disease.

While they are available from dietary components, the B vitamins are synthesized in the digestive tract by bacteria from nutrients supplied in the diet. Intestinal disease (such as diarrhea) can upset the normal bacteria flora and result in decreased synthesis of these vitamins. Pets with diarrhea and various intestinal diseases should be supplemented with prebiotics and probiotics to provide healthy bacteria to replace those lost as a result of the disease.

B complex vitamins are often recommended for pets with a lack of appetite. In fact, it is theorized that a deficiency of B vitamins (specifically thiamine and niacin) may cause anorexia. Anecdotally, many veterinarians add B vitamins (or force-feeding formulas or intravenous solutions) to the diets of anorectic pets as a “natural” way to stimulate appetite.

The daily B vitamin requirement of cats is estimated to be 6 to 8 times greater than the daily requirement for dogs.

Always consult with your veterinarian before adding vitamins and supplements to your pet’s diet.

The post Vitamin B For Pet Health appeared first on Total Health Magazine.

Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin that is required by people and some animals. Humans and certain animals (such as guinea pigs and monkeys) lack the enzyme L-gulonolactone oxidase needed for the formation of vitamin C. Dogs and cats possess this enzyme and can therefore synthesize vitamin C. As such, dogs and cats do not have a specific dietary requirement for this vitamin. Many doctors, however will supplement with vitamin C during times of stress and illness (as larger amounts of vitamin C may be required during these times.)

Ascorbic acid is a term often used interchangeably with vitamin C. While ascorbic acid (as well as ascorbate and other terms) is often used synonymously with vitamin C, this is not technically correct. Ascorbic acid (discovered in 1928, when Albert Szent-Gyorgyi isolated the active ingredient in fruits and called the “anti-scorbutic principle”) is the antioxidant fraction of vitamin C. Simply supplementing ascorbic acid is not the same as supplying vitamin C. Holistic veterinarians usually prefer natural vitamin C supplementation when indicated, although studies using the complementary therapy called orthomolecular medicine have shown benefit to using ascorbate in helping pets with a variety of medical disorders. A novel product called Ester-C has also shown benefit in pets.

Vitamin C functions as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger, is used for normal repair of tissue, is required for adrenal gland function, is used for collagen synthesis, and is needed for maintaining healthy gums. It is needed for metabolism of several B vitamins, including folic acid and the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine. Vitamin C is needed for norepinephrine (a nerve transmitter) synthesis as well as for cholesterol synthesis.

Therapeutic Uses
This vitamin assists in providing protection against cancer and enhances immunity. Hemoglobin synthesis requires vitamin C; deficiency can cause anemia.

Because vitamin C is so vital for the synthesis of the connective tissue collagen, which is an integral part of cartilage, it is often prescribed for pets with arthritis (and various forms of vitamin C or ascorbate acid are often included in various supplements for pets with arthritis.)

To have normal collagen metabolism, vitamin C is required for the conversion of proline to hydroxyproline and for the conversion of lysine to hydroxylysine. These reactions take place after proline and lysine are incorporated into the connective tissue.

Vitamin C also protects against unnecessary blood clotting and bruising and aids in healing of wounds; vitamin C deficiency causes slow scar formation.

Ascorbic acid is a precursor of oxalate. It has been suggested that additional ascorbic acid should not be feed to pets prone to oxalate bladder stones. However, at least in people, there is no evidence that high levels of ascorbic acid actually increase oxalate production.

Vitamin C appears to work synergistically as an antioxidant with vitamin E. Vitamin C appears to attack free radicals, those chemicals produced as a by-product of cell metabolism, in cellular fluids, whereas vitamin E attacks the free radicals in the cell membranes.

In people, vitamin C has been recommended for numerous conditions, including colds, cataracts, macular degeneration, cancer prevention and treatment, heart disease prevention, hypertension, asthma, low sperm count, bedsores, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, hepatitis, herpes, insomnia, osteoarthritis, Parkinson’s disease periodontal disease, preeclampsia, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcers, allergies, general antioxidant, bladder infections, menopausal symptoms, migraine headaches and nausea.

Ascorbic acid scavenges nitrates, which can reduce nitrosamine- induced cancers.

There is some evidence that supports using vitamin C supplement to help colds, slightly improve asthma and reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.

In people, vitamin C deficiency cause scurvy with the clinical signs of swollen, painful joints, abnormal wound healing, bleeding gums, and pinpoint hemorrhages under the skin. Vitamin C deficiency, while common in non-human primates (monkeys) and guinea pigs, does not occur in dogs and cats.

Scientific Evidence
Regular use of vitamin C may reduce the risk of cataracts, probably by fighting free radicals that damage the lens of the eye. In an observational study or 50,800 nurses followed for 8 years, it was found that people who used vitamin C supplements for more than 10 years had a 45 percent lower rate of cataract development. However, unlike the case of other supplements, diets high in vitamin C were not found to be protective; only supplemental vitamin C made a difference. This is the opposite of what was found with vitamin C in the prevention of other disease, such as cancer.

It had been suggested that vitamin C may be particularly useful against cataracts in people with diabetes, because of its influence on sorbitol, a sugar-like substance that tends to accumulate in the cells of diabetics. Excess sorbitol is believed to play a role in the development of diabetes-related cataracts, and vitamin C appears to help reduce sorbitol buildup.

Vitamin C levels in the blood have been found to be low in people with diabetes. When vitamin C levels are adequate, the regulation of insulin improved, as vitamin C has been shown to enhance insulin action glucose and lipid metabolism. Therefore, vitamin C supplementation may benefit both insulin-dependent and non-insulin diabetics. It is unknown if this is the case in diabetic pets, although vitamin C has been recommended for pets with diabetes.

There is also good evidence for using ascorbate for people with gingivitis. Evidence for its effectiveness in treating their conditions is highly preliminary at best.

In people, aspirin, other inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and tetracycline-family antibiotics can lower body levels of vitamin C. The same may be true of pets, vitamin C given to pets treated with the medications mentioned above is not harmful and might be helpful.

Pets are often treated with additional vitamin C or ascorbate compounds for various illnesses. Both intravenous and oral supplementation are used, although controlled studies are lacking showing the effectiveness of giving vitamin C or ascorbate compounds for most conditions.

Sources
Citrus fruits, green vegetables, berries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, spinach, chard, turnip greens, red chili peppers, sweet potatoes, kale, parsley, watercress, cauliflower, cabbage and strawberries are good sources of vitamin C, as are green foods, alfalfa, herbs, rose hips dandelion, fennel and slippery elm.

Safety Issues
In pets and in people, high-doses of vitamin C may cause diarrhea. There have been warnings that long-term vitamin C treatment can cause kidney stones, but in a large-scale study the people who took the most vitamin C (over 1,500 mg daily) actually had a lower risk of kidney stones than those taking the least amounts. Nonetheless, people with a history of kidney stones and those with kidney failure who have a defect in vitamin C or oxalate metabolism should probably restrict vitamin C intake to approximately 200 mg daily. While there is no evidence that stone formation increases people or pets supplemented use with vitamin C, talk with your veterinarian before adding extra vitamin C if your pet is prone to urinary stones.

Vitamin C may also reduce the blood-thinning effects of Coumadin (warfarin) and heparin.

Vitamin C may increase the blood levels of some drugs, such as aspirin and other salicylates.

Always consult with your veterinarian before adding vitamins and supplements to your pet’s diet.

The post Vitamin C (Ascorbate, ascorbic acid) For Pets appeared first on Total Health Magazine.