VETERINARY NUTRACEUTICALS: FACT OR
FICTION
Wendy Shepard Chisholm, V.M.D.
The term “nutraceutical” refers to products
marketed under the premise of being dietary supplements,
but with the expressed intent of treatment or prevention
of disease. A nutraceutical is any food or food ingredient
considered to provide medical of health benefits.
Typical categories of nutraceutical products used for
pets include:
- Antioxidants-Vitamin C, E, beta carotene
- omega-fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6)
- Amino acids (glutamine, carnitine, branched amino
acids)
- Chonodroprotective agents (shark cartilage, glucosamine,
chondroitin sulfate)
- Botanicals or herbals (garlic, echinacea, golden
seal, milk thistle)
- Fiber products and individual minerals such as calcium
and potassium
The nutraceutical industry is growing exponentially
and is expected to be a 14 billion-dollar industry by
the end of 2001. Research supporting the various marketing
claims is lagging behind sales. Research only recently
began to provide valid, meaningful data. This paper
reflects a compilation of information presented at the
North American Veterinary Conferences in 1998, 1999,
2000, and 2001, as well as information presented at
the yearly International Canine Sports Medicine Symposium
held in conjunction with the TNAVC. It is given in an
attempt to apprise the public of its evolution and answer
the question; What is in nutraceuticals for my pet?
With more and more consumers looking to keep their
pets in optimal health through the use of nutraceuticals,
a greater number of people will be susceptible to fraud
in the market place. Through our daily exposure to FDA
regulated drugs, we have become accustomed to accurate
labeling and marketing claims. This is not true for
nutraceuticals. Essentially, all aspects of the nutraceutical
and dietary industry are unregulated. The Dietary Supplement
Health and Education Act, passed in 1994, changed the
way the FDA regulated the nutraceutical market.
It does not permit the FDA to consider a new product
a “drug” or “food additive” if is falls under the definition
of a “dietary supplement”. DSHEA also shifted the burden
of proof of safety. A manufacturer does not have to
prove the supplement is safe, but rather the FDA has
to prove it is unsafe. There is no assurance that the
amount of the compound listed on the label is accurate
or that the compound is even in the bottle. There are
no assurances of the purity of the particular formulations
of the compound or of the conditions under which it
was manufactured. Quality control is entirely self-imposed.
Inaccurate labeling has been documented in several studies.
The FDA has been working with state regulatory agencies
and through the Association of American Feed Control
Offices (AAFCO) to have an official feed ingredient
definition established. The AAFCO definition process
is not as vigorous as a Food Additive Petition, but
it allows some means of assurance of safety should the
FDA choose not to take regulatory action.
With all the products available, it is difficult
for veterinarians and pet owners to know which products
are safe and effective. It behooves the practitioner
to demand proof of safety and efficacy from manufacturers,
to closely scrutinize any materials provided before
recommending or dispensing products, and to objectively
evaluate its merits. The fact remains, despite fraudulent,
overblown claims for some benefits from nutraceuticals,
some medicinal value does, in reality, exist.
Role of Antioxidants in Canine Athletes
During aerobic exercise, oxidative stress and
oxidative damage to tissue are elevated. Canine athletes
may be especially prone to oxidative damage because
their rigorous training and participation in races and
events requires long-term endurance exercising and extremely
high energy expenditure.
With normal oxygen utilization within a cell,
approximately one to two percent of the oxygen converts
into oxygen free radicals that need to be scavenged
from the cell before they cause damage. A free
radical is any substance or molecule containing an atom
with one or more unpaired electrons.
Most molecules and cells are non-radicals. More
commonly, radicals react with non-radicals to produce
other radicals in a chain reaction. A superoxide radical
can be generated during normal physiological processes.
The amount created generally increases with exercise.
Oxygen containing free radicals (i.e. hydroxyl radicals,
superoxide anion radicals, and hydrogen peroxide radicals)
are highly reactive radicals capable of damaging biologically
important molecules such as DNA and protein contained
within cells. Antioxidants are essential for normal
cellular function and are of the most value if present
before an initiating exercise.
Antioxidants are agents that can prevent or stop
free radical reactions. They are able to break the destructive
chain reaction outlined above by converting them into
less harmful forms. With exercise, as the use of oxygen
increases, the need for antioxidants increases. Vitamin
C, betacarotene, Vitamin E, and lutein are powerful
antioxidants in dogs. The dietary intake of the
antioxidants can modulate the activity of the defense
system and may protect the cell and tissue against oxidative
damage.
In 1998, a scientific study was undertaken to
evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplements in trained
Alaskan sled dogs. The association between Vitamin E
and total antioxidant status and the development of
exertional rhabdomyolysis (a potentially fatal disease
of skeletal muscle) and the likelihood of dogs finishing
the 1998 Iditarod was examined. The test group
received 457 IU Vitamin E, 706 mg Vitamin C, 5.1 mg
beta-carotene, versus the control group who received
no dietary supplement.
The dogs receiving antioxidant supplementation
had increased plasma Vitamin E, but no change in their
plasma retinal, beta-carotene, or Vitamin C levels.
Dogs with a pre-race Vitamin E concentration in the
highest 10 percent (40.7 microgram/ml plasma) of all
dogs sampled, were nearly twice as likely to finish
the 1150 mile race when compared with dogs with lower
pre-race plasma Vitamin E concentrations. This study
failed to demonstrate a causative link between plasma
Vitamin E concentration and development of exertional
myopathy (disease of skeletal muscle). However, there
clearly are statistical correlations between pre-race
Vitamin E levels and athletic performance.
While the body has many antioxidant systems, Vitamin
E shows the most promise for reducing the risk of oxidative
stress. These results suggest that supplementation of
antioxidants in sled dogs may be beneficial in attenuating
the consequences of exercise-induced oxidative damage.
Increased pre-race Vitamin E concentration is clearly
associated with enhanced performance in sled dogs competing
in the Iditarod.
The canine athlete appears to benefit from selective
antioxidant supplementation. The current recommendations
for exercising sporting dogs is to supplement with 400
IU per day over what they receive in their normal diet.
This Vitamin E should be in the form of alpha-tocopherol.
Human Vitamin E supplements in the form of alpha-tocopherol
are commercially available in 400 IU capsules and these
can be given to dogs. There are no known contraindications
in recommending this level of additional Vitamin E.
Supplementing 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol to sled dogs
receiving a majority of their calories from a commercially
prepared premium diet has been shown to achieve plasma
levels above 40 micrograms/ml.
It is important to note that these findings cannot
be used to support an extremely high supplementation
of antioxidants. Vitamin E is absorbed into the body
by the same route as the other fat-soluble vitamins
(Vitamin A, D, K). Consequently, excessive doses of
Vitamin E competes with other fat-soluble vitamins resulting
in lower absorption of these other necessary nutrients.
The Effect of Intensive Exercise on Immune Function
in the Canine Athlete
It has been reported that intensive exercise
can suppress to immune system. In order to examine
the relationship between intensive exercise and the
immune system, it is necessary to examine the relationship
between intensive exercise and oxidative stress:
-free radical production impairs the immune system
-exercise is associated with the production of
free radicals
-free radicals trigger chain reactions within
cells resulting in cell damage
and loss of cellular function
-inflammatory cells are also a source of free
radicals; intensive exercise
can result in muscle damage which begin the inflammatory
process
A study was undertaken to determine if there was
an effect on the immune system in dogs with the increase
in oxidative stress. This has been reported in other
species. In this study, 62 trained sled dogs were divided
into three groups:
- a sedentary group (22)
- an exercised group (21)
- an exercised group receiving supplemental antioxidants
(19)
Antioxidant supplementation consisted of a biscuit
a day containing 21.6 g B-carotene, 18.4 mg lutein,
and 400 IU of alpha-tocopherol. Two days prior to exercise
all the dogs were rested. Subsequently, exercised dogs
ran 64-75 km/day for 3 consecutive days. Blood samples
were taken to analyze the white blood cell count differential
counts on day one and three as well as analyze the T
and B lymphocyte activity.
Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded
that intensive exercise in the sled dogs results in
a decline in immune response. This decline can be partially
alleviated by increasing dietary antioxidants (Vitamin
E, B-carotene, and lutein).
Nutraceuticals in the Management of Osteoarthritis
Nutraceuticals play a role in the management
of osteoarthritis today. They will play a larger role
in the management of osteoarthritis (OA) in veterinary
patients tomorrow. It behooves the veterinary practitioner
as well as concerned pet owners to educate themselves
on the indications and expectations from these compounds.
Osteoarthritis is a joint disorder characterized
by the degeneration of articular cartilage, osteophyte
production, joint pain, and low-grade nonpurulent inflammation
synonymous with Degenerative Joint Disease. It
is a common syndrome having multiple causes and has
been estimated to affect as much as 20 percent of dogs
over 1 year of age. During osteoarthritis, a complex
cascade of interrrelated cellular, structural, and biochemical
events take place. This results in altered cartilage
biomechanics which further accelerate the degenerative
process.
Chondroprotective agents are emerging as a new
class of drugs to slow progression and treat chronic
degenerative joint disease (DJD). They are anti-inflammatory
and also support the anabolic repair processes in cartilage,
bone and synovium essential for normalization of joint
function. The therapeutic goal of chondromodulatory
agents is to inhibit abnormal enzymatic and degenerative
processes with cartilage. These compounds include polysulfated
glycosaminoglycans (P SGAG), glucosamine, chondroitin
sulfate, and hyaluronic acid. The effects of these compounds
are not fully understood, but the basics are knows.
They are examined individually below:
1) Adequan (PSGAG)
Adequan is a chondromodulatory agent approved
by the FDA for management of osteoarthritis in dogs.
Studies have shown that Adequan alters the destructive
cycle of the disease by inhibiting the cartilage degrading
enzymes while restoring the synovial fluid and stimulating
production of cartilage matrix compounds. Further, attacks
the pain and inflammation of arthritis.
Adequan is recommended as an intramuscular injection
for the control of signs associated with non-infectious
degeneration and/or traumatic arthritis of canine synovial
joints. Numerous research trials have demonstrated the
efficacy of Adequan in dogs. To obtain more complete
test results, call Luitpold Pharmaceutical customer
service at 1-800-458-0163.
2) The oral “chondroprotectives” produced are considered
nutritional supplements and do not require FDA approval.
A proposed disease-modifying agent would need to stimulate
production of normal joint matrix compounds and inhibit
enzymatic destruction of matrix compounds. Several compounds
have shown promise in one or more of these areas. Combinations
of these compounds may have the potential to act at
multiple levels in the degenerative process. These
compounds are:
1. Glucosamine hydrochloride. In clinical and
experimental studies in men,
orally administered glucosamine sulfate has been
associated with relief
of clinical signs of DJD and chondroprotective. Glucosamine hydrochlo-
ride is synthesized by chondrocytes and is described
as a building block
of the matrix of articular cartilage. Glucosamine
has been shown to in-
crease collagen and proteoglycan synthesis in
chondrocyte cell cultures.
2. Chondroitin-4-Sulfate (CS) is the most abundant
glycosaminoglycan
(GAG) in hyaline cartilage. Cell culture studies
have shown that CS
competitively inhibits enzymatic destruction
of cartilage. CS has been
shown to have a disease modifying effect in some
studies involving
humans and animals and to have a symptomatic
effect in the treatment
of OA.
3. Manganese ascorbate is an essential co-factor
in the synthesis of GAG.
When added to glucosamine treated chondrocytes,
the anabolic effects
of glucosamine are increased.
Several companies are marketing a combination
of these products based on the current understanding
of their in vitro effects. To date all clinical trials
have been conducted on Cosequin. Cosequin is a glucosamine
hydrochloride and a combination of a low molecular weight
chondroitin sulfate and manganese ascorbate. Cosequin
is manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories, Inc., Cosemin,
the human equivalent, is manufactured by Nutramax Laboratories,
Inc. as well. Two human clinical trials have shown a
mild positive effect in combination with therapy when
compared to a placebo. The beneficial effect of pretreatment
on pain and cartilage matrix damage has recently been
proven in rabbits and dogs.
3) Additional compound products reported to be a source
of GAG on the mar-
ket:
- Glycoflex (perna canniculus muscle, brewer’s
yeast, alfalfa)
- Vetri-Shark (shark cartilage)
- Osteo-vit + (glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin
sulfate, manganese, MSM,
collagen calcium)
- Osteo-flex (glucosamine sulfate, boswellia, curcumin)
- Chondroflex (glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin
sulfate)
- Arthra-flex (glucosamine, chondroitin, creatine)
- Fatty acids (Omega 3 and Omega 6 (recommended
ratio 1:5/ 1 to 10) in
fish oil
- are reported to have anti-inflammatory
properties, however, little is
known about their efficacy)
- Botanicals (yucca, boswellia, and tumeric plants
have been proposed as
being beneficial in the treatment of OA. Much
research needs to be per-
formed before plant extracts can be recommended.)
To date, there have been no adequate studies
on these products to justify their use in treating osteoarthritis
in small animals. Much of these products have little
controlled experimental or clinical research to substantiate
their effectiveness. These agents are considered to
be slow acting drugs in osteoarthritis. Beneficial effects
may include a positive effect in cartilage matrix synthesis
and hyaluronic synthesis, as well as an inhibiting effect
in degradative enzymes in osteoarthritic joints.
These oral products are considered to be nutritional
supplements. Be aware they have not been evaluated by
the FDA and do not require FDA approval for their sale.
Therapeutic Nutrition: An Alternative or Holistic Perspective
“Therapeutic nutrition involves the use of nutritional
supplements in animals who display specific health problems
and disease conditions. Combining preventive and/or
therapeutic nutrition with conventional veterinary drug
treatment is one example of complimentary therapy and
is one of the fastest growing modalities in the field
of veterinary medicine.” (pg.23)
Alternative or holistic practitioners have utilized
the concept of functional food in the treatment of animals.
With the growing use of nutraceuticals in veterinary
medicine, it is important to describe and prioritize
nutritional intervention used in veterinary practice.
Therapeutic nutrition addresses supplementation with
food components as a way to compensate for relative
deficiencies in individual animals as well as a way
to provide pharmacologic intervention.
The National Research Council (NRC) has published
dietary requirements for dogs, cats, and horses, among
other species. The NRC nutritional recommendations are
not based on optimum levels but focus instead on the
average needs of healthy animals. The NRC guidelines
do not take into consideration actual food quality,
nutrient bioavailability, breed differences, or biochemical
individuality. Biochemical individuality refers to the
idea that necessary levels of essential nutrients can
vary widely among individual animals. A recent study
has shown that different breeds of dogs exhibit different
abilities to digest the same diet.
It has also been shown that genetic make-up and
heritability, environmental toxins, pollution, stress,
age, nutrient-deficient diet, illness and injury, long
and short term drug therapy, and overall health condition
of an individual animal can affect individual biochemistry
and cause some nutritional needs to greatly exceed NRC
guidelines.
The quality of food varies depending on the commercial
processing and storing methods used.
Sole dependency on cheaper, commercial goods may cause
dogs to develop nutrient deficiencies and health problems.
Premium commercial dietes have been shown to provide
higher quality, more digestible protein elements.
The purpose of incorporating supplements into
the diet of working and companion animals is to provide
a full spectrum of essential vitamins, minerals, amino
acids, and other food factors that may be deficient
in the animal because of biochemical individuality or
low quality food. Diets deficient in nutrients can lead
to sub-optimal performance.
Biochemical nutritional research has shown that
nutritional supplements not only enhance recovery from
stress, illness, and injury, but also help prevent the
onset of many degenerative diseases such as arthritis,
cardiovascular disease, cancer, gastrointestinal problems,
and skin disorders. However, the NRC
guidelines are oversimplified. Depending on the physiologic
state of the animal, a range of each nutrient may be
appropriate, not a fixed figure. Nutritional needs are
not static but vary widely depending on the specific
animal and the metabolic function to be met. Holistic
practitioners try to manipulate diet in preference to
prescribing drugs of any type, nutraceuticals included.
An Environmental Medicine Perspective
Environmental medicine evaluates and identifies
potential environmental exposures that lead to numerous
disease syndromes. It began in 1951 when Dr. Theron
Randolph of Chicago realized that every day household
chemicals could cause symptoms that eluded diagnosis
or treatment. (pg 537). Environmental
medicine looks for these environmental triggers, nutritional
deficiencies, and metabolic and biochemical defects
which cause the symptoms so that they may be eliminated,
not controlled. Environmental medicine is a philosophy
of causal approach to medical problems that differs
considerably from other current approaches.
The current generation is that first to eat so
many processed foods lacking in nutrients and the first
to be exposed to so many manufactured chemicals. The
average person has to detoxify over 500 chemicals in
an average home and office environment
(pg 542). Detoxification is a process the body uses
to reduce foreign chemicals to a form that can then
be eliminated from the body. The detoxification system
is extremely elaborate and complicated. It uses scores
of enzymes and complex processes. It is important to
realize that the work of detoxifying these chemicals
actually depletes nutrients.
Household pets and young children, who inhabit
the lower third of household living space, face increased
risks from substances such as new household carpeting
and pesticides. They not only sustain greater exposure,
but also have detoxification systems that are immature
or genetically insufficient for this type of detoxification.
Nutrient deficiencies can be compounded by the
use of medication which also depletes detoxification
nutrients because every medication is also a foreign
chemical requiring metabolism for detoxification.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that one
in three cancer deaths in humans are diet related and
that eight of ten cancers have a nutrition/diet component.
The knowledge that a diet providing quality and variety
helps prevent disease applies to our own domestic animals
as well. Many experts believe that giving dogs supplements
of Vitamin C and E play important roles in protecting
the cells of the body from pollutants, toxic substances,
free radicals, and pathogenic agents by helping optimize
the body’s immune and detoxification systems.
The Liver and the Detoxification Process
An important function of the liver in the body
is to detoxify foreign chemicals that do not belong
there. Detoxification is the process of reducing foreign
chemicals to a form that the body can more easily excrete.
With the increased exposure to environmental toxins
and chemicals, the workload of the liver has increased.
Consequently, practitioners are beginning to recommend
various nutraceuticals as aids to the liver in these
processes.
S-adenosylmethimine (SAMe) is a naturally occurring
molecule found in all living organisms that is involved
in the metabolism of glutathione (GSH). Glutathione
participates in many metabolic processes and plays a
critical role in the detoxification mechanism in the
cell. It is a potent antioxidant that
protects the hepatic (liver) cells. Forty-five percent
of dogs and cats with liver problems have low hepatic
glutathione levels.
Denosyl SD is produced by Nutramax
Laboratories. It is the only SAMe brand studied in veterinary
trials. Denosyl SD is used to
increase hepatic glutathione levels in dogs and cats.
Milk thistle has been used for centuries as a
natural remedy for disease of the liver and biliary
tract. The active ingredient consists of flavonolignans
which have been reported to work as antioxidants, scavenging
free radicals, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation. As
interest in alternative therapy has emerged in both
human and veterinary medicine, the use of milk thistle
and other natural remedies as therapy for patients with
liver disease has increased. In review of several clinical
trials with patients with chronic liver disease, evidence
is mounting that shows the benefit of milk thistle.
There is evidence that free radicals are generated
in chronic hepatitis and that these radicals participate
in the pathogenesis of liver injury. In vitro evidence
has shown that Vitamin E protects against oxidative
damage from iron, copper, and bile acids. Evidence also
exists suggesting that therapy with Vitamin E reduces
oxidant injury to hepatic cells.
Additional antioxidants:
- Vitamin C also acts as an antioxidant in dogs.
It is naturally produced within the body, and therefore not an essential nutrient in dogs. Vitamin C is a hydrophilic vitamin that acts as an antioxidant
by scavenging free radicals.
- Beta carotene also functions as a nutritional
antioxidant.
- Coenzyme Q is a potent antioxidant that may help
in liver disease
What You Can and Cannot Read On Food Labels
Over the past few years a plethora of news foods
have shown up on the market with all sorts of claims
and counter claims regarding their nutritional value.
Various marketing strategies have only led to confusion
on what the claims mean.
Protein
The focus of these different claims is primarily
on what levels of crude protein and fat are in the food
according to AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control
Officials, a quasi-federal regulatory agency). Eighteen
percent protein, the level that is in most “senior”
formulas, is adequate for all stages of life.
The level of protein is the one component of food that
most people use to decide what food to buy. Partially
as a result, this is one of the most confusing issues
to examine. Actual protein levels labeled as “crude
protein” can be difficult to exactly determine. This
is the result of protein becoming more indigestible
as “crude protein” percentage increases.
Digestibility
Digestibility is critical to the body for proper
utilization of the food. Poorly digested protein means
that intact protein is absorbed, which, in turn, can
compromise the liver and immune system. Easily digested
protein breaks down into its constituent amino acid
components, allowing the liver and immune system to
function better. Protein is only needed for maintenance
and repair of tissue (primarily of muscle). Otherwise,
it becomes an expensive energy source.
What one can tell from labels:
A. Highly digestible: egg, meat,
meat meal, chicken or chicken meal, or lamb meal, etc (a clean combination
of flesh and skin with or without bone). This supplies the best quality
of animal protein for maximum digestibility and so reduced work
for the system.
B. Poorly digestible:
meat by-products, lamb by-products, and chicken by-products (this consists of hard to digest
animal heads, feet, intestine, underdeveloped eggs, lung, spleen,
stomach, etc)
One can get a sense of the quality of the protein
and where is comes from by the sequence of the ingredients
on the label. This is due to one simple truth; Ingredients
must be put on the label in the order of the amount
of the ingredients.
Fats and Fatty Acids
Fats and fatty acids are also supplied in various
ways. Fat is normally of animal origin and is usually
listed as either animal fat or poultry fat. Oils are
normally from vegetable sources. Grains contain fatty
acids, and both fats and oils are available as single
ingredients. Oils do not contain all of the essential
fatty acids. Oil from flaxseed is the only vegetable
high in Omega 3 fatty acid content, therefore its use
in the canine diet is warranted.
The quality and type of fat and fatty acid is
at the discretion of the manufacturer and can be anything
from tallow to table grade fat. Higher quality fats
are more easily metabolized, as opposed to poorer quality
tallow which requires the body to expend energy to assimilate
them.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates vary from whole grains, which supply
higher quality complex carbohydrates, to products that
have almost no nutritional benefits. From the label
interpret as follows:
good-ground whole grains, ground whole wheat,
ground yellow corn, ground brown rice,
oatmeal, etc.
poor-ground grains or flour (ground wheat, wheat
flour, rice flour, brewer’s rice).
These are botanically simple carbohydrates that tend
to be stripped
of essential vitamins and minerals.
Preservatives
Most pet foods are preserved with a variety of
chemicals. The average 25 pound dog will consume between
six and nine pounds of chemical preservatives per year
of food preserved with chemical additives. Pet food
can be preserved with natural antioxidants (primarily
Vitamin E and C) which also have nutritional benefit
as we have seen. Higher quality products also have chelated
minerals (complexed with proteinates) which improve
the utilizability of the mineral.
The single most important thing in reading the
label is the feeding guidelines. These must be developed
according to AAFCO regulations concerning digestibility.
A food requiring one cup per 25 pounds of body weight
is of higher quality than a food that requires one cup
per 15 pounds of body weight. However, even this may
be slightly compromised if a significant amount of simple
carbohydrates are in the food.
Additional Sources of Information:
- United States Pharmacopeia at http://www.usp.org/prn.
The United States Pharmacopeia promotes public
health by establishing and disseminating officially
recognized standards of authoritative information for
the use of medicine and other health care technologies
by professionals, patients, and consumers.
The USP has established state of the art standards
to ensure the quality of medicine for human and veterinary
consumption. They have established a national health
product reporting system in both human and veterinary
medicine where purchasers are encouraged to report problems
associated with the use of medical products.
They have also established authoritative standards
for botanical and non-botanical dietary supplements.
While buying dietary supplements, consumers can be assured
of quality and purity if they choose products with USP
or NF on the label. Federal law requires such products
to comply with the standards in United States Pharmacopeia
(USP) and the National Formulary (NF). The USP is most
easily contacted at their website which has the following
address: http://www.usp.org/prn.
- http://www.health-track.org
This website plots cancer deaths and toxic release
in the environment nationally. It is estimated that
environmental factors account for 72% of cancers. It
is reasonable to assume if there is a regional cancer
cluster among people in certain states, there may be
a corresponding increase in the incidence of cancer
among animals living in that same area as well. This
system offers access to combined rates of cancer known
or suspected to have environmental causes and toxic
chemical releases of known or probable carcinogens.
This work is supported by the Pew Charitable Trust.
- http://www.quackwatch.com (Dr. Steven Barrett
M.D.)
- http://www.herbalgram.org (American Botanical
Council)
Conclusions
Nutraceuticals will continue to become a larger
and larger component of the animal health market. While
some products may be safe and effective alternatives
to traditional medicine, others may be fraudulent and
even dangerous. It is important to note that whether
“foods” or “drugs”, nutraceuticals most often have not
been subject to the same regulatory oversight as either
prescription or over-the-counter drugs intended for
the same purpose. Thus due caution is advised in their
use.
It is the job of veterinarians to educate themselves
first and then their client in the advantage and disadvantages
of nutraceuticals. There is a lack of information on
the appropriate levels of supplementation for individual
dogs and cats, as well as a lack of research data supporting
the safety and efficacy of almost all the products currently
sold on the market. The few exceptions have been noted
here.
Many experts believe that giving dogs supplements
of Vitamin C and E play an important role in protecting
the cells of the body from pollution, toxic substances,
free radicals, and pathogenic agents by helping the
body’s immune and detoxification system.
Actual research data supports this belief.
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