Vitamin C is good for your dog

New Forms and New Uses in Dogs
L. Phillips Brown, D.V.M.



The common wisdom is that humans, other primates, guinea pigs, and a
few birds need to get vitamin C in their diets. Since the rest of the
animals produce it within their own bodies, they no doubt make enough,
right? Well, maybe not. In this article, a doctor of veterinary
medicine looks at the effects of vitamin C supplementation in dogs and
its benefit in fighting arthritis, and other ailments.


Dogs of all ages suffer with various joint and spinal disorders,
including hip dysplasia, osteoarthritis, non-specific arthritis,
osteochrondritis, spondylitis and spondylosis. Treatment often
consists of rest. surgery and/or steroids, nonspecific
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), aspirin, penicillamine or
methotrexate. Many therapeutic compounds produce only short-term
benefits and may actually accelerate the progression of joint
destruction.


Nutritional Considerations


Vitamin C is a vital nutrient in bone and cartilage metabolism.
Although dogs, unlike humans, can manufacture their own vitamin C,
they may not produce enough to counter the effects of aging, stress,
inherited dysfunctions, environmental irritants and poor quality or
high fat pet foods.


In fact, early studies in dogs and horses suggest that daily vitamin C
supplementation might be beneficial in reducing chronic inflammation.
Unfortunately; ordinary vitamin C may cause gastrointestinal upsets i
dogs. A form of vitamin C that would promote higher levels of
intracellular ascorbic acid without negative side effects would be a
useful and unique product.


Clinical Study


The effect of different forms of vitamin C on various locomotor
dysfunctions of dogs were investigated by veterinarians at The Best
Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Over 100 case studies were
evaluated, using varying strengths and combinations of mineral
ascorbates, ascorbic acid and microcrystalline cellulose during a
six-month period. The results indicate that a patented vitamin C
ascorbate / vitamin C metabolite complex, administered orally, may
have application for the reduction of discomfort associated with
nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disorders of dogs. The vitamin C
ascorbate / metabolite complex used in the study was Ester-C.


Product Background


According to the manufacturer, Inter-Cal Corporation, of Prescott,
Arizona, Ester-C is a patented ascorbate supplement containing calcium
ascorbate, naturally occurring dehydroascorbate and the vitamin C
metabolite, threonate. Threonate permits ascorbate to be more rapidly
absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, to cross cell membranes more
efficiently, reach higher cellular levels and be excreted more slowly
than ordinary vitamin C. Ester-C ascorbate is pH neutral and believed
to be water and partially fat soluble.


Mechanism Of Action


Vitamin C may act as an immunoresponsive and chrondrogenerative agent.
In degenerative (i.e., aging) or inflammatory conditions, collagen
breakdown is excessive, resulting in joint discomfort and skeletal
changes. A product that would provide high and prolonged levels of
ascorbic acid would help compression resistance of cartilage,
mobilized white blood cells to the site of inflammation, and enhance
prostaglandin synthesis. The net result would be increased comfort and
mobility.


Conclusion


78 percent of the study dogs receiving Ester-C calcium ascorbate
showed improved mobility within four to five days.


The consistency and degree of response demonstrated that Ester-C
calcium ascorbate provided symptomatic relief to the study dogs
suffering from selected chronic joint and musculoskeletal disorders.
The findings that the condition of many of the "improved" dogs
deteriorated rapidly upon discontinuance of Ester-C ascorbate further
verified its usefulness as primary or adjunctive therapy. These
studies reinforced the earlier observations that supplemental Ester-C
calcium ascorbate corrected mobility problems of dogs and horses.


The findings suggest that, although dogs can manufacture endogenous
ascorbic acid, the amount produced my not be sufficient to prevent or
counteract stresses associated with aging, injury or joint
malpositioning.


From the results of this study, there is significant evidence to
recommend oral Ester-C calcium ascorbate in the management of
non-specific musculoskeletal disorders of dogs.


References


Adkins, T. O. and Kronfield, D.S.: Diet of racing sled dogs affects
erythrocyte depression by stress. Canadian Vet. J., 23:260-3, 1982


Allen, T.A., and Hand, M.S.: Conditionally Essential Nutrients. Proc.
8th ACVIM Forum, pp. 809-811, 1990


Belfield, W.O.: Chronic subclinical scurvy and canine hip dysplasia.
Veterinary Medicine/Small Animal Clinician, 1399-1401, 1976


Berg, G.E.: Polyascorbate (C-Flex), and interesting alternative by
problems in support and movement apparatus in dogs. Norwegian
Veterinary Journal 102:579-581, 1990


Dockter, C unpublished data.


Donoghue, S., Kronfeld, D.S. and Banta, C.A.: A possible vitamin C
requirements in racing sled dogs fed a high fat diet, In: Nutrition
Malnutrition and Diet in Dogs and Cats ed. by meyer, H and Kienzle, E.
pp. 110-114, Hanover, Tierarztliche Hochschule, 1988.


Fay, M.J.: Possible effect of ascorbic acid metabolites on the
cellular uptake of ascorbic acid and other compounds. A dissertation
for degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of Mississippi, 1992


Goodman, S., Vitamin C; The Master Nutrient, Keats Publishing, Inc.
Connecticut, 1991


Kronfeld, D.S.: Stress supplements: Protein and vitamin C, Purebred
Dogs / Kennel Gazette, 100.10:8-9. 1983


Lewis, D.L., Morris, Jr. M.L., and Hand, M.S.: Small Animal Clinical
Nutrition Mark Morris Assoc., Kansas, 1990


Newman, N.L., unpublished data.


Smith, C.: Moro on vitamin C, Natural Pet, Vol2, No. 6:18-19, 1993


Stein, D.: Natural Healing for Dogs and Cats, The crossing press,
California, 1993

"WalterNY" <walternyc RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:d9a6f3f0.0402271413.188b4c45@posting.google.com...

> The effect of different forms of vitamin C on various locomotor
> dysfunctions of dogs were investigated by veterinarians at The Best
> Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah. Over 100 case studies were
> evaluated, using varying strengths and combinations of mineral
> ascorbates, ascorbic acid and microcrystalline cellulose during a
> six-month period. The results indicate that a patented vitamin C
> ascorbate / vitamin C metabolite complex, administered orally, may
> have application for the reduction of discomfort associated with
> nonspecific, chronic inflammatory disorders of dogs. The vitamin C
> ascorbate / metabolite complex used in the study was Ester-C.
>
> According to the manufacturer, Inter-Cal Corporation, of Prescott,
> Arizona, Ester-C is a patented ascorbate supplement containing calcium
> ascorbate, naturally occurring dehydroascorbate and the vitamin C
> metabolite, threonate. Threonate permits ascorbate to be more rapidly
> absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, to cross cell membranes more
> efficiently, reach higher cellular levels and be excreted more slowly
> than ordinary vitamin C. Ester-C ascorbate is pH neutral and believed
> to be water and partially fat soluble.

While I agree that Vitamin C and other antioxidants are important for dogs,
I disagree with the idea that Ester-C has any advantages one way or the
other over any other form of vitamin C. It is curious that the Utah research
never made it to peer reviewed publication anywhere, at least that I can
find. In contrast the following published study clearly shows Ester-C had no
different effect than other forms of ascorbic acid.

Res Vet Sci. 2001 Aug;71(1):27-32.

Pharmacokinetics in dogs after oral administration of two different forms of
ascorbic acid.

Wang S, Berge GE, Hoem NO, Sund RB.

Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo.
swang RemoveThis @netcom.no

The dog is able to synthesise ascorbic acid (AA), but is frequently given
the vitamin in an attempt to improve health and performance. The
pharmacokinetics of AA in this species, however, are not well studied. Using
a selective analytical method and careful stability control, the
pharmacokinetics of orally given AA was studied in 20 dogs, at two dosage
levels (15 and 50 mg kg(-1)) and with two forms of supplement [crystalline
AA and the vitamin C product Ester-C(Inter-Cal Corp., Prescott, AZ, USA)].
After oral administration, a rapid increase was found in the plasma level of
AA, indicating a possible intestinal active transport mechanism in this
species. The obtained C(max)and AUC values were found to increase in a
non-linear fashion when the dose of AA was increased. The pharmacokinetic
modeling of the elimination of AA was made difficult by a pronounced
secondary peak appearing after about 9 hours. The comparison of crystalline
AA and Ester-C did not indicate any significant differences in
pharmacokinetic parameters between the two preparations of the vitamin.
Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.