Author Lani Ritchey
CALIFORNIA CHINS
VITAMINS ARE GOOD FOR YOU
(OR SO OUR MOTHERS ALWAYS SAID)
Back in the old days of animal nutrition, you conducted deficiency and toxicity feeding trials. You formulated a diet that was deficient or toxic in one thing and fed that to young animals for 6-8 weeks . Then you sacrificed them to study the signs of the deficiency or toxicity. Then you repeated the trial with another batch of animals and a slightly different level of the product you are studying. You continued to do that until you found the level that killed the most animals the quickest or caused the symptoms fastest. Now you had establish the deficiency and toxicity levels of that nutrient. And once you finished the deficiency/toxicity feeding trials, you started feeding trials to determine the optimum levels of nutrition for optimum performance.
It required time, money, large numbers of genetically similar animals of both sexes and all ages plus a university/college level animal science department. Nowadays there is even less time and money and it is not politically correct to sacrifice large numbers of animals in feeding trials.
Human nutrition has lagged even further behind than chinchilla nutrition. It is even more politically incorrect to put humans into feeding trials and you certainly can't "sacrifice" them to study internal damage done by toxicities or deficiencies. However in 1997, the recommended dietary allowance or RDAs of numerous vitamins and minerals will reflect amounts needed for optimum health and maxium safe intakes.
The National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine plans to release the first set of guideline for vitamins and minerals realted to bonehealth- such as calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D. The new standards will consist of three numbers: the refined RDA, an estimated average requirment and an upper limit safe intake. It will take four years to review all minerals and vitamins approved for human consumption.
Vitamins are divided into two main categories-fat-soluble vitamins and water-soluble vitamins. Optimum vitamin concentrations are specific to age, breed, environment, and a variety of other factors-facilities, management and production.
FAT-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
Fat-soluble or lipid solution/suspension vitamins are Vitamin A (remember cod-liver oil ?) ,D, E and K.
VITAMIN A
Vitamin A does not occur naturally in plant materials. However the precursors- carotenes and carotenoids (3 forms of carotene and cryptoxanthin) do occur in plant materials( especially rich sources- carrots, peas, lettuce, marigolds, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, apricots, broccoli, cantaloupe, parsley and turnips) . Yellow corn is the only grain that contains appreciable amounts of carotenoid. However fish oils are a rich source of Vitamin A as well as liver, eggs and dairy foods. The commercial name for Vitamin A is retinal(aldehyde form) or retinol(alcohol form).
Vitamin A functions at the molecular level for the production of retinaldehyde in the chromophoric group of the visual pigment component of the visual purple required for dim light vision. It also maintains the integrity of mucous membranes lining the digestive tract, respiratory organs, salivary glands, and tear ducts. The health of these tissues is essential for resisting infections, allergies and pollutants. It is required for the growth and repair of all cellular membranes. It is essential for the health and repair of the eyes, skin and reproductive systems. It regulates the formation of cartilage and is vital to the synthesis of many hormones. Vitamin A is essential for protein metabolism in the liver. It is a co-enzyme in the retina, skin, liver, bone, and adrenal glands It may be stored in the liver, lungs, and kidneys for extended periods of time and perhaps the most important thing it does (in these polluted times) is aiding in the detoxification of poisons. Diabetics and hyperthyroid patients may require more Vitamin A in the Retinal(Retinol) form as they may not be able to convert the plant precursors to a usable form. There is evidence the Vitamin A improves insulin performance. Irritated bowel and Crone's patients may also require higher levels of Vitamin A to help repair the mucous membranes in the digestive tract.
Vitamin A deficiency symptoms include reduced feed intake, rough hair coat ,dry rough skin, edema of joints, lacrimation(tearing of eyes), xerophthalmia (a thickening of the cornea of the eye) , night blindness (nyctalopia) , slow growth, blindness, more kidney stones, low conception rates, abortion, abnormal babies, stillbirths, abnormal semen and more mammary gland infections. A Vitamin A deficiency could really screw up a breeding program. Prior to 1952 , the X-disease or hyperkeratosis killed thousands of cattle in the United States and Europe. A common lubricant (chlorinated naphthalene) used in the feed industry then "bound" the Vitamin A and triggered deficiency symptoms and major economic loss for cattlemen.
Vitamin A deficiency can occur when herbivores are fed
-high concentrate diets(high protein diets are bad for Vitamin A requirements)
-bleached hay grown under drought conditions
-feeds that have been exposed to excessive amounts of sunlight, air or high temperatures
-heavily processed feeds/foods
-feeds that have been oxidized by minerals or other materials(excessive levels of nitrogen fertilizers inhibit the production of carotenes)
-feeds that have been stored too long (longer than 90 days from field to feed dish)
Yes, Vitamin A toxicity does occur. Ruminants don't usually have problems since the rumen microbes break Vitamin A down. Humans and carnivores
can develop Vitamin A toxicity by eating excessive amounts of organ meats-especially liver as it stores Vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A toxicity symptoms include dry ,rough skin, rough hair coat, yellowing of the skin, fat and the whites of the eyes (you look like a hepatitis victim), painful joint swellings, lethargy, abdominal pain, headache, profuse sweating and nausea.
Oddly more human problems occur with Vitamin A toxicity due to megadosing of vitamins.
Oddities of life-poultry producers feed high corn levels or marigold petals to get yellow/orange fat and egg yolks. Essentially poultry are being fed nearly toxic levels to please the American consumer who wants yellow yolks and yellow fat on their chicken . The slight yellow/orange color in buttermilk is from the carotenes/carotenoids that dairy cattle consume in their plant material rich diet.
VITAMIN D
Vitamin D is a group of closely related antirachitic compounds. The commercial name of Vitamin D is calciferol. There are 2 primary forms of Vitamin D- ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) which is found in the plant steroid precursor-ergo sterol. The second form is cholecalciferol(Vitamin D3) which is found only in animal tissue as the precursor - 7-dehydrocholesterol. ( Yes, that dreaded chemical -cholesterol is part of the precursor.)
Vitamin D is required for calcium and phosphorus absorption, normal bone mineralization and the mobilization of calcium from the bone. Rickets is the classic symptom of Vitamin D deficiency. Other symptoms includes a decrease in calcium and inorganic phosphorus levels in the blood, swollen and stiff joints, anorexia, irritability, tetany and convulsions.
Babies may be born dead, deformed or weak. Older animals may develop brittle, easily fractured bones and posterior paralysis from vertebral fracture. Sounds just like osteoporosis and osteomalacia! (It is !!) General signs of Vitamin D deficiency may include labored breathing, digestive disturbances (cramps, vomiting and diarrhea) and poor growth rates. Unfortunately the same symptoms can be used for Vitamin D toxicity! Excess amounts of calcium will lead to the calcification of kidneys, blood vessels, heart, and skin. Parathyroid and thyroid disorders will also upset the calcium metabolism causing major systemic failures.
Normally most land-raised livestock do not store large amounts of Vitamin D in the liver. Vitamin D can be synthesized by animals exposed to sunlight (ultra-violet light)or fed sun-cured forages. Or the addition of fish oils (yummy- cod liver oil !) will provide enough Vitamin D for mammals.
Now for a bit of biochemistry- Vitamin D is absorbed from the diet in the intestinal tract with lipids(fats) and in the presence of the bile salts. It metabolizes in the liver to 25-hydroxyl-vitamin -D3 which is four times as active as the original Vitamin D form. The 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 is circulated to the kidney where 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3 is formed. This form is five times more active than the liver form. Since the liver and kidney have such an active role in Vitamin D metabolism, you can see why any problems with those two organs can cause bone defects and other health problems.
VITAMIN E
Vitamin E has undergone some changes since I went to school. Most Vitamin E supplements are a synthetic mix of all rac-alpha-tocopherol. Rac-alpha-tocopherol is a mixture of any eight stereo isomers( usually D-alpha-tocopheryl succinate, D-alpha-tocopheryl acetate, DL-alpha-tocopheryl acetate or DL-alpha-tocopheryl succinate). Even the preferred expression of Vitamin E activity has changed. IU or international units are now considered obsolete and molar concentration is the correct form (US Pharmacopoeia 1985).
Vitamin E requirements are difficult to formulate because of the interrelationships with other dietary component. Antioxidants, sulfur bearing amino acids(methionine, etc.), and selenium are the main interrelationships. High concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids form the metabolism of unsaturated oils (corn oil, linseed oil, and soybean oil, etc.) increase the requirements for Vitamin E.
Vitamin E is an inter- and intracellular antioxidant. It is also a structural component of biological membranes. vitamin E 's most current role is the free radical scavenger in the immune system and disease resistance.
Vitamin E and selenium function in the maintenance of structural and functional integrity of skeletal muscles, cardiac muscle, smooth muscle and the peripheral vascular system. The classic symptom of Vitamin E deficiency is White Muscle Disease or nutritional muscular dystrophy . Stiff-lamb disease ,a lamb trouble characterized by stiffness and dystrophic lesions is a Vitamin E deficiency result. Testicle shrinkage can occur on a deficient diet(it definitely affects rat and hamster sexual performance and fertility but not humans). Anemia is also a possibility.
Physical changes in feedstuffs influence the amount of Vitamin E available. Heat, oxygen, moisture, freezing, unsaturated fatty acids, certain trace minerals(iron in particular) and high nitrates can affect the stability of Vitamin E. Naturally dried corn can lose 15-25% of Vitamin E in storage. High moisture feeds (silage, etc.) lose even more than dried feeds. Consequently it is very difficult to formulate adequate amounts of Vitamin E in feed rations.
Your best sources of Vitamin E are asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, chocolate( Surprise !), margarine, corn, safflower, and soybean oils, peanuts, wheat germ , whole grains, yeast, all legumes, nuts, eggs and sprouting plants.
VITAMIN K
Vitamin K is a group of compounds that do a similar job-antihemorrhagic . They are required for the synthesis of plasma clotting (blood clots) factors- prothrombin (factor II), proconvertin (factor VII), Christmas factor (factor IX) and Stuart-Prower factor (factor X). Vitamin K also is a liver co-enzyme for energy metabolism and respiration.
Vitamin K is composed to fat-soluble quinone compounds. There are two major forms of Vitamin K. Phylloquinones are found in plants and menaquinones or Vitamin K2 is produced by the digestive tract 's bacteria flora. Vitamin K is abundant in green roughage, leafy green vegetables(cabbage, kale, and spinach) ,cauliflower, tomatoes, peas, and carrots. Beef and pork meat have small amount of Vitamin K.
The classic symptoms of a Vitamin K deficiency is poor blood clotting , hemorrhaging or hypoprothrombinemia . Of course many things can cause poor blood clotting rates- too much aspirin, antibiotics- penicillin and tetracycline , sulfonamides, mineral oil, a thyroid disorder, Vitamin D deficiency ( calcium is an essential component of blood clots), rat poisons (warfarin), blood thinners( dicumarol based and Coumadin), moldy clover (sweet clover disease) , and onions( in dogs).
Dicumarol is a fungal metabolite produced on moldy or improperly cured sweet clover hay ( and other legumes). "Sweet clover disease" or dicumarol poisoning is the action behind warfarin type rat poisons. Warfarin is an effective rat poison that does not discriminate between rats, mice, children, pets or endangered species. Dying from uncontrolled hemorrhages is not pleasant. Even unborn babies are at risk as dicumarol can pass the through the placenta. Patients taking dicumarol or Coumadin for its blood thinning properties have to be monitored regularly as uncontrolled hemorrhaging in the body is extremely difficult to treat.
Yes, there are genetic disorders -the various hemophilia disorders that are treated with Vitamin K supplements and bioengineered blood factors instead of whole blood transfusions. The ability to manufacture pure cultures of the various blood factors has made life safer for hemophiliacs. Too many hemophiliacs have received contaminated whole blood transfusions.
WATER-SOLUBLE VITAMINS
The water-soluble vitamins include the Vitamin B complex series- thiamin(B1), niacin(B3), folic acid, riboflavin(B2), biotin, pyridoxine(B6), pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, choline , cobalamin (B12) and Vitamin C(ascorbic acid).
There are other B complex growth and health factors that may have some importance in nutrition and health- inositol, PABA and pangamic acid. They have limited acceptance in the medical/veterinary world. if somebody decides to invest money in clinical trials, they may become more important.
Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water, are rapidly absorbed, circulate freely, are rapidly excreted in urine or sweat and must be regularly replenished as they are poorly stored in body tissues. They are fragile chemical compounds easily destroyed by processing, storage and food preparation treatments.
VITAMIN B1
Horrors-more biochemistry to learn ! It is the infamous KREB cycle ! Thiamin or thiamine is really essential to every cell. It functions in ALL cells as the co-enzyme - cocarboxylase. It is the co-enzyme in all enzymatic carboxylations of a-keto acids in the tricarboxylic acid cycle ( alias the KREB cycle or the ATP/ADP cellular energy cycle) Just think of thiamin as the battery charger for cellular energy. It is also crucial in glucose metabolism as a co-enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway.
Thiamin deficiency symptoms are central nervous system disorders. If the pentose phosphate pathway and the glucose metabolism are not "running" correctly, the brain doesn't get glucose(brain food and energy). So most symptoms include weakness; retracted head; cardiac arrhythmia; PEM or polioencephalomalacia in sheep and cattle and lamina softening or degeneration of brain gray matter in cattle. Pretty serious health problems. Besides the usual symptoms of poor growth, poor appetite, and something slightly different-diarrhea, you have basic neurological problems to deal with..
Some odd differences between species-snakes (mostly the pet ones) can develop severe thiamin deficiency. Imagine a python or a boa constrictor having convulsions. Not too many veterinarians would want to work on a thrashing snake . Humans(actually any mammal does) develop a disease called beri beri . The dictionary's description says- " a deficiency disease marked by inflammatory or degenerative changes of the nerves, digestive system, and heart. Sounds like fun !
There are thiamin anti metabolites found in bracken fern and raw fish. Livestock that forage on pastures /eat hay contaminated with bracken fern can develop seizures. The old wives warnings about letting your cat or dog (especially dogs) eat quantities of raw fish are based on thiamin deficiency symptoms.
However there are modern problems that destroy or use up thiamin levels.
Physical and emotional stress, food additives(particularly nitrates and sulfites), baking soda, air pollutants, alcohol, dietary carbohydrates, antibiotics, heat, light, and moisture will destroy thiamin.
Particularly rich sources of thiamin vary from plums, prunes, raisins, wheat germ, whole-grain flour/breads to brewers yeast, beef kidney, ham and eggs.
Sounds like breakfast !
Thiamin requirements depend on the species or rather the type of stomach. Ruminants(cattle, deer, sheep and goats) can manufacture their own thiamin once the rumen is functioning. Single-stomach animals (dogs, pigs and humans) need an outside source of thiamin. Cecal-fermentation species(guinea pigs, rabbits and horses) should manufacture their own. At least the researched species do. Who knows about chinchillas ?
VITAMIN B2
Riboflavin functions in two co-enzymes- flavine mononucleotide (FMN or riboflavin 5-phosphate) and flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD). It acts as an essential respiratory co-enzyme(Warburg's yellow enzyme) in all cells. It is crucial in the conversion to dietary protein to cellular energy.
It works with Vitamin A to maintain the mucous membranes lining the respiratory , digestive, circulatory and excretory systems. It helps preserve the integrity of the nervous systems, skin and eyes.
Riboflavin is essential to the production of somatotropin (growth hormones), thyroxin, ACTH(adrenal hormone complex) and insulin. Obviously a riboflavin deficiency would be BAD news for a body ! And as it is essential for the production of growth hormones, it also controls the growth and development of a fetus. So reproduction would be affected by a deficiency.
The primary dietary sources of riboflavin are liver, heart, and kidney of beef, pork, and sheep; milk, whey, cheese, ice cream; distiller's solubles; brewers yeast;broccoli; eggs and poultry meat; fish; whole grain breads and cereals. For feeds, alfalfa and distiller's solubles are a very rich source . Oil meals(cottonseed meal, sunflower seed meal, soybean seed meal, etc.) are considered fair sources of riboflavin. However various things destroy or hinder riboflavin- antibiotics, oral contraceptives, heat, light (ultra violet range) and oxygen and excessive dietary protein levels. The milk pasteurization can destroy up to 20 % of the riboflavin. Ironic-they expose milk to heat to kill disease causing organisms and then expose it to ultra-violet light to activate the Vitamin D while destroying the heat and light sensitive vitamins!
In humans, the deficiency symptoms include severe personality disturbances, fatigue, loss of appetite, digestive problems(affects the liver), anxiety, hypertension, lesions on the lips, mouth, eyes, skin and genitals. The description of the lesions read- dry scaling of the red surface of the lips and corners of the mouth (cheilosis), magenta-colored tongue, dermatitis, abnormal intolerance of the eyes to light leading to lacrimination(tearing) and eye redness(corneal vascularization).
Interestingly in poultry, the main symptom is leg paralysis-curled -toe paralysis, along with diarrhea ,poor hatchability and low egg production.
In swine, the animal develop stiff and crooked legs, skin problems and sometimes cataracts. Along with poor reproduction and lactation in breeding sows and gilts that would make a major dent in your break -even ratio per sow.
Now ruminants and cecal fermentation animals are not supposed to need riboflavin supplements. However until the bacteria get going in the rumen and cecum, the animals are deficient in riboflavin. Depending on the species, the bacteria may not be fermenting until 6-8 weeks after birth.
There is one problem mentioned with excessive doses of riboflavin-heart palpitations. The advice is lower the dose.
VITAMIN B3
Niacin is part of the coenzyme forms of nicotinamide, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide(-) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). The various names for Vitamin B3 are niacin, niacinamide, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. Good dietary sources of niacin are chicken, beef, pork, and sheep livers: roasted peanuts: swordfish, tuna, halibut and yeast. The B3 plant form tends to be bound into metabolically unavailable forms.
It is essential in carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism. It is also important for liver detoxification of portal blood NH3 (ammonia) to urea. In other species(ruminants in particular) , niacin is essential to liver metabolism of ketones in ketosis. It is essential for the synthesis of bile salts which are necessary for the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins. It regulates the production of hormones (thyroxin, insulin and somatotropin). It may reduce cholesterol and triglycerides associated with heart and circulatory disease.
The requirement for niacin can vary due to several factors- amino acid balance, dietary energy supply, dietary rancidity, de novo synthesis and niacin availability in the feeds. Amino acid balances can increase or decrease the niacin availability. Excess levels of leucine, arginine and glycine will increase the requirement. Tryptophan (takes 60mg of Tryptophan to form 1 mg of niacin) can be converted into niacin, so it decreases the need for dietary niacin. Certain antibiotics and high energy diets will also increase the need for niacin. Alcohol, stress and cooking tend to destroy niacin in food and feed.
The usual generic symptoms of deficiency are poor appetite, poor growth, muscle weakness, digestive disorders and diarrhea. Niacin deficiency does produce something different- a scaly dermatitis and occasionally microcytic anemia. Pellagra or black tongue disease(dogs) is the text book classic deficiency disease. Pellagra in humans, pigs and chickens is demonstrated by a fiery red tongue, ulcers of the mouth, dermatitis, loss of appetite and other symptoms. In pigs, other symptoms include weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting, dermatitis and normocytic anemia. Poultry have poor feathering, enlarged hocks besides the mouth ulcers. Dogs develop a black tongue plus the other problems too.
Excess doses of niacin will cause flushing and itching of the skin. For some, heart palpitations can occur.
VITAMIN B 5
Pantothenic acid or calcium pantothenate means "from everywhere" acid. It is commonly found in brewers yeast; beef, pork, lamb and chicken livers; eggs; herring; raw peanuts; whole-grain cereals; legumes; molasses and bran. But heat(cooking) destroys it. As much as 40% of pantothenic acid is destroyed while cooking. Methyl bromide, an insecticide, termiticide and fumigant that was commonly used to fumigant houses (termites), grain silos, and ship holds containing feed and food also destroys pantothenic acid.
All of the B complex vitamins do very similar "jobs". Pantothenic acid is a coenzyme for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in cells. It was originally known as coenzyme A(CoA) -meaning co-enzyme for acetylation. It is also required for the synthesis of acetylcholine in nerve cells, somatotropin(growth hormones) and the adrenal cortex hormones. It breaks down fats to fatty acids. It plays an essential role in amino acid intake, balancing the water content of tissues and preventing infection. It is used to treat post-operative shock, curare and isoniazid poisoning . It may help relieve some symptoms of vertigo. Pantothenic acid helps fight infection by assisting some white blood cells and it promotes wound healing.
It is thought to be useful in the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. It may also promote insulin production in marginal diabetics.
Pantothenic acid deficiency was never assigned a textbook classic disease name. Since the vitamin's functions are very similar to other B complex vitamins, it can be hard to separate a pantothenic acid problem from the other B complex deficiencies. However in pigs, a characteristic "goose-stepping" gait does occur along with scurfy skin, thin hair, a brown secretion around the yes, digestive troubles, slow growth and poor reproduction. Chickens will fail to grow and feather out along with the usual skin lesions on the eyelids, around the mouth and vent and on the feet. In fox, dogs, and piebald rats, a pantothenic acid deficiency causes a premature graying of the fur (but not in human hair).
VITAMIN B6
Pyridoxine,pyridoxol, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine are the four chemical forms of Vitamin B6. It acts as a co-enzyme in all cells and is essential for the metabolism of protein from dietary amino acids and lipids from dietary fatty acids. It is essential for for the complete metabolism of tryptophan- a very essentail amino acid. It may be part of the co-enzyme that make lecithin and it may convert cholesterol to cholesterol ester which might prevent heart disease. It controls the formation and function of niacin ( another vitamin), red blood cells, bile salts, the various hormones controlling growth, reproduction and bone formation. It helps prevent dental infection and cavities by maintaining the integrity of teeth and facial bones. It is a co-enzyme in muscle, lymph, liver and nerve tissues. It maintains the chemical balance in body fluids and regulates the excretion of water, energy production and resistance to stress. You can guess at the deficiency symptoms just knowing the functions of Vitamin B6, can't you ?
There are a lot of drugs that destroy or hinder the function of Vitamin B6. Penicillamine, isoniazid, hydralazine, cortisone, oral contraceptives. The interesting thing is levodopa, a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease is blocked by doses of Vitamin B6. Usually drugs block the act of vitamins, not the other way around ! While this vitamin is considered more stable during food/feed preparation, 40-50% of its biological availability will be loss during cooking, storage and especially pasteurization.
Again liver from meat animals and poultry, brewers yeast, peanuts, fish(herring, mackerel and salmon in particular), soybeans, walnuts,lima beans, corn
The usual deficiency symptoms of :loss of appetite, diarrhea, skin and mouth disorders (acrodynia) and blindness may occur. Anemia,(microcytic and hypochromic anemias) ,convulsions, white blood cell dysfunction and hypertensive symptoms may also occur. Prenatal deficiencies may cause blood disorders and mental retardation. So reproduction and fertility can affected by a Vitamin B6 deficiency. In theory, inmature ruminants need supplementation until the rumen bacteria start fermentation. It is probable that cecal fermentation animals have the same need.
Toxicity or excessive doses may cause heart palpitations and very yellow urine.
VITAMIN B12
There are two naturally occurring forms of Vitamin B12- adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin. The commonly used commercial form is Cyanocobalamin which is a very stable synthetic product. All Vitamin B12 forms contain 4.5 % cobalt. therefore a cobalt deficiency can cause a Vitamin B12 deficiency.
The primary function of Vitamin B12 is the metabolism of nucleic acids(DNA and RNA) , proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It has an essential part in the synthesis of purine and pyrimidine, transfer of methyl groups(-ch3-), protein formation and in some species-propionate metabolism. Vitamin B12 and folic acid are involved in the production of red blood cells(it is commonly given to anemic patients). It acts as a co-enzyme in all cells and especially in liver, neural, kidney, heart, muscle, skin and bone metabolism. It maintains the health of nerve cell membranes, tissue membranes, the intestinal tract, bone marrow, and is part of growth hormones.
Since Vitamin B12 and cobalt go chemical hand -in-hand, it is very hard to distinguish the two deficiencies. Unfortunately you have the same generic symptoms- poor appetite, poor growth, poor condition, muscle weakness and the demyelination of the peripheral nerves. With the demyelination of the nerves brings on memory loss, paranoia and exaggerated mood fluctuations. Some people develop psychosis long before the textbook symptoms appear. Pernicious anemia is the classic textbook condition. They are all bad news with either a cobalt deficiency or a Vitamin B 12 deficiency.
The best food/feed sources-liver and kidney of lamb, pork, beef;egg yolks ; crab, salmon, sardines, herring and oysters. Heat, light, and oxygen will degrade Vitamin B12. Various drugs will also destroy or inhibit its function-aspirin and aspirin substitutes, codeine, chloramphenical, oral contraceptives and neomycin.
VITAMIN C
This vitamin has stirred up enough mud in its day. Dr. Linus Pauling may still earn another Nobel prize long after his death. His position on Vitamin C and mega-dosing , free-radicals, antioxidants,and other things made the establishment rise up in arms , kick and scream for years. Now some of his then radical ideas have become mainstream pharmaceuatical/nutritional thinking.
Good sources of Vitamin C( ascorbic acid, ascorbate,calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, or anti-scorbutic vitamin) are raw milk, citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries, cranberries, rose hips, potatoes, raw greens, green bell pappers, parsely, guava, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. In fact, any fresh fruit or vegetable has some Vitamin C -perhaps just enough to keep clinical scurvy away.
However many things destroy or hinder Vitamin C. Air pollutants, industrial toxins, smoking, alcohol, aspirin, anticoagulants, antideppressants, diuretics, indomethacin, prednisone, steriod hormones, warfarin, heat, light, oxygen and leaching during food preparation are the destroyers of Vitamin C.
Originally scurvy prevention was the main function of Vitamin C. Today, we know that it has many, many vital functions. It regulates amino acid metabolism. it helps maintain the strenght and integrity of blood-vessel walls especially the capillariy ones. It acts as antioxidant that protects other vitamins and body tissues from pollutatns, toxins and free radicals. It prevents the conversion of food nitrites(freid bacon is bad one) to cancer-causing nitrosamines. It promotes the absorption of iron by the body.( Remember the yellow pigment on a chinchilla's front teeth is due to iron being incorporated into the enamel.) It assists in the formation of bones, teeth, and cartilage. Vitamin C affects the health of all cells and tissue membranes. It is necessary for the metabolism of body fats. It maintains the adrenal glands and ovaries,ensuring the proper production of various hormones. It plays a major role in body growth( goes back to bones and cartilage), wound healing and infection fighting white blood cells. It acts as an co-enzyme in the production of collagen(helps hold your teeth in the jaw), steriod hormones and pigment molecules.
So the classic symptoms of scurvy included bleeding gums, loose teeth, bruising, edema, slow healing and insufficent adrenal gland activity. It could also affect reproduction as the ovaries may not be completley functional.
It used to be thought that primates( man , other nonhuman apes and monkeys) and guinea pigs were the only animals that needed Vitamin C.
However other livestock resarch has shown that rabbits, horses(the elderly ones), fruit -eating bats need Vitamin C in their diets. Dogs may or may not benefit from Vitamin C in their diet. There is a controvery about hip dyplasia and Vitamin C in puppy rations. It certainly wouldn't hurt puppies to have Vitamin C. Animals being treated for cancer and dental problems are regularly administered Vitamin C. Even your dentist approves of Vitamin C for your bleeding weak gums-it helps keep those teeth in their collagen sockets and keep the peridontal disease at bay.
B COMPLEX( or " not officially a vitamin" collection )
Biotin or Vitamin H never became an official vitamin at least for the Food and Drug Agency's purposes. It is essential for bacteria and yeast. Raw egg whites will inhibit biotin in birds and mammals. ( Beware of drinking too many eggnogs!) Yet a biotin-free diet, too many raw egg whites or sulfa drugs can cause some biotin deficiency associated problems. You have the standard dermatitis, loss of hair, poor growth for most animals. Poultry has poor hatchability and pigs get spasticity in the hind legs, cracks in the feet, and the characteristic(for swine that is) Vitamin B complex dermatitis.
The known or at least very good guesses for human health suggest that biotin could be vitally important. It does regulate the metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids and aids in the synthesis of body protein, carbohydrates and fat. It maintains sweat glands( remember yeast, bacteria and pigs don't have sweat glands), nerve tissue, bone marow, male sex glands, blood cells, skin tone and hair quality. It act s as a liver co-enyzme in at least four metabolic pathways.
And the reason they know this much about the need for biotin is antibiotics especially the sulfonamide or sulfa drugs!!!!!! The use of sulfa drugs in diarrhea is a diaster. Sulfa drugs destroy both the good bacteria as well as the bad ones. They prolong protozoan infections, so they are definitely contraindicated for giardia infection.
Good feed or food source of biotin include whole grains, molasses and milk.
CHOLINE
While choline is technically not a vitamin , The lack of choline has been shown to cause some rather important (deadly) liver dysfunctions if not present in the diet. It is essential for the synthesis of fatty compounds that become components of cell and tissue membranes. It regulates the transport of substances across the cell membranes. It required for the synthesis of acetylcholine which transmits nerve impulses from nerve to nerve. It seems to part of "memory" function in the brain. It helps the liver metabolize fatty deposits that concentrate in the liver.
In ten species of animals, it has been shown that choline deficiency can cause fatty liver disease (hepatic lipodosis) and severe hemorrhages in the kidneys. In some humans, cirrhosis, liver steatosis and chronic hepatic disease will improve if choline is supplemented. Of course the usual Vitamin B deficiency symptoms could happen- poor growth, nerve and muscle problems, etc..
The best source of choline is eggs. Most ingested choline is destroyed by the intestinal tract bacteria. , so it is necessary to consume several hundred milligrams to supply the human body with the necessary 10-20 mgs per day. If the diet is deficient in methionine-an amino acid, choline can't be manufactured(chemically speaking) by the body. Methionine and ethanolamine can create choline. Choline plus homocysteine can form methionine. So an essential amino acid and a quasi-vitamin can do transmethylation. Folic acid and Vitamin B12 are also part of this little chemical factory. Again this shows that other chemicals can be a limiting factor that triggers a deficiency of another chemical.
FOLIC ACID
Again not officially recognized as a vitamin but recommended by the FDA for pregnant women , folic acid( folacin or folate)in early pregnancy seems to prevent or at least lower the incidence of spinal bifida.If Vitamin B 12 is deficient but folic acid is available ,then pernicious anemia can develop without the unique telltale signs in the blood cells. Other forms of anemia can occur-megoblastic and macrocytic anemias are common during a deficiency. Again poor breeding, poor growth, skin problems are common signs of a Vitamin B complex deficiency will also occur.
Leafy green vegetables,asparagus, eggs, heart, liver and kidney from meat animals, tuna, bran, wheat germ and any yeast product are excellent sources of folic acid. Alcohol, stress, oral contraceptives, methotrexate, sulfamides, heat, light and oxygen will destroy folic acid.
Besides the prevention of spinal bifida in humans,( I wonder if breeders of Manx cats, Cymrics and Japanese Bobtails have tried folic acid in the diets of their breeding queens ? Spinal bifida is a problem in the tailless breeds of cats.) folic acid is an essential co-enzyme in all cells, particpates in the synthesis of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA), choline, and enzymes necessary for cellular division. It regulates the embyronic and fetal development of nerve cells. It maintains the nervous system, intestinal tract, sex organs , white blood cells and is essential for normal growth. It is an essential component of genes and chromosomes(remember the DNA,RNA and nucleic acids ?). It can help in pain control( repairing nerve tissue ?)
EVEN MORE CONTESTED VITAMIN-LIKE NUTRIENTS
INOSITOL
Inositol is another contested nutrient. Animals fed an inositol defienct diet will exhibit poor growth and alopecia (hair loss). However many other vitamin and mineral deficiencies will also show the same symtoms. It definitely is essential for the normal function of pantothenic acid. It seems to interact with Vitamin E, choline and biotin. It is not conclusive but there is indication that inositol prevents the nerve damage found in muscular dystrophy, hardening of the arteries and fatty degeneration of the liver. ( Perhaps we should be eating more brewers yeast and wheat germ in our diets.)
But it is very hard to not get enough inositol in the diet. It is found in yeast, citrus fruits, wheat germ, lima beans, peas, heart, liver and kidneys from meat animals. Antibiotics, mineral oil, diarrhea and other digestive -tract disruptions probably impair the absorption of the nutrient.
PARA AMINO BENZOIC ACID or PABA
Yes, it is the same PABA found in sun-screen products. If you are deficient in PABA and don't get enough dietary folic acid, then you can develop folic acid deficiency symptoms. An excellent example of limiting factors principle- if one part of a formula is limited in ingredient amounts, then whole recipe suffers from the deficiency.
There are a few things known about PABA(besides its use as a sun screen product). It is an essential component of folic acid. Sulfanilamide antibiotics are metabolically competitive with PABA which explains why hypertension, anxiety and digestive disorders occur (interference with folic acid). Yogurt, liver, rice, brewers yeast and wheat germ are excellent sources of dietary PABA.
PANGAMIC ACID
Pangamate, Vitamin B 15 or pangamic acid is really a borderline nutrient.
France, Spain, Germany, Japan and Russia consider it to be a "vitamin". The United States wants to consider it a feed/food additive. Right now the largest market is race horses and athletes who need/want increase oxygen content in the cells. Check back in 10 years and lets see what has been discovered about this "nutrient".
CONCLUSION
This article was intended to make people aware of their own diet and nutriional needs plus the diets and nutritionary needs of their food producing and non-food producing animals (companion animals). Since I graduated in 1977, tremendous changes in animal nutrition have occured.
Even human nutrition has improved thanks to the demands of athletes demanding optimium performance from their bodies. With the advent of knock-out animals, the expression of indivual genes and their influence on diet, basic cellular functions, health and reproduction can be studied. The knowledge base of livestock and human nutrition should explodeacross all facets of living and production.
Suggested reading material and references
Periodicals
FEEDSTUFFS 12400 Whitewater Dr, Suite 160 Minnetonka Minn 55343
FEED MANAGEMENT Watt Publishing co. 122 S. Wesley Avenue
Mt Morris,Il 61054-1497
PETFOOD INDUSTRY Watt Publishing Co. 122 S. Wesley Avenue
Mt Morris , IL 61054-1497
SCIENTIFUR PO Box 145 Okern N-0509 Oslo Norway
Books
ANIMAL NUTRITION ,? th edition, Maynard and Loosli , Mcgraw-Hill
I have the 6th edition but it is updated on a regular basis(about 4-5 years between editions). It was originally done in 1937 when vitamins were being discovered. it is good for the history of animal nutrtion.
RABBIT FEEDING AND NUTRITION, Cheeke, Peter R. Academic Press 1987 It is easy to read.
RABBIT PRODUCTION, McNitt, Patton, Lukefar and Cheeke, Interstate Publishers 1996 Another easy to read book.
Any of the NUTRIENT REQUIRMENTS OF------------ books from the National Academy Press 2101 Constitution Avenue Washington DC 20418.
The bboks cover laboratory animals, poultry, fish, horses, dairy cattle, swine, cats, sheep, dogs, mink and foxes, goats, nonhuman primates, rabbits and beef cattle.
SUPER-NUTRITION MEGAVITAMIN REVOLUTION, Passwater, Richard A., Pocket Books, 1975
VITAMINS AND YOU, Benowicz, Robert J. , Berkley Books 1981
Interesting articles to read
Creating a model of bioavailabilty by Dr. Drew Vermeire. Dec. 1996 FEED MANAGEMENT
An update on the role of chlorine in human metabolism and immunity , JOURNAL OF CLIN. INVEST.,98, 1 (1996) and J. BIOL. CHEM. 271, 23080 (1996)
Magensium may stave off Cerebral Palsy, SCIENCE NEWS, VOL. 150 DEC, 14,1996 Pg. 372
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