Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements

Nutraceuticals and dietary supplements are commonly used in veterinary and human medicine. They are either specifically defined by the FDA or not defined (and not regulated). Since there is no regulatory body for manufacturing of nutraceuticals, it becomes difficult to assess product quality. Studies have shown that nutraceuticals are commonly mislabeled; may contain impurities, such as heavy metals, toxins, bacteria, molds; may have variable quantities of active ingredients; may fail to dissolve (thereby remaining ineffective).

Some guidelines for selecting products likely to be of better quality include:

1. Price. Cheaper compounds are less likely to be of high quality. This has been the general observation with chondroitin sulfate.

2. Lot number and Expiration Date.

3. Claims of safety or efficacy. If a nutraceutical claims a medical benefit on the label, there should be a New Animal Drug Application (NADA) number accompanying the product. While this is "mandated" by law, it is often ignored. A NADA tends to suggest higher quality, because the manufacturer has bothered to abide by FDA regulations for drug manufacture.

4. Ingredient list. All ingredients should be listed by order of magnitude based on weight.

5. Membership in National Animal Supplement Council (www.nasc.cc). This industry group has a close relationship with FDA and strict guidelines for member companies regarding quality control and adverse event recording. Member companies are likely to have better quality products. Look for the seal below.

Vitamin D

In human medicine, many diseases are linked to Vitamin D deficiency: cancer, autoimmune, infectious, and cardiovascular disorders. Until recently, little was known about the role of vitamin D in the physiology of non-skeletal tissues in cats and dogs. Newer studies in veterinary medicine show that in many companion animal disease states (cancer, atopic dermatitis, and inflammatory bowel disease), vitamin D metabolism is changed, resulting in metabolic deficiencies. However, vitamin D supplementation must be done wisely, only after documentation of a deficiency as over-supplementation of vitamin D may cause pathologic hypercalcemia.

https://www.rxvitamins.com/rxvitaminsforpet/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Vitamin-D-Study.pdf