Nutraceuticals for behavior and medical conditions (Proceedings)

Advisory board member: Veterinary Institute for Integrative Medicine

          •        Behavioral Issues: Antianxiety/Calming Support: Stress, anxiety, nervousness, hyperactivity, excessive barking, destructive, aggressive behavior, thunderstorm phobia; Envt'l changes: boarding, moving, traveling, separation anxiety, veterinary visits, Clinical success w/ Vetriscience Composure: Nutritional factors

          • Composure has been found to be beneficial to:Pets home alone (in working families with a dog the average time spent home alone by the dog is 9 hours per day)

Pets with separation anxiety, travel anxiety; Pets that require routine Veterinary visits for nail clipping, check ups, minor exams, ear grooming etc.

          • CONCLUSIONS:Composure can be used whenever a pet is in the state of stress. A pet in a state of stress will exhibit increased blood pressure, increased anxiety, increased cortisol production, and increased ACTH levels. Cortisol and ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) levels in the blood are stress indicators. The components of Composure have been shown to decrease levels of Cortisol and ACTH in vivo. Hemodynamic parameters have also been shown to be positively influenced in animals receiving the bioactive peptides in Composure.

Reference: Gary Pusillo, BS. MS. PHD. PAS. ACAN Dipl.,TECHNICAL BULLETIN COMPOSURE ,A calming support supplement for dogs and cats, Vetriscience Corp, VT

          • Medical Conditions: Urinary Bladder Control: Nutraceutical Formulation: Bladder Strength, Feline & Canine, Vetriscience: Supports Bladder muscle strength, control, antimicrobial support

          • Indications: Spayed, senior pets

          • Ingredients: Pumpkin seed powder, rehmannia, corn silk, saw palmetto extract, olive leaf extract, Vit. B6

          • Immune Support Nutraceuticals

Medicinal Mushrooms, Arabinogalactin (larch tree extract), Olive leaf extract

          • Glutathione/ Dimethyl glycine (DMG), Lysine, Antioxidants: Vits A,C,E, Zinc

          • Grapefruit Seed Extract: OPC's; Chinese Herbs: antimicrobial, antiviral: Astragalus, Codonopsis

          • Lysine:Essential amino acid; Beneficial in vascular integrity; Important in immune function; Key small animal indication: feline herpes conjunctivitis and respiratory diseases; Also beneficial for equine herpes virus

          • Myco-Immune: 7 mushroom combination: Immune enhancers, increase tumor necrosis factor, stimulate macrophage phagocytic activity, imrove NK cell number, stimulate interleukins 1 &2, B-lymphocyte stimulation, improve T-cell ratios, gamma interferon stimulation, improve antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity

          • Myco-Immune: 7 mushroom combination (Thorne Research)

          • Hepatic Support

S-AME: S-Adenosylmethionine (denosyl: Nutramax Corp); Milk Thistle (Marin: Nutramax Corp);; Hepagen C & F: (Thorne res.) nutraceutical combination for liver disease; DMG, Vit B12, Choline Citrate, Methionine, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, Milk Thistle (silymarin extract), turmeric, alpha lipoic acid; N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine: supports detoxification, hepatoprotection, antioxidant

          • Gastrointestinal Support: Digestive enzymes; Amino Acids; Weight loss ingredients

Digestive enzyme combination: biogest (thorne): betaine hydrochloride, HCl, pepsin, pancreatin, ox bile; Plantizyme: vegetarian source digestive enzyme formulation (thorne): amylase, protease, lipase, cellulase, lactase; Prozyme: another excellent vegetarian source digestive enzyme formulation

          • Gastrointestinal: Weight Loss: Vetri-lean: weight loss supplement ( VS)

Starch blocker Phase 2 pet: neutralizes starch to induce weight loss; cuts starch digestion by 75%; By blocking starch carb's as a source of energy, dogs forced to burn body fat. Wt loss attributed to loss of fat, not muscle; Study: 15 canines: avg. wt loss of 5% over 8 wks, decreases of 1.44" girth reduction; Safely & naturally reduces absorption of carbohydrate calories

Cardiac support

          • Co-Q 10: antioxidant & cardioprotective; essential factor in ATP production

          • Taurine: essential for cardiac function, modulates cardiac activity, stabilizing cell membrane transport, inotropic effect

          • L-carnitine: essential cofactor for transport of free long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria; hi conc. In myocardial muscle

          • Potassium & magnesium: minerals affecting heart muscle function

          • Hawthorne: potent antioxidant flavonoids & improves cardiac function

          • Vit E & Selenium: essential for proper cardiac function

          • Products: Biocardia (thorne), Cardiostrength (VS)

          • Acetylator (VS):

          • Combination of N-acetyl glucosamine (NAG), digestive enzymes, lactobacillus acidophilus & alfalfa which helps strengthen the protective layers of the g.i. tract, aids digestion & eases food allergy reacions

          • NAG: amino sugar essential for glycoprotein & gag's; high content in mucosal lining of g.i. tract.

          • Some animals w/ irritable bowel, colitis, etc require increased amounts of NAG to maintain digestive tract lining integrity

          • Acetylator (VS):Lactobacillus Acidophilus is an acid producing beneficial microbial & other beneficial g.i. bacteria (probiotics) : aid in the manufacture of B vitamins, digestive enzymes & help maintain proper pH in the gut

          • Alfalfa: excellent source of Vit K & chlorophyl

          • Cardiac Support:

          • Fish oil concentrates: EPA: eicosapentaenoic acid & docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

          • Important to be free of contaminants, pcb's, heavy metals

          • Impt. Support for cardiac, dermatologic, neoplastic, musculoskeletal, geriatric conditions

          • Cancer Support:

Numerous nutraceuticals for cancer support: Fish oils; Selenium; Chinese herbs; Medicinal mushrooms; IP-6

          • Should be an entire lecture

          • Selenium & Cancer Prevention

          • Randomized double-blind multicenter trial; 37% lower total cancer incidence w/ Se Total cancer mortality reduced 50%!; Lung: 46% decrease; colorectal: 58% decr.

          • Total carcinomas: 45% decrease.; Clark, L., ('96),Am. J. Epid. 143.

Musculoskeletal support

          • Numerous nutraceuticals for ms support, most companies have their own nutraceutical formulations for ms support

          • Glucosamine sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, perna green-lipped muscles, DL-phenylalanine, Boswellia Serrata, Bromelain, Vitamin C, E, Turmeric extract, MSM (methyl sulfonyl methane

          • Musculoskeletal Nutraceutical Support:

          • Glycosaminoglycans (GAG's): principle components of cartilage and synovial fluid in the joint, "the glue of life", assist to hold together connective tissues like collagen, tendons, ligaments

          • Perna canaliculus ( green-lipped mussel): edible shellfish rich in amino acids, polypeptides, naturally chelated minerals, fatty acids, gag's, vitamins, rna & dna nucleic acids; contains all major classes of gag's

Musculoskeletal nutraceutical support

          • Glucosamine: amino sugar: building blocks for proteoglycans found in tendons, cartilage, synovial fluid, ligaments, skin, eye, heart valve

          • Produces gag's, stimulate gag synthesis in cartilage and synovial fluid

          • MSM (methysulfonylmethane): analgesic agent & source of sulfur, essential mineral found in collagen, immunoglobulins etc.

          • Musculoskeletal Nutraceutical Support:

          • Manganese: essential mineral for production of collagen & gag's in joints

          • Vit. C: vital for formation of strong bones, reduces muscle cramping

          • Boswellia serrata (Frankincense): botanical with antiinflammatory effects in joints; inhibits formation of pro-inflammatory leukotrienes

          • Curcuma longa (turmeric): inhib. of leukotrienes & prostaglandins

          • Bromelain: pineapple: antiinflammatory

          • Reference Sources:

          • Vetriscience Technical Bulletins, Vetriscience Laboratories, Essex Junction, VT (www.vetriscience.com Thorne Veterinary Reference Guide, Thorne Research, Sands Pt, Idaho.

(www.throne.com)

Conclusion

          • Nutraceuticals can be an excellent adjunct to conventional medications

          • No one form of medicine has all the answers

          • Integrative Veterinary Medicine, using the best of conventional veterinary medicine along with complementary therapies is the best approach to assisting our animal companions to heal

          • Nutraceuticals are an integral part of this approach

          • Compassion for all beings is essential as well!