Vitamins and Minerals: No Need to Artificially Supplement

Vitamins and Minerals. Don’t we hear that word combination often? It’s a balance of nutrients we all strive for to lead a healthy life. Often we choose vitamin and mineral supplements so we can “fill the gaps” of often unhealthy eating habits...the magic pill.

Our companions may have it better in that vitamins and minerals normally found in fresh foods are easily added to commercial pet foods in the form of vitamin and mineral premixes to make their food convenient for us humans to feed a “balanced and complete” diet (1, 2). We see bags and cans of food plastered with “with added vitamins and minerals” or “great source of vitamins and minerals' (3)'. We even add Vitamin B supplements, Calcium and fish oil, to our companion’s food in attempts to “fill the gaps” and provide the best! (4)!

What?! Bad?! How is that possible? Don’t multivitamins and supplements “fill in all the gaps?” Yes, that is still true in some ways. Vitamin and Mineral supplementation is better than nothing at all BUT not only are these “magic pills” an excuse to not provide whole food natural nutrients, but many supplements are artificially made or created in a lab often making them less effective compared to those found in whole foods and some even contain harmful chemicals and side effect! That certainly isn’t natural at all.

Let’s take a step back first. Vitamins and Minerals ARE in fact important. These nutrients are important for providing energy in the body that allows it to perform hundreds of essential functions including growth, development, maintenance and repair damage.

VITAMINS

Vitamins are micronutrients found in many plant and animal sources (5). Unlike minerals they are much more sensitive to heat, light and air which can easily denature and alter their natural qualities (6,7).

Vitamins are broken up into two groups: fat soluble and water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are important and are absorbed into the bloodstream with the help of fat. They are stored in various body tissues but when consumed in excess can quickly reach toxic levels.

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Fat soluble vitamins get stored in body tissues, mainly fatty tissues and the liver. There are four main fat soluble vitamins (8).

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is a group of compounds. In general only Vitamin A in its totality can be measured; the individual carotenoids or retinoids cannot (9) as easily. Its main benefits include aiding vision (10), roles in the immune system (11), reproduction, growth and development (12) as well as fur health. Usable forms of Vitamin A are only found in animal sources such as fish, liver and egg yolks.

Deficiency is rare however those fed a vegan/vegetarian diet often suffer from low Vitamin A levels. While certain Vitamin A compounds are found in fruits and vegetables it is very difficult to convert to a useful form. Cats for example cannot convert beta carotene to Vitamin A (13, 14, 15).

Toxicity can result in fur loss, bone loss and joint pain, damage to the liver, fatigue, poor appetite, moodiness as well as digestive pain. At its extreme, Vitamin A toxicity can cause death (16). Cats and dogs however are designed to consume Vitamin A in fairly large amounts (17).

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is important for calcium phosphorus balance used for proper bone growth and health (18). It also aids in a well functioning immune system (19).

Unlike humans, cats and dogs do not make Vitamin D from the absorption of the sun (20), it must be supplied in the diet then converted to a usable form in the kidneys and liver (21). Fish, liver and egg yolks are the primary source for natural vitamin D (22). Providing 5% liver in the diet is essential as plants and most other animal protein sources contain very little vitamin D.

Deficiencies often result in soft bones that easily can fracture (23) as well as poor muscle tone (24). In addition autoimmune disease, poor healing (25, 26), fur loss, fatigue and an increased risk for heart problems (27) and cancer (28) can occur.

Toxicity is marked by low calcium levels as well as appetite and weight loss. At an extreme there can be issues with reproduction as well as heart and kidney damage (29).

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a source of antioxidants and contains a group of eight compounds broken up into two groups; the tocopherols and the tocotrienols (30). Alpha tocopherol is the most bioactive and usable in the canine and feline body (31).

Vitamin E helps reduce oxidative stress and the release of free radicals that are responsible for the aging of the body (32). Fish and liver is a good source of Vitamin E. Providing 5% liver in the diet is essential as plants and most other animal protein sources contain very little of this vitamin (33).

Deficiency is rare and is more common when fat is not properly absorbed (34) however symptoms of deficiency do include vision issues and muscle weakness which can also appear as mobility problems. More severe symptoms include anemia, heart and neurological issues (35).

Vitamin E toxicity is extremely rare especially when the source is natural. Typically too much Vitamin E can thin the blood (36).

Vitamin K

Vitamin K includes several groups of compounds and is not just a single Vitamin. It is responsible for proper blood clotting as well as preventing heart disease and supporting bone health. It can be found in plants but the body primarily makes Vitamin K in the gut by beneficial gut bacteria (37). It can also be found in the liver of animal sources as well as in smaller amounts in animal meats (38).

While fat soluble, Vitamin K isn’t stored in the body in large amounts so a deficiency can quickly develop due to poor consumption or absorption of fats. Overconsumption of Vitamin A can affect the absorption of Vitamin K. In addition, Vitamin E can counteract the normal blood clotting effects of Vitamin K (39). This can cause hemorrhaging in various parts of the body like the brain, skin and digestive tract. Finally, the use of various antibiotic medications can also interfere with its absorption as antibiotics affect the gut microflora (40). Signs of deficiency can result in problems with bone health (41).

While natural sources of Vitamin K have never been reported to cause toxicity or resulting symptoms, artificial sources have posed serious side effects (42).

WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS

Water soluble vitamins on the other hand dissolve in water. It is very hard to reach toxic levels as water soluble vitamins are easily excreted in the urine if too much is consumed however this also means that regular consumption of them are essential to maintain health (43). In humans Vitamin C is important but cats and dogs can make their own so only the B complexes and Choline are essential (44). The B complexes as a whole are important for growth and development as well as the maintenance of heart health and skin health. Deficiencies can often arise in those fed a strictly vegan diet as well as issues with general nutrient absorption (45). Deficiency however is very severe and often results in death (46 47). There are 9 main water soluble vitamins.

B1 (thiamin)

B1 (thiamin) is a component important to activate and help enzymes function (48, 49). Because it is stored in the heart, the liver, the kidneys and the brain (49), these tend to be wonderful sources when fed in a raw diet. Deficiency first affects the heart, brain and nervous system which can lead to seizures and death (46).

B2 (riboflavin)

B2 (riboflavin) helps change the oxidation state of the substance enzymes act on as well as produce energy (50). In addition it is responsible for the health of the skin and coat. It is common in the liver (51) as well as in eggs.

Deficiency affects inflammation around the mouth (52) and causes problems with the eyes.

Riboflavin is very sensitive to light and easily destroyed if not stored properly (53).

B3 (niacin)

B3 (niacin) like Riboflavin, Niacin is also involved in redox reactions (54). Dogs can create Niacin from Tryptophan however cats are unable to do this as well (55). It is important for skin health so when deficiency occurs, dermatitis can develop (56). While again rare, deficiency can also cause loose stool and cognitive dysfunction (57). Fish and other meats are a common source for Niacin (58) .

B5 (pantothenic acid)

B5 (pantothenic acid) is important for hormone and energy production (59) as well as involved in pretty much all metabolic processes in the body. While found in all food, meat, tripe and eggs are primary sources (60). Deficiency can result in inflammation of the intestines and fur loss (61).

B6 (pyridoxine)

B6 (pyridoxine) is important for blood formation (62) as well as reactions involved in forming new amino acids, the release of carbon dioxide and releasing glucose in the animal’s body (63). Deficiency can result in mood changes, specifically irritability and confusion, anemia, skin problems and nerve damage (64).

B7 (biotin or Vitamin H)

B7 (biotin or Vitamin H) is an important vitamin for properly metabolizing proteins, fats and carbohydrates (65) to aid in the proper skin and coat health (66) as well as nerve function (67). Biotin is readily available in the kidneys, liver and egg yolks (68).

Deficiencies are known to cause body pain, heart issues (69), anemia and mood changes, specifically depression.

B9 (folic acid)

B9 (folic acid) is essential for the production of DNA and RNA (70) thus a deficiency is known to cause birth defects (71, 72) . It is also important for preventing anemia (73). Unlike cats, dogs are able to create some folic acid in the intestines but it most likely is not enough to satisfy their daily requirement. Liver is the ideal source for folic acid (74).

B12 (cobalamin)

B12 (cobalamin) is important for the formation of red blood cells, protein and the nervous system (75). Deficiency often results in anemia (76). Cobalamin can be found only in animal sources such as liver, kidney, heart, lung, fish and meat (77, 78). This is another reason vegan or vegetarian diets are inappropriate for cats and dogs (79).

Choline

Choline is important for various stages of metabolism (80, 81), helping to make the fatty components that make up the cell membrane (82). It is also important for brain (83) and nervous function as well as how genes express (84, 85). While Choline can be made by the body it may not be enough to satisfy dietary requirements so a dietary source may be required. It mainly can be found in animal sources like liver, meat, poultry and fish (86). Deficiency can cause liver damage, fatty liver disease and damage to the muscles (87).

Toxicity includes a fishy body odor, liver damage, vomiting (88), abnormal drooling (89) as well as a risk for heart complications (90).

MINERALS

Minerals are also micronutrients sourced from many plants and animals (91). They are broken up into two groups: macrominerals and microminerals. Macrominerals are typically required in high quantities while microminerals or trace minerals (92) are required in smaller amounts (93). Both are equally as important for the maintenance of health.

MACROMINERALS

Calcium

Calcium is essential for the growth, development and maintenance of bone (94). It is also an important component to aid in nerve impulses and messages within the body (95, 96). It is essential this mineral is balanced with phosphorus in the proper ratio to maintain bone health as well as important physiological functions (97). Bone is the primary source of calcium in the carnivore diet.

Toxicity and deficiency both can lead to structural problems affecting growth and development. It can also affect milk supply in nursing bitches or queens.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is also important for the strength and integrity of bone in the body however it is also important for energy production (98) and the cell membrane (99, 100). Phosphorus can easily be found in meat as well the bones of various animals.

Deficiencies can result in abnormal bone growth (101) and poor appetite (102).

Potassium

Potassium works in tandem with sodium to maintain homeostasis (balance) in the body. It is responsible for aiding in nerve impulses and creating energy from nutrients (103).

Meat, fish and eggs are primary sources for potassium (104).

Deficiencies often cause muscle issues including restlessness and even paralysis however this is extremely rare (105).

Sodium

Sodium works similarly with potassium to maintain balance in the body, create energy from nutrients and nerve impulse transmission (106). Additionally it helps with hydration, urination and thirst drive (107).

Sodium is naturally found in meats, often containing three times that of plant sources which are quite low in the mineral.

Deficiencies are uncommon however symptoms would include reduced thirst (108) with increased urine output as well as increased heart rate (109) and restlessness (110). Excessive amounts however appear in symptoms such as increased thirst, vomiting (111) and tacky, dry mucous membranes, kidney disease, high blood pressure and problems with the heart (112).