The effect of vitamin C supplementation in healthy dogs on antioxidative capacity and immune parameters

Abstract

Summary The aim of the study was to investigate the ability of vitamin C to increase the antioxidative and immunomodulating potential in healthy dogs. Fifteen dogs were tested for the effects of orally administered vitamin E (60 mg dl‐α tocopheryl acetate) in combination with vitamin C (0, 30 or 60 mg ascorbic acid crystalline). Three treatments (0, 30, 60 mg vitamin C) were tested in a 3 × 3 cross‐over study in three periods of 36 days. Pre‐prandial blood samples were taken for analysis of vitamins C, E, A, retinyl palmitate and stearate, antioxidant status [Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and uric acid], biochemical and haematological analysis. Subpopulations of lymphocytes, mitogen‐induced peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation (PBMC) and serum IgA and IgG concentrations were determined. There was a trend (p = 0.056) for an increased plasma vitamin C concentration by vitamin C supplementation. There was no evidence that dietary treatment altered neither the other plasma vitamin concentrations nor TBARS and uric acid concentrations nor the subpopulations of the lymphocytes except for the number of CD4+ lymphocytes that increased with vitamin C supplementation. There was no effect of vitamin C on serum IgA and IgG concentration. A significant time × treatment interaction was demonstrated on PBMC’s to pokeweed, with an increase observed by 30 mg vitamin C supplementation but a decrease by 60 mg vitamin C supplementation. There was no clear evidence for an effect of dietary vitamin C on antioxidative capacity in healthy dogs fed a diet with vitamin E concentrations well above the recommendations. Yet, a limited number of immunological parameters were slightly affected.

Assessment of thermal load on transported goats administered with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry conditions

“…Although there is an increasing body of evidence supporting the use of ascorbic acid (AA) as an anti-stress agent in both poultry and livestock industry (Lykkesfeldt and Svendsen 2007;Hesta et al 2009;Ayo 2008, 2010a, b), there is paucity of information on the role of AA in mitigating the risk of adverse effects of thermal load in goats transported by road.…”

Polar bears observed climbing steep slopes to graze on scurvy grass in Svalbard

“…For polar bears, blubber, skin and, especially, liver, where ascorbic acid is synthesized, provided by seals, their staple prey, are the most important natural sources of the vitamin, comparative to those found in blueberries (Vaccinium uliginosum) (Fediuk et al 2002). However, the rate of vitamin C synthesis in liver tissue is lower in some carnivores, e.g., dogs, compared to other animals (Chatterjee et al 1975) and consequently, vitamin C has been given as a supplement even to healthy well-fed dogs (Hesta et al 2008). We may speculate that polar bears remaining on land, where they have very limited access -if any -to seals and have been starving/ fasting for a long time, may suffer from a deficiency of vitamin C.…”

Effects of transportation and thermal stress on donkeys in the Northern Guinea Savannah zone of Nigeria: A review

“…It is important in many metabolic processes, but is not dietary essential in most animals because of their ability to synthesize it naturally (Hesta et al, 2008). Ascorbic acid is a sugar acid with antioxidant properties, its appearance is white to light-yellow crystal or powder and it is water soluble.…”