10c Ingredients in Petfoods 2

Question 1

What are some ingredient categories for nutritional value?

Answer 1

• mineral and vitamin supplements
• chondroprotective agents, antioxidants
• probiotics, enzymes
• herbs and botanicals
• prebiotics

Question 2

What are some ingredient categories for technical or non nutritive effects?

Answer 2

• preservatives
• flavours and extracts
• colours

Question 3

dicalcium phosphate.

Answer 3

• obtained from degreased bones which are demineralized by hydrochloric acid treatment and precipitated by saturated lime solution
• to provide minerals Ca and P (strong bones and teeth, Ca regulates heartbeat and other muscle contractions, phosphorous plays role in body’s energy production)
• too much Ca inhibits absorption of other nutrients and may lead to kidney stones
• elimination of CNA is critical due to BSE

Question 4

Why were vitamin and mineral premixes developed?

Answer 4

• to ensure animal receives proper amounts

- need to mix very well or may cause excess or deficiency of certain vitamins or minerals

Question 5

What is bioavailability and give example?

Answer 5

how much of a nutrient can be used by the animal to support metabolic functions
- oxides poorly available, sulphate better available

Question 6

What kind of bioavailability data do we have?

Answer 6

• swine data base

- companion animal data sorely lacking

Question 7

What is another limitation for bioavailability?

Answer 7

• phytate = complex compound that binds P, other minerals and even starch
• thus, P digestibility is low in plant products

Question 8

sodium chloride

Answer 8

• AAFCO recommends 0.3% sodium for dogs and 0.2% sodium for cats for normal growth and development
• too much sodium: increased thirst, swelling in body which puts strain on circulatory system and kidneys, vomiting diarrhea and seizures may indicate sodium ion poisoning
• too little salt can cause life threatening dehydration

Question 9

DL-methionine.

Answer 9

• precursor of cysteine which can then be converted into taurine
• can be converted into glutathione, an important physiological antioxidant
• urinary acidifier to prevent UTIs and bladder stones
• important for skin and coat condition, eye health, heart health and more
• vitally important to long term health of dog and cat
• side effects loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea

Question 10

taurine

Answer 10

• sometimes called amino acid, and is am amino containing acid, but not AA is usually biochemical meaning
• exclusively found in animal based proteins
• absent in cereal grains
• essential for cat
• fundamental biological roles: conjugation of bile acids, anti oxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization and modulation of calcium signalling
• critical for normal vision, normal digestion, normal heart muscle function, to maintain normal pregnancy and fetal development and to maintain healthy immune system

Question 11

choline chloride

Answer 11

• to supply choline
• methyl donor in reactions involving methionine, folic acid, vitamin B12, glycine and serine
• key component of cell membrane phospholipids
• vital part of neurotransmitter molecule acetylcholine
• lipotropic agent in fat utilization and lipid signalling
• deficiency: results in weight loss, vomiting, fatty liver and even death
• hygroscopic

Question 12

chondroprotective agents

Answer 12

• retard degradation of cartilage
• promote chondrocyte metabolism in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs and cats
• widespread inclusion for healthy pets may not be warranted
• glucosamine: derived from hydrolysis of chitin, found in crab and shrimp shells in hydrochloride form; also in sulfated form chondroitin sulphate

Question 13

Antioxidants

Answer 13

• reduce oxidative damage, free radical formation (cats appear more prone to oxidative injury)
• vitamin E: protects lipid rich cell membrane, essential because cannot be synthesized in body
• vitamin C non essential
• mineral dependent antioxidants: trace minerals, selenium, copper, zinc, manganese
• beta carotene and other carotenoids (precursor for vitamin A in dogs but not cats)
• S-adenosylmethionine (SAM): precursor of glutathione, support liver function

Question 14

probiotics

Answer 14

• direct-fed microbial (lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, aspergillus, influence gut flora to compete against salmonella and e.coli)
• promoting intestinal health
• dogs and cats prone to digestive sensitivity like soft stool or diarrhea may benefit from food containing prebiotics and probiotics
• enzymes like phytase but rarely used in pet food
• sensitive to loss due to processing and storage

Question 15

herbs and botanicals

Answer 15

• whole form, to provide macronutrients (minor)
• to provide flavour (major)
• pharmacologic rather than nutritional function
• potential safety concern

Question 16

L carnitine

Answer 16

• transports long chain acyl groups from fatty acids into the mitochondrial matrix, so they can be broken down through beta-oxidation to acetyl CoA to obtain usable energy via citric cycle

Question 17

yucca schidigera extracts

Answer 17

reduce feces odour

Question 18

prebiotics

Answer 18

• fructooligosaccharides (extracted from blue agave plant and fruits or veg such as bananas, onions, chicory root, some grains and cereals such as wheat and barley)
• resistant starch
• basically any carbohydrate that is not digested but fermented
• among these, a wide range of fermentation characteristics exist (aim for increased fermentation in upper or lower digestive tract)

Question 19

What are some preservations?

Answer 19

• ethoxyquin
• propylene glycol
• others (tocopherols, BHA)

Question 20

Ethoxyquin

Answer 20

• antioxidant, reduce degradation of fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins
• fish meal, vitamin premixes
• watch upper same limit 75 ppm

Question 21

propylene glycol

Answer 21

• hygroscopic, to retain moisture, useful for semi moist food
• may cause oxidative damage
• prohibited from use in cat food

Question 22

tocopherols

Answer 22

extracted from plants

- natural preservative

Question 23

flavours and extracts

Answer 23

• digests (hydrolyses of animal tissues)
• other natural flavours (dairy, eggs, herbs, spices)
• artificial flavours (various synthetic compounds)

Question 24

Colours

Answer 24

• non certified
• from natural sources (spices, fruit, veg, caramel)
• synthetically derived (iron oxide or titanium oxide)

Question 25

Other additives

Answer 25

- facilitate manufacturing processes and affect stability or form of food (dust control agents, lubricants, emulsifiers, gums) - sequestrates such as sodium hexametaphosphate (sequestering minerals to form chelate complexes, prevent mineralization of dental plaque to form calculi)

Question 26

melamine

Answer 26

USDA reported finding white granular melamine in the recalled pet food, in samples of white granular wheat gluten imported from China, as well as in crystalline form in kidneys and urine of affected animals