|
The latest
scare: Menadione (vitamin K3)
Lisa S. Newman, ND, Ph.D.
The
internet is buzzing about the latest secret culprit to corrupt commercial
pet foods, Menadione. After fifty years of a proven safety record, at the
daily recommended dose, lab rats were injected with levels thousands of
times more potent than is fed to our animals. Guess what? Those lab rats
did develop some serious side-effects. Now consider the fact that water,
when consumed thousands of times more than is recommended, will KILL.
Actually it only takes a few extra gallons, consumed in a short period of
time, to do the deed. Any natural or synthetic ingredient, in pet or human
diets, is detrimental when ingested in too high of a quantity.
The
daily dose of supplemented vitamin K3 (and naturally occurring K1) in
Azmira Holistic Animal Care diets are ultra-minuscule compared to what
was used during research testing on lab rats. All tests sited, to show the
detriments of Menadione, were done by injecting extremely large
doses. In addition, injection administers the compound directly into the
bloodstream during which the compound reacts differently than if digested.
Although overdose is generally uncommon and even excessive intake over an
extended period of time has not readily resulted in toxicity, hemolytic
(Heinz’) anemia was the most common symptom reported in these test animals.
Interestingly, it is the same symptom “reported” during the garlic scare.
This is because hemolytic anemia, where the red blood cells burst, is the
most likely outcome when any severe toxicity interferes with the RBC’s
ability to process oxygen; it is not the compound which produces the
condition, but rather the overwhelming concentration of whatever poison.
Since
1997, Azmira diets have been fed to thousands of pets with NO toxic
side-effects. A high majority were very ill prior to using our foods;
therefore, theoretically, they would have been more susceptible to Menadione
if it were a problem! Many of these pets have been on our diets since their
introduction ten years ago with nothing but positive outcomes.
The benefits realized day after day, the
very reason for your confidence in our proven products, are proof that there
is nothing to fear.
So, why is there all this
concern about Menadione? What about other culprits such as garlic, grapes,
canola oil, etc.? It is simply an attempt by some manufacturers to persuade
consumers and veterinarians to use their food. They can tout what they don’t
include rather than focus (as Azmira does) on what IS in their food. If
they don’t use the highest quality ingredients that they can be proud of,
they need your focus elsewhere. It is an old trick: look at one hand, while
the other does something else. It is easier to focus on one ingredient
rather than an entire lifestyle, whether promoting or maligning a pet food.
Ten years of successfully helping pets achieve and maintain good health is
pretty strong evidence of its efficacy and safety.
It is
easy to start rumors on the internet. When we did our research, we found
many more references to the negatives since it is the latest FAD. Yet, no
one had thought about the toxicity of Menadione for fifty years (when it was
first proven safe as an animal supplement) since it has never been a
problem.
Vitamin
K is important; its functions include blood clotting and bone strength (it
protects against osteoporosis). Azmira includes a trace amount of Menadione
in our supplement premix added to each formula. It is added because heat
extrusion can diminish the levels of many important nutrients in foods. We
feel it can only continue to benefit your pet, as it has safely done for
years.
Since 1982, Dr. Newman has been a world
renowned pioneer in the field of natural pet care. The author of nine books,
including her latest, Three Simple Steps to Healthy Pets: The Holistic
Animal Care LifeStyle™, Dr. Newman is also the formulator of Azmira
Holistic Animal Care Products and Diets.
©2006, Dr. Lisa S. Newman, All Rights
Reserved
Back to Top |
