Gordon DS, Rudinsky AJ, Guillaumin J, Parker VJ, Creighton KJ. Vitamin C in Health and Disease: A Companion Animal Focus.
Top Companion Anim Med 2020;
39:100432. [PMID:
32482285 DOI:
10.1016/j.tcam.2020.100432]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Vitamin C is synthesized in the liver in most species, including dogs and cats, and is widely distributed through body tissues. Vitamin C has an important physiologic role in numerous metabolic functions including tissue growth and maintenance, amelioration of oxidative stress, and immune regulation. It is also a co-factor in the production of important substances such as catecholamines and vasopressin. Decreased vitamin C levels have been documented in a wide variety of diseases, and in critically ill human patients may be associated with increased severity of disease and decreased survival. Intravenous supplementation with vitamin C has been proposed as a potential life-saving treatment in conditions such as septic shock, and results of small some human trials are promising. Data in companion in animals is very limited, but the possible benefits and , seemingly low risk of adverse effects , and the low cost of this treatment make vitamin C therapy a promising area of future investigation in critically ill dogs and cats.
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