In previous blogs we discussed why iron, zinc, vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus supplements can be harmful. Let’s explore one more example of why supplements can be harmful by looking at the B vitamins; then, let’s look at food alternatives to vitamin supplements.
Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B6
Giving excessive amounts of B1 (thiamin) causes deficiencies in B2 (riboflavin) and B6 (pyridoxine). We don’t want deficiencies in any of the B vitamins. Vitamin B1 is essential for energy production and the development of the myelin sheath that wraps around nerves, protecting them and increasing the speed of nerve transmission. Vitamin B1 also helps in the production of acetylcholine, which is the neurotransmitter nerves use to relay information to all the organs, including the heart and the digestive system. Vitamin B2 is important for energy metabolism including the use of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. Vitamin B6 is important for converting stored energy in glycogen into glucose that the blood can use immediately.
Food Sources of Vitamins
Instead of giving vitamin supplements that can disrupt the balance of other vitamins in the body, give goods that are high the B vitamins. Foods high in B1 include sunflower seeds, tuna, green peas, lima beans, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, green peas, tomatoes, eggplant, and Brussels sprouts. Foods high in B2 include liver, spinach, asparagus, Swiss chard, broccoli, collard greens, venison, egg, yogurt, milk, green beans, kale, summer squash, soybeans, and beef. Vitamin B6 is found in spinach, bell peppers, turnip greens tuna, garlic, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes and yams, salmon, halibut, beef, chicken, and flaxseed.
Healthy Dogs & Cats
Because of the potential for causing imbalance by supplementing with vitamins or minerals, we do not recommend multivitamins or vitamin and mineral supplements for most dogs and cats. Instead, supplement with whole foods, such as whole ground flax products and fish or fish oils. Your pets will live longer.
Research Into Antioxidant Supplements
If you’re interested in research analysis of studies on the effects of taking antioxidant vitamins, a meta analysis of clinical trials was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association early in 2007: "Mortality in Randomized Trials of Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention; Systematic Review and Meta-analysis." Authors are Goran Bjelakovic, Dimitrinka Nikolova, Lise Lotte Gluud, Rosa G. Simonetti, and Christian Gluud. JAMA 2007;297:842-857. Vol. 297 No. 8, February 28, 2007. These authors concluded that taking:
- vitamin A increased death risk by 16 per cent,
- beta carotene increased death risk by 7 per cent and
- vitamin E increased death risk by 4 per cent.
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