Research Review
Additional research information is available upon request.
Summary of Studies on Animal Health Options Products
Animal Health Options has a strict policy regarding animal research. All animal studies are non- terminal and no animal is to be subjected to any procedure that would produce unnecessary pain. Any discomfort would be nothing worse than that experienced during a normal veterinary exam or blood and urinalysis testing. In university level research, we have paid for additional boarding costs once the studies were competed until all the animals were adopted out to new homes.
Some study information has been removed due to comments from a regulatory agency about the availability of medical data on our website. Veterinarians can find complete study information and results by referring to the original publication. We apologize for any inconvenience.
1. Burkhard M. J., Meyer D. J., Lappin, M. R., Christopher, M.M. and Hutchinson, J.M., "The effect of a commercial bioflavonoid in normal cats and cats with acetaminophen induced oxidative erythrocyte injury.", Departments of Pathology and Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Colorado State University, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, 1996.
"The safety of a commercially available bioflavonoid, Proanthozone was evaluated in four clinically healthy adult cats given Proanthozone orally at 10 mg daily for 32 days. No abnormal clinical or laboratory findings attributed to the test compound were seen during, and for one week following the administration period. Acetominophen induced oxidative injury in feline erythrocytes was used to evaluate the potential protective effects of Proanthozone against oxidative injury. In conclusion, the bioflavonoid is safe when orally administered in healthy cats for one month. Although there were no statistically significant protective effects measured by the markers used to assess oxidative stress, there was a trend suggestive of efficacy. The findings warrant further investigation." 2. Allison R.W., Lassen, E.D., Burhard, M.J., Lappin, M.R., "Effect of a bioflavonoid dietary supplement on acetominophen induced oxidative energy to feline erythrocytes." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Vol 217, No 8, October 2000: 1157-1161.
"Adverse effects were not associated with bioflavonoid antioxidant administration alone. Oral administration of bioflavonoid antioxidants to cats at risk for oxidative stress may have a beneficial effect on their ability to resist oxidative injury to erythrocytes. Cats are uniquely sensitive to oxidative injury to erythrocytes, and Heinz body formation, as the result of exogenous oxidant exposure as well as endogenous disease processes such as lymphoma, diabetes mellitus, and hyperthyroidism, has been well documented. Dietary treatment that would minimize oxidative injury could be of benefit. 3. Impellizeri, J.A., Lau, R.E., Azzara, F.A., "14 week clinical evaluation of an oral antioxidant as a treatment for osteoarthritis secondary to canine hip displasia." Veterinary Orthopedic Society, 24th Annual Meeting, March 1997. 4. Mulnix, J.A., "ProMotion safety and efficacy study." Ft. Collins, CO., June 2000. 5. Kyoritsu Shoji, "ProMotion clinical trial at nine veterinary practices." Tokyo, Japan, October 2000.
Nine horses were tested in a double-blind study on the safety and efficacy of ProMotion-EQ, equine formula. Six of the horses received formula with active ingredients and three received a placebo. The product was shown to be safe. None of the six horses receiving the active ingredient formula showed any significant abnormalities or changes in the complete blood counts or serum chemistries during the trial. There were no reports of undesirable clinical signs such as loss of appetite, diarrhea or any other adverse effects. A positive response, as reported by the investigating veterinarians, was observed in 4 of the 6 horses receiving active ingredients. A positive response meant that there was improvement in the clinical signs of lameness over the 6-week duration of the trial. 6. Mulnix, J.A., "ProMotion-EQ safety and efficacy study." Ft. Collins, CO. May 2000. 7. Virbac, S.A., "ProMotion-EQ palatability study", France, July 1999.
"28 horses in 1 group of 13 horses and 1 group of 15 horses were used in the study (each group in a different location in France - Maisons-Alfort & Beauvais). The selected horses were given their daily ration of feed at least once a day. Their appetite may have been variable, but every horse had to finish up its ration. Each group of horses was given the product 6 days in a row (3 days with product alone in a bucket and 3 days with the product mixed in with their feed). Results: Only 2 horses out of the 28 did not take all of the product. One must take into account the unusual administration of the product. Horses are used to taking their food in their trough, not in a bucket. Conclusion: 92% positive response in palatability." 8. Mulnix, J.A., Canine ProQuiet formula laboratory evaluation. Ft. Collins, CO. November 1998.
Study evaluated the urinalysis, blood chemistries, and complete blood count before and 5 days after giving the daily-recommended dose of ProQuiet. 5 mature healthy dogs were evaluated. Each dog was evaluated with a complete physical exam, complete blood count, urinalysis, and general chemistry screen at the beginning of the trial. Each dog was given a once-daily dose of the formula for five consecutive days. At the end of the trial period, the complete blood count, urinalysis and chemistry screen were re-evaluated. No significant abnormalities or changes were observed. 9. Mulnix, J.A., ProQuiet® efficacy study. Ft. Collins, CO. March 2000. Study was to demonstrate that ProQuiet chewable tablets are effective. 60% of the participating dog and cat owners said that the formula did work for their pet. 10. Mulnix, J. A., "Canine L-Tryptophan formula laboratory evaluation in five dogs - triple dose study." Ft. Collins, March 2000.
Study evaluated the urinalysis, blood chemistries, and complete blood count before and 5 days after giving triple the daily-recommended dose of ProQuiet 90 days after completion of the above trial. The same 5 dogs were again evaluated performing the same tests as before. The product was then administered at 3 times the label recommended dose once daily for 5 consecutive days. At the end of the trial period, the same tests were performed. The only changes observed were a slight reduction in the thrombocyte count in 4 of the 5 dogs. The thrombocyte count returned to normal in the 4 abnormal dogs after 3 weeks.
More Study Information On Our Ingredients
Bioavailability of Grape Seed Extract
Flavonoids, also known as OPCs, Pycnogenols, Proanthocyanidins, Grape Seed Extract, etc., have been subjected to numerous testing for effectiveness and safety. Because they are water-soluble, flavonoids have been shown to be readily absorbed by the body. For instance, to show that flavonoids could overcome the digestive barriers in an unchanged or unaffected form the following study was performed:
-
"A grapevine was cultivated for forty-five days in a mycrophytotrone with radioactively marked carbon dioxide. The OPC extracted from the grape seeds was then orally administered to laboratory animals (mice). During the hours after administration, many different measurements were performed in order to determine where the OPC ended up.
Ten minutes after application, the blood was already highly radioactive, which indicated that entry from the digestive tract occurs immediately. The maximum radioactivity of the blood lasted for forty-five minutes. Thereafter the radioactivity dropped slowly and after seven hours the level was still at somewhat more than a third of the maximum. The biological half-life lies at approximately five hours.
The same measurements were also conducted for the bile. Every fifteen minutes, for twelve hours, the radioactivity of the bile was measured. Also in this case, after a few minutes, radioactivity was detected and the observed peak in the bile corresponded to that of the blood and lasted for forty-five minutes as well. It appeared that after eleven hours, fourteen percent of all the administered OPC was excreted through the bile."
(As published in, "OPC In Practice", by Bert Schwitters in collaboration with Professor Jack Masquelier, 1993, pages 24-30).
Why Grape Seed Extract is a Superior Antioxidant
Scenario: You have a test tube containing 1,000 free radicals.How much of the following antioxidants or antioxidant food sources are needed to combat those free radicals ?
| 50 mg | Grape Seed Extract (GSE) |
| 1,000 mg | Vitamin C (GSE is 20x stronger) |
| 2,500 mg or 3,725 IU | Vitamin E (GSE is 50x stronger) |
| 28 | 6 ounce Glasses of Orange Juice (source of vitamin C) |
| 497 | 8 ounce Glasses of Soy Milk (source of vitamin E) |
Orange juice contains 60% of the RDI (Reference Daily Intake) of Vitamin C per 6-ounce serving or 36 mg. The RDI for Vitamin C is 60 mg. In order to take in 1,000 mg. of Vitamin C, you would need to drink 28 6-ounce glasses of orange juice. (1,000 mg/36 mg = 28)
Soy milk is a good source of Vitamin E. It contains 25% of the RDI of Vitamin E per 8 ounce serving or 7.5 IU. The RDI for Vitamin E is 30 IU. One must consume 497 8-ounce glasses of soy milk to take in the 3,725 IU. (3,725 IU/7.5 IU = 497)
Soy milk is a good source of Vitamin E. It contains 25% of the RDI of Vitamin E per 8 ounce serving or 7.5 IU. The RDI for Vitamin E is 30 IU. One must consume 497 8-ounce glasses of soy milk to take in the 3,725 IU. (3,725 IU/7.5 IU = 497)
Bioflavanol
Uchida, S., et al. "Condensed Tannins Scavenge Active Oxygen Free Radicals.: Kyushi University, Japan, 1987."Among the various tannins tested, procyanidin C-1 3, 3', 3" -tri-o-gallate was the most potent scavenger of the DPPH radical. The concentration of this tannin required for 50% inhibition was 50 times more effective than that of vitamin E." Liers, H. "Review of the Scientific Research on Pycnogenols". June 1992
1. Masquelier, J., "Radical scavenger effect (RSE) of proanthocyanidins, 1985.
2. U.S. Patent 4,698,360.
"The in-vitro free radical trapping effect of the pycnogenols can be checked in several ways. The tetrazolium nitroblu (TNB) test is particularly effective at evaluating the effect of inhibition of superoxide radicals O2-. The results show that the dimeric proanthocyanidins are nearly 20 times more effective than vitamin C at trapping oxygen radicals, and are greater than two times more effective than the bioflavanoids and the pycnogenol monomers."
Glucosamine
McIlwraith, C. Wayne, "Should I Recommend the Use of Oral Glycosaminlglycans?", Compendium. May 1999: Equine 450-457.
"There is good evidence for glucosamine absorption in both dogs and humuns. Up to 87% absorption has been reported after oral administration in humans. In vitro studies have documented enhanced chondrocyte synthesis of GAGS and collagen by glucosamine." "There is stronger scientific evidence for absorption of glucosamine than there is for chondroitin sulfate. If I had to choose between these two agents only, I would recommend glucosamine."
Clark, R. "Nutraceuticals - Fact or Fiction, Fashion or Fad", Bundoora Veterinary Hospital, Australia. Fifth Pet Food Regulatory Workshop, St. Louis, MO, November 1999.
"Radiolabeled studies demonstrated that glucosamine was well absorbed when given orally (80%). Radioactive labeling studies have shown that Chondroitin sulphate is partially absorbed when given orally (35 - 50%)."
