Importance

Vitamin C

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.

Ascorbic acid has been found to be involved in a number of biochemical processes.

Function of vitamin C is related to its reversible oxidation and reduction characteristics; however, the exact role of this vitamin in the living system is not completely understood, since a coenzyme form has not yet been reported.

In addition to the relationship of ascorbic acid to hydroxylase enzymes, vitamin C is required for differentiation of connective tissue such as muscle, cartilage and bone derived from mesenchyme (embryonic cells capable of developing into connective tissue).

In addition to the relationship of ascorbic acid to hydroxylase enzymes, vitamin C is required for differentiation of connective tissue such as muscle, cartilage and bone derived from mesenchyme (embryonic cells capable of developing into connective tissue).

It is proposed that the collagen matrix produced by ascorbic acid-treated cells provides a permissive environment for tissue-specific

gene expression.

A common finding in all studies is that vitamin C can alter the expression of multiple genes as cells progress through specific differentiation programs .

The most clearly established functional role for vitamin C involves collagen biosynthesis.

Beneficial effects result from ascorbic acid in the synthesis of “repair” collagen.

Alteration of basement membrane collagen synthesis and its integrity in mucosal epithelium during vitamin C restriction might explain the mechanism by which the capillary fragility is induced in scurvy as well as the increased incidences of periodontal disease under vitamin C deprivation.

Failure of wounds to heal and gum and bone changes, resulting from vitamin C undernutrition, are direct consequences of reduction of insoluble collagen fibers.

Vitamin C for pets in small animal and pet bird diets

• Naturally occurring ascorbic acid is highly sensitive to, high temperatures, pH, oxygen and pressure.
• Unfortunately, high temperatures and pressure also generally occur during the manufacture of many animal diets.
• Most small animal and pet bird diets contain at least some pellets or extruded particles. Pelleting and extrusion processes involve heat and pressure, although to different degrees.
• Because the source of vitamin C within a diet usually comes from the pellets/extruded kibble, finding a heat-and-storage-stable vitamin C source was important to the animal feed industry.

Vitamin C
and heat stress in poultry
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)

• A white crystalline compound (also known as L-ascorbic acid) is primarily synthesized in the chicken by the kidneys, however, during heat stress, endogenous ascorbic acid becomes insufficient to meet the bird’s requirements.
• Vitamin C ameliorates heat stress induced problems such as poor immunity, feed intake, weight gain, oxidative stress, rectal and body temperature, fertility and semen quality, carcass weight and mortality in birds.
• Vitamin C is required for the absorption of Vitamin D3 into its metabolic form.
• This, in turn, is required for calcium metabolism and egg or bone calcification.
• It plays a vital role in sustaining albumin quality and gluconeogenesis, collagen biosynthesis, and the functioning of the macrophages, which forms the first line of defense against infections.
• Vitamin C supplementation helps with the mobilization of minerals from the bones and increases plasma calcium levels for improved eggshell formation.
• Supplementation can increase body weight, improve energy levels, and help alleviate the effects of heat stress in poultry.

Deficiency

Clinical signs of scurvy or vitamin C deficiency in those species that cannot synthesize the vitamin include

• Weakness
• Fatigue
• bone pain
• loose teeth
• hemorrhages of the skin, musculature, adipose tissue and certain organs.
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