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Matt Brunke, DVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR ANIMAL ATHLETES, WHAT KEEPS JOINT HAPPY?:
PART FIVE

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Matt Brunke, DVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR ANIMAL ATHLETES, WHAT KEEPS JOINT HAPPY?:
PART FIVE

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Nutritional Supplements for Muscle Recovery/Strengthening

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What’s in them?
- Creatine
- Whey protein isolate/protein/specific amino acids (DL-methionine, L-lysine, L-carnitine)
- Chromium
- Dimethylglycine
- Lecithin

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Creatine
- Amino acid derivative in the body - skeletal muscle, heart, brain, other
- Anaerobic formation of ATP
- Human studies show may help performance and strength in repeated bouts of MAXIMAL exercise of short duration (<30 seconds) weights, cycling
- No studies in dogs
- Side effect: WEIGHT GAIN

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Whey protein isolate
- Milk!
- Human studies - resistance training
- Mixed results for muscle recovery, mass, strength
- No studies in dogs
- Dosage???

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Chromium
- Essential trace mineral found in many foods: meat, cheese, whole grain foods, fresh fruits, fresh veggies, brewer’s yeast
- Needed for carbohydrate and fat metabolism
- Helpful for people with diabetes, not in dogs.
- Supplement promoted for building muscle. NO RESEARCH PROVES

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Dimethylglycine
- Antioxidant naturally in the body, beans, cereal grains
- Marketed to support performance by decreasing lactic acid build up
- BUT NO RESEARCH
- May support immune function - conflicting research

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Lecithin
- Fat in the body, egg yolks, soybeans
- Emulsifying agent
- May support gut barrier
- Marketed to support athletic performance, but no data.

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Reading at home

Nutraceuticals in Veterinary Medicine

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What’s that mean?
- Journal of the American Neutraceutical
Association: 3(1) 32038, 2000.
- No correlation between price and label claim
- Only 6/32 had at least 90% of what they claimed to have.
- Report didn’t look at source, efficacy, etc.

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Systematic Review

Dietary Supplements for Treating Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis

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What about what I am using? - Client

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Math!!!
- 130 lb Newfoundland (should be 100)
- Joint treats - $10/bag
- 3-5 bags a month
- Supplement $26.95 a month
- $70 a month
- $70 x 12 = $840 a year
- Been doing this for 8 years
- $6720!!!!!!

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Implementing a plan
- How to decide?
- Breed? Job? Goals? Sport? History of injury or illness
- Manufacturers are NOT held to same standards as pharmaceuticals
- Accuracy of the label???
- Purity? Source?
- Free from contaminants?
- Claims? (vs. evidence)
- Efficacy

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What should your clients do?
- Ask you! THE VETERINARIAN
- Avoid products backed only by testimonials
- Ask for research from companies
- Require that what is on the label actually be in the product
- Reputation of manufacturer

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Questions?
Matt Brunke, DVM, CCRP, CVPP, CVA, DACVSMR
DrMattBrunke@gmail.com
DrBrunke.Wordpress.com