title: Zinc-carnosine and vitamin E supplementation does not ameliorate gastrointestinal side effects associated with ciclosporin therapy of canine atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Chelated zinc-carnosine and vitamin E [GastriCalm(®) (GCM); Teva Animal Health] is marketed as an anti-emetic supplement for dogs to assist the repair of damaged stomach and intestinal mucosa. The purpose of this prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was to determine whether GCM reduced the frequency of vomiting, diarrhoea and appetite changes during initiation of ciclosporin (Atopica(®); Novartis Animal Health) therapy for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis. Sixty privately owned dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis were randomly assigned to GCM (n=30) or placebo (n=30) groups. All dogs received ∼ 5 mg/kg ciclosporin (range, 3.5-5.8 mg/kg) once daily. Dogs <13.6 kg received half a tablet of GCM or placebo; dogs ≥ 13.6 kg received one tablet once daily. GastriCalm(®) or placebo was administered 30 min prior to eating, and the ciclosporin was administered 2 h after feeding. Owners recorded episodes of vomiting, diarrhoea and appetite changes. Dogs were examined on days 0 and 14. Forty-one of 60 dogs (68.3%) had at least one episode of vomiting, diarrhoea or appetite change, leaving nine placebo dogs (30%) and ten GCM dogs (33.3%) free of adverse events (AE). Twenty-seven of 60 dogs (45%) vomited, and 15 of 60 (25%) had diarrhoea. There was no significant difference in episodes of individual AEs, but the placebo group had a significantly lower total AE score (summation of episodes of appetite change, vomiting and diarrhoea; P=0.022). Small dogs (<6.82 kg) had significantly fewer total AEs in both treatment groups and tolerated ciclosporin better than larger dogs (P<0.05).
authors.affiliation: Animal Dermatology Clinic, Tustin, CA 92780, USA. lswils@gmail.com
authors.forename: Laura S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Wayne S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Rosenkrantz
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Roycroft
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D002336:Carnosine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014810:Vitamin E; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002336:Carnosine; D015032:Zinc