title: Safety evaluation of vitamin A in growing dogs.
abstract: The safe upper limit for inclusion of vitamin A in complete diets for growing dogs is uncertain, with the result that current recommendations range from 5.24 to 104.80 μmol retinol (5000 to 100 000 IU vitamin A)/4184 kJ (1000 kcal) metabolisable energy (ME). The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of feeding four concentrations of vitamin A to puppies from weaning until 1 year of age. A total of forty-nine puppies, of two breeds, Labrador Retriever and Miniature Schnauzer, were randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups. Following weaning at 8 weeks of age, puppies were fed a complete food supplemented with retinyl acetate diluted in vegetable oil and fed at 1 ml oil/100 g diet to achieve an intake of 5·24, 13·10, 78·60 and 104·80 μmol retinol (5000, 12 500, 75 000 and 100 000 IU vitamin A)/4184 kJ (1000 kcal) ME. Fasted blood and urine samples were collected at 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20, 26, 36 and 52 weeks of age and analysed for markers of vitamin A metabolism and markers of safety including haematological and biochemical variables, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, cross-linked carboxyterminal telopeptides of type I collagen and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Clinical examinations were conducted every 4 weeks. Data were analysed by means of a mixed model analysis with Bonferroni corrections for multiple endpoints. There was no effect of vitamin A concentration on any of the parameters, with the exception of total serum retinyl esters, and no effect of dose on the number, type and duration of adverse events. We therefore propose that 104·80 μmol retinol (100 000 IU vitamin A)/4184 kJ (1000 kcal) is a suitable safe upper limit for use in the formulation of diets designed for puppy growth.
authors.affiliation: WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Freeby Lane, Waltham on the Wolds, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, UK. penelope.morris@effem.com
authors.forename: Penelope J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Salt
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raila
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brenten
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Florian J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Schweigert
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zentek
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004285:Dogs; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014801:Vitamin A