Last changed 26 May 2004
Edited by Sam Watson [samwtx at bajaokla dot com]
Contributed by Mickey Howard <thebigd at inetnebr.com>
Sam:
Here is the Ester C study you requested. I found it very interesting and it was enough to convince me of its validity. I will keep CocoaPuff and any future dachsies on it for life!!
Part 1:
Article by W. HOOD B.V.Sc. Veterinary Surgeon & Physician. 16th January, 1985.
"I first decided to try out this treatment after reading of research at Baylor College in the USA about how they were using large doses of Vitamin C to avoid surgery in quite a number of human patients. I tried it out in conjunction with long acting corticosteroids and cage rest and was amazed at how quickly MOST of these dogs recovered from dragging their back legs to up and walking in 4-7 days. After these dogs are discharged from hospital I recommend that they be given Vitamin C tablets, 500mg. night and morning for life. If this is maintained we very rarely have a relapse.
The use of Vitamin C intravenously (I recommend 1000mg. daily) works best when given as soon as possible after the injury has taken place. In older cases which have been going on for a few weeks, the response is not so dramatic. In these cases I usually use acupuncture in conjunction with the Vitamin C therapy. Acupuncture is another excellent way of treating this problem, but I only usually need to resort to it on these chronic, long standing cases.
For Vets, the dose of Vitamin C I use in 1000 mg. intravenously, daily. In Australia it comes as 500 mg/ml for intramuscular or subcutaneous injections. Even though it is not recommended for intravenous use, I have been doing so now for about 9 years without any adverse side effects. In conjunction with this I use a long acting corticosteroid (any brand OK) and cage rest.
I only use this treatment in dogs which have become partially paralyzed and cannot walk, or are swaying badly. In dogs just with back pain, corticosteroids, rest and oral Vitamin C works fine.
I do not have much success with dogs which are so bad they don't even have a deep pain response when pinching their toes, but it is still worth trying.
It is not a bad idea to put all your dachshunds on a preventative dose of Vitamin C i.e. 500 mg. daily in tablet or powder form."
Part 2:
CLINICAL TRIAL OF ESTER-C POLYASCORBATE from The Norwegian Veterinary Journal Volume 102 August/September 1990.
POLYASCORBATE (C-Flex), AN INTERESTING ALTERNATIVE BY PROBLEMS IN THE SUPPORT AND MOVEMENT APPARATUS IN DOGS. BY: Geir Erik Berge, Gronuddalen Dyreklinikk, Oslo, Norway.
Ever since Dr. Lind in the year 1740 discovered that juice from citrus fruits could prevent scurvy in sailors, Vitamin C has had a natural place in human nutrition.
All species except primates, guinea pigs, certain types of bats, salmon varieties, certain insects and shellfish have enzyme systems that convert glucose to ascorbic acid (1). Vitamin C has hence received little attention within veterinary medicine.
The assumption that animals at all times are capable of producing sufficient quantities themselves is however probably not a valid one.
Ascorbic acid plays a role in a large number of biochemical reactions in the metabolism of collagen and in the immune system as well as in a series of redox reactions.
Also metabolites of Vitamin C are reactive components. Today's research gives these substances the attention they deserve. The conversion of ascorbic acid into these metabolites is believed to be dependent on the intra-cellular ascorbic acid concentration. Under certain circumstances, like infections, traumatic or physical stress, larger amounts of ascorbic acid and its metabolites are being consumed by various tissues.
Under these conditions, it is very well possible that the animal's own production cannot cope with the demand of supplying all tissues with optimal levels of ascorbic acid.
Ascorbic acid is an acidic, water soluble molecule which after ingestion is very rapidly excreted through the kidneys. Ascorbic acid has pka 4.17.
The ideal Vitamin C would be a pH neutral molecule that would not cause irritation to the gastrointestinal tract, that is rapidly absorbed from the gut, that is more slowly excreted, and that has the ability to cross cell membranes in a more efficient way than does ascorbic acid, so that higher intra-cellular levels can be reached.
Such a Vitamin C (classified as a polyascorbate) has been developed and patented by Inter-Cal Corporation of Prescott, Arizona under the trademark C-Flex.
Polyascorbate is a complex mixture of calcium ascorbate molecules and the above mentioned metabolites. In water solution the polyascorbate is pH neutral, which influences the osmolarity in the intestinal tract less than does ascorbic acid, which has a pH 2.4. It is absorbed faster in both animals and humans.
Furthermore, slower excretion and higher intra-cellular concentrations are achieved. Clinical studies suggest that the metabolites created during C-Flex's unique manufacturing process are of vital importance in its increased ability to penetrate cell membranes and thus give higher intra-cellular ascorbate absorption.
Robert Davis, PhD., at the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric medicine observed that polyascorbate lessened both symptoms and pain and stiffness in arthritis patients (5).
The target for this study was to observe the effect of the polyascorbate in dogs with clinical symptoms of chronic inflammation processes in joints, skeleton and muscles, as routinely treated with antiphlogistics and corticoids
MATERIAL & METHODS: The study was carried out at Groruddalen, Dyreklinikkover a six month period in 1988. One hundred (100) dogs of different breeds and ages were given C-Flex approx. 30mgs/kg body weight three (3) times a day, orally.
All treatments were given because owners saw the animal's symptoms of limping, lameness, limited movement ability and pain. Diagnosis was made on the basis of journals, clinical evaluation and, if necessary, X-rays. The effect was measured as changes in symptoms partly by new clinical assessment and partly by owners reporting their evaluation of treatment. The effect was measured after seven (7) to ten (10) days, more than six (6) weeks and after approx. six (6) months.
A series of both acute and chronic ailments were treated. With acute problems and conditions that rapidly change, it is difficult to distinguish between effect of treatment and other influential factors. Such patients were therefore excluded from the study. One has hence limited the study to observe effect of:
* symptoms that have a known cause and that are permanent, and
* where symptoms had been stable over a minimum of six (6) weeks, and
* must be assumed to persist without treatment
Dogs with the following ailments were included:
*Arthrosis
*Spondylosis
*Hip Dysplasia
*Older disc prolapse with permanent secondary changes
*Senile wear changes in support and movement tissue
TABLE 1
Splitting these numbers after diagnosis give the following:
TABLE 2
RESULTS; The results of the study are shown in Table 1. Results related to the different diagnosis are shown in Table 2. No clear variations between the studied ailments were found.
There were no side effects seen during treatment.
C-Flex was administered both as tablets and powder. This did not seem to make a difference in effect.
In agreement with some owners, six (6) dogs with chronic arthrosis were divided into two (2) groups. Group 1 received C-Flex, Group 2 a placebo. After one (1) week, all the dogs in Group 1 showed improvement, while no one in Group 2 did. Treatment was postponed for four (4) weeks. Group 1 this time received the placebo and Group 2 received C-Flex. After one week all the dogs in Group 2 showed improvement and none in Group 1 did. A second crossover was then made with the same results.
CONCLUSION; This study shows an interesting tendency that polyascorbate orally administered gives symptomatic relief of chronic deforming changes in the joint and skeleton system in many of these patients.
One realizes that it would have been preferable to have larger groups. However as the treatment seemed to give such clear-cut effect, one deems it appropriate to mention this at this point. Further studies with larger groups are underway
Polyascorbate should prove to be a good alternative to current treatment of these ailments. Many older dogs showed a general improvement during treatment. That the substance gives effect to all dogs, a species that should be able to produce its own Vitamin C, points in the direction that the dog's own production gives sub-optimal concentrations in some tissues under certain conditions.
SUMMARY: A study on the clinical effect of C-Flex on chronic inflammation ailments in the support and movement structures in dogs is present. The mineral polyascorbate form contains significant levels of naturally occurring Vitamin C metabolites. Ascorbic acid and its metabolites play important roles in approximately three hundred (300) metabolic reactions. Clinical studies at Groruddalen Dyreklinikk have demonstrated that polyascorbate has a positive effect on symptoms caused by chronic inflammation in the dog's movement structure. About 75% of the dogs treated showed improvement upon treatment. Further investigations are in progress.
REFERENCES;
1. Levine M. New Concepts in the biology and biochemistry of ascorbic acid. N. Engl. J Med. 1986 314-898.
2. Bush M J, Verlangieri A J An acute study on the relative gastro-intestinal absorption of a novel form of calcium ascorbate. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 1987; 57; 137-40.
3.Wright J A clinical study of Polyascorbate vs. L-ascorbic acid Meridan Valley Clin Lab Report, Kent WA, USA 1987
4. Verlangieri A J Relative Gastro-intestinal absorption of polyascorbate vs. L-ascorbic acid. Atherosclerosis Res Lab Report. Univers. Mississippi 1988."
NOTE; The lady from the N.S.W. Dachshund Club who has coordinated this whole research project is:
Ms. SUE ROSE,
16 Cairnes Road
GLENORIE. N.S.W. 2157. AUSTRALIA.
Sue is "NASUS" prefix, the breeder of many famous Standard Smooths. If you have any comments, or want up-to-date advice, you may email her at srose "at" eisa.net.au (remove the "at" and replace with "@"). However, in an absolute emergency, Sue is such a lover of dachshunds (show or pet) she can be contacted by phone in the evenings (Australian time) on 02 9652 2346 (Sydney, Australia). (I received word from Sue Rose on 17 March 2000 that in 1999 she got 100% of 20 dogs back up with the above treatment - Sam)
Part 3 (Last one)
Reprint from "The Low Down", Journal of the New South Wales Dachshund Club, June, 1993.
"A NON ACIDIC VITAMIN CALLED 'ESTER C'. EASING THE SUFFERING OF ARTHRITIS.
Ester C is a non-acidic, pH balanced form of Vitamin C. It was developed in Prescott, Arizona in the U.S.A. by the Inter-Cal Corporation. The product recently received the endorsement of the US Medical establishment. Dr. Charles Dockter runs Prescott's largest veterinary practice. He takes Ester C and gives it to many of his patients, particularly dogs with arthritis or hip displaysia.
He says "Inter-Cal asked me to do some trials several years ago. The results were very interesting, with about 25% of dog owners reporting their dogs were much better, 50% saying there was some response but nothing remarkable, and 25% saying there was no change.
However, when that 50% stopped using Ester C, they soon saw there had indeed been an improvement in the dog's condition, and they came back for more.
I remember one 12 year old german shepherd that was brought in totally paralysed, to be put to sleep. I put it on Ester C and a week to 10 days later it was walking around. I have the same sorts of results with hunting dogs.
I start the dog on one tablet per five kg of body weight and if there is no improvement in 10 days, the dose is doubled. If 10 days after that there is no change, Ester C is probably not going to help the dog, and I have to try medication such as aspirin, then steroids.
I use Ester C with many breeds, generally on older dogs, and on those that are just stiff. It is soon evident the dogs are more active, alert, energetic, happy and responsive.
Dr. Dockter has also used Ester C on horses and has read research about its use with fish and rabbits. He suspects it could be used to great effect in the sheep and cattle industries, to combat lameness and respiratory problems.
However, Dr. Dockter has discovered that Ester C does not seem to work with cats, probably, he says, because of the animal's particular muscular structure.
Dr. Dockter has been in practice for 23 years. He says: "I have no shares in or connection with the Inter-Cal Corporation, but I believe in Ester C or I certainly would not be taking it myself.
I injured a knee playing football and it got to the stage I thought I would have to have surgery and give up skiing. But I take 3 tablets morning and evening and do anything I want, including skiing and playing baseball. My orthopedic surgeon says I shouldn't be able to do these things on my knee, but I can.
My father had an artificial leg below the knee and he complained about muscle spasms. He was really suffering and I suggested he try three Ester C tablets a day. As soon as he did the pain stopped and didn't come back until he ran out of Ester C. But, as soon as he started taking Ester C again, the pain just disappeared.
Scientific evidence proves Ester C assists in building collagen, and collagen is the thing that holds our bodies together. That makes sense to me and from my experience I know Ester C makes my knee joint stronger.
And the beautiful thing about it is that it can't hurt you - not like steroids that can have so many side effects".
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This E-Mail message compliments of:
THE HOWARD FAMILY
Dale Mickey Sarah
Siggie Cocoa Puff
Lincoln, Nebraska
E-mail address: thebigd at inetnebr.com
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