Ridecamp: Re: [RC] [RC] B.C.A.A. Complex/nutraceuticals--long

I have a comment to insert here that is appropriate given what Truman just
brought up:  Many of these supplements are nutraceuticals, which are NOT
governed under the same testing rules as the veterinary drugs.  Actually,
they are not required to be tested at all.  The only rules they fall under
are the commercial feed laws, which may or may not protect your animals.
Compare the fact that the BCAA research has only started in the past what,
2-3 years?  And already there are several of these products on the market.
I did the first work with Equidone (domperidone) for fescue toxicosis in
1990--first paper was published on it in 92.  This drug is not being
presented to the FDA for use in food animals--just horses-- so that
eliminates some of the hoops that have to be jumped through for approval.
However, my dissertation advisor has been in the approval process now for at
least 6 years, and still has not been granted final approval.  There's no
doubt that it works and is safe--but the FDA wheels turn very slowly, even
when a drug isn't destined for the human food chain in any way, shape or
form.

There are a number of prominent individuals in the nutrition and veterinary
world trying to get these nutraceuticals to be placed under the Food, Drug
and Cosmetic Act in some fashion so that they can be regulated.  Dr. William
Jones, editor of Journal of Equine Veterinary Sciences, is one of the ones
who strongly feels this is necessary.  Having seen the down side of
neutriceutical marketing and use, I wholeheartedly support this quest.
There are far too many products hitting the market for all sorts of animals
which have NEVER been tested...they are just thrown out on the market based
on everything from obscure, irreproducible research to just plain
conjecture.
The end result is that many animals are suffering from owner misinformation
and corporate greed.

Many of the marketing tactics encourage the "if some is good, more is
better" approach to supplementation, and nothing could be further from the
truth.  They also use the one-size-fits-all-geographical locations approach
to formulation.  While that might be acceptible for some nutrients, it's a
bad idea when it comes to minerals.  One company is currently saturating the
market here in Pennsylvania with ads for an iron supplement for horses...yet
the forages and water here are already loaded with iron.  They are preying
on the desire of horse owners to win ribbons, trophies, titles, etc, which
of course leads to higher sale prices.

I think the fact that this topic has generated a lot of discussion and
questions is a good thing, despite the fact that I know some folks are ready
for a new topic to start showing up.  It indicates that as horse owners you
are concerned about what goes into your animals, and aren't willing to
simply accept every claim that comes down the pike with each new product.

Hallelujah!

Lisa


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