Supplements are listed on most pet food labels – some are synthetic, some are natural. It may be difficult to tell the difference based on the label alone. You may have wondered why they are there or even if they all work the same in the body.
Natural Supplements:
Natural Supplements are derived from natural sources, such as plants, minerals, and animals, and do not contain artificial or synthetic compounds.
Natural vitamins derived from natural sources are far easier to digest and absorb. Dogs’ and cats’ digestive tracts are relatively short so nutrients must be absorbed easily and quickly before being eliminated as waste.
While a human food example, comparing an orange to vitamin C/ascorbic acid might bring this point home well. An orange contains over 30 macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, and compounds like polyphenols and carotenoids. If you simply take a vitamin C pill, you only get that one nutrient.
Synthetic Supplements:
Synthetic Supplements are manufactured in laboratories and designed to mimic the nutrient developed by nature. Synthetic supplements may not contain the same ratio of nutrients found in natural sources and often have lower absorption and effectiveness in the pets’ system.
There’s evidence that bodies absorb nutrients from fresh food more efficiently than from synthetic supplements contained in ultra processed food.
Fresh Whole Food – The Best Source!
No one disputes that fresh is best! There is no substitute for natural nutrients found in fresh whole foods. Nutrients in fresh whole foods are presented in the balance that nature intended assuring optimal health promoting ratios. (The Role “Balance” in Pet Food)
Fresh whole foods also offer a variety of nutrients far beyond the vitamins and minerals considered essential in the diet. These benefits include antioxidants, improved digestion, reduced inflammation, improved heart and circulation, brain function, healthier immune system, and many others. These additional benefits are not permitted to be listed on pet food labels, even though they are recognized and documented benefits in the food world. (Rules Behind Pet Food Labels) It is up to the pet owner to find out from the company if fresh whole foods are used.
Risk of Toxicity with Synthetics
There is also reduced risk of nutrient toxicities from fresh whole foods. When a long list of powdered synthetic nutrients are added to a product there is an inherent risk that the wrong proportions may be added which could result in excesses or deficiencies. In some cases, these excesses occur at toxic levels and result in product recalls, as we have seen recalls due to excess vitamin D, copper, etc. These imbalances do not occur in nature so there is inherently less risk with fresh whole food.
Summary
There is no substitute for fresh whole foods. No one disputes that fresh is best, and this applies to our pets as well as ourselves. If you eat junk food every day and take synthetic vitamins you can argue you are still getting your vitamins, but you will be far healthier if you add fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet.
Understanding Nutritional Balance
