032 – VitD + Inflammation + Mg + Folate

Background: 

Vitamin D is the most important hormone in the body and sufficient levels are anti-proliferative, pro-differentiating, and anti-inflammatory: all involved in cancer pathogenesis.  VDI provides patient-specific dosing guidelines to get patients to sufficiency. Acute Phase Proteins (APP) are the best indicators of inflammation in the body. The major APPs (CRP in dogs, HPT in cats) are made when an inflammatory stimulus is present, and disappear when it’s resolved. Quick to appear and disappear, CRP & HPT should be normal in the healthy animal.  When present, source of inflammation should be identified and resolved if possible before it becomes chronic.  Chronic inflammation leads to the development of serious diseases including cancer.  Detect occult disease in the otherwise healthy looking animal using C-reactive Protein (CRP) in dogs, or Haptoglobin (HPT) in cats.

Magnesium is an essential nutrient involved in numerous biological pathways, acting as a cofactor to ensure they run efficiently and effectively.  VDI provides patient-specific dosing guidelines to get patients to sufficiency.

Folate, an essential vitamin that is produced endogenously through the bacteria in the gut, is an important cofactor in RNA synthesis.  Changes in folate levels can indicate changes in gut flora or the presence of disease in the small intestine.

Clinical Applications:

CRP and HPT are also useful in pre-operative test panels and therapeutic monitoring.

Recommendations:

Dogs & Cats on steroids or NSAIDs will have suppressed CRP or HPT, unless the medication is no longer having an effect on the disease process. Whenever possible, collect sample before the administration of anti-inflammatory medications.