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Folic acid (B9) in dog and cat diets

A short guide to the role of Folic acid (B9) in dog and cat nutrition.

It is a water-soluble vitamin and is responsible for the synthesis of DNA and cell proliferation (bone marrow, intestinal mucosa) [1]. It occurs in food as derivatives of tetrahydrofolic acid (FH4) [2]. It creates a harmonious duo with vitamin B12 (a close relationship during the production of methionine from homocysteine). It takes part in the metabolic pathways of nucleotide biosynthesis, phospholipid synthesis, amino acid decomposition, formation of neurotransmitters and keratinin [2]. It is very unstable - it is destroyed by high temperature, light, storage in water and very long freezing (cooking destroys a significant part of folic acid, depending on the method). Therefore, folic acid is added to ready-made foods as a synthetic additive.

What it contains: Offal (liver), egg yolks and brewer’s yeast [3], green vegetables.

Deficiency: Rare on a raw diet. Deficiency during pregnancy in bitches/cats drastically increases the risk of cleft palate in newborns and neural tube defects [4]. It also causes macrocytic anemia. High levels of folic acid with low levels of vitamin B12 in blood test results are a classic symptom of SIBO (intestinal microbiome overgrowth) [5].

Excess: Because it is a water-soluble vitamin, its excess is efficiently excreted in the urine [3].

Sources

  1. National Research Council (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10668/nutrient-requirements-of-dogs-and-cats
  2. Wedekind, K. J., Yu, S., Kats, L., Paetau-Robinson, I., & Cowell, C. S. (2010). Micronutrients: Minerals and vitamins. In M. S. Hand, C. D. Thatcher, R. L. Remillard, P. Roudebush, & B. J. Novotny (Eds.), Small Animal Clinical Nutrition (5th ed., Chapter 6). Mark Morris Institute. https://www.markmorrisinstitute.org/sacn5_download.html
  3. Merck Veterinary Manual. Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/nutrition-small-animals/nutritional-requirements-of-small-animals
  4. Domosławska A, Zduńczyk S, Janowski T, Jurczak A (2013). Folic acid supplementation decreases cleft palate incidence in Pug and Chihuahua puppies. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23691573/
  5. Batt RM, Morgan JO (1982). Role of serum folate and vitamin B12 concentrations in the differentiation of small intestinal abnormalities in the dog. Research in Veterinary Science 32(1):17-22. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7089378/