What is happening???

[ticklechin]

From 2007,


The following is
required in order to maintain functional balance:
• providing the organism with appropriate
quantities of nutrients, such as proteins,
minerals, and vitamins A, C, and D
• balanced functioning of endocrine glands, such
as pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal
glands, gonads, and pancreas
• appropriate functional stimulation

http://bulletin.piwet.pulawy.pl/archive/51-1/22_872_Sulik.pdf

 

[ticklechin]

One other thing I found interesting is that both APD and Tradition add vitamin C to their chinchilla pellets, if they felt they did not need them then why add?

http://www.hubbardfeeds.com/specialty/ProdInfo/TraditionChinchillaPellets.aspx?menu=Small Mammals

 

[caballtaz]

I'm curious as to why the 2007 publication did not cite their source on the part you referenced. After all, the study was about the use of radiography in dental disease, not on nutrition itself. It's possible (though certainly not definite) that they were referring to osseous tissue in general.

As far as why they would include it if not necessary, one possible explanation is that they include it because people expect it and otherwise would choose another food.

I'm very frustrated that the National Research Council (which publishes the nutrient requirements for virtually all domestic species) neglected chinchillas in its laboratory animals publication.

I have found a few potential references to l-gulonolactone oxidase activity, but I do not have access to the full articles. I will try again from a school computer.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/2407387
http://www.sciencedirect.com/scienc...serid=10&md5=7493ed51392e53a5a3af9fcc2e462cb6

 

[caballtaz]

The first of the references I posted is no good, but the second one lists the experimental levels of GLO (the enzyme responsible for vitamin C production) in many placental mammals. While guinea pigs are a nice <0.05 (essentially zero), chinchillas are 8.0 umol/g/hr, which is 4 times that of the dog (1.8) and nearly twice that of the pig (4.7). Degus, for anyone curious, are 2.3.

It appears I have access to a ton of articles while at school, so let me know if there is ever an article you want looked up.

 

[ticklechin]

Dang, I would go blind if I had that kind of access! Thanks, good to know that info!

 

[ChinHeart]

The first of the references I posted is no good, but the second one lists the experimental levels of GLO (the enzyme responsible for vitamin C production) in many placental mammals. While guinea pigs are a nice <0.05 (essentially zero), chinchillas are 8.0 umol/g/hr, which is 4 times that of the dog (1.8) and nearly twice that of the pig (4.7). Degus, for anyone curious, are 2.3.

It appears I have access to a ton of articles while at school, so let me know if there is ever an article you want looked up.

What does this mean for us laywomen? Chins make their own vitamin C?

 

[caballtaz]

Yep, that's exactly what it means. Guinea pigs and primates can't make their own vitamin C because we lack that GLO enzyme. Pretty much every other mammal studied does have the enzyme and thus can make their own vitamin C from glucose. Wikipedia explains it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ascorbic_acid#Ascorbic_acid_synthesis_in_non-primates

 

[ChinHeart]

Thanks hun

 

[AZChins]

They make their own for sure. It's still good for them to get extra in their food or even in supplement form from time to time. That's one reason for wanting to use the freshest possible food.