Page 189 - product-manual

TM/MC TM/MC
PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES - TOXICOLOGY - DRUG INTERACTIONS

beta-Carotene (C H )
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Many animals convert β-carotene to retinol to meet their vitamin A requirements. However, this
pathway is inefficient in many carnivores including cats (Schweigert et al., 2002). Although it has
been shown that cats are capable of converting β-carotene to active vitamin A, it is inadequate
to meet a cat’s vitamin A requirement (Green et al., 2011). Dietary supplements of vitamins E
and C and beta-carotene reduce oxidative stress in cats with renal insufficiency (Yu & Paetau-
Robinson, 2006). Dietary β-carotene stimulates cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in
dogs (Chew et al., 2000) and was found to restore immune responses in older dogs (Massimino
et al., 2003).

TOXICOLOGY Toxicity for β-carotene has not been documented in dogs and cats when administered orally in therapeutic

doses.

DRUG Validated interactions studies do not exist for β-carotene preparations. However, β-carotene can
INTERACTIONS interact with medication used for lowering cholesterol. Taking them together can lower the
effectiveness of these medications and is considered only a moderate interaction (Web MD, 2012).
Orlistat can reduce the absorption of β-carotene by as much as 30% (UMMC, 2012a). Bile acid
sequestrants such as cholestyramine and colestipol and proton-pump inhibitors such as omeprazole
can also decrease absorption of β-carotene (Meschino, 2012).

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