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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Onion & Garlic Poisoning in Cats

Salgado BS, Monteiro LN, Rocha NS: Alliumspecies poisoning in dogs and cats, J Venon Anim Toxins incl Trop Dis 17:4,2011.  

The genus Allium includes onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallots, and scallions. All Allium species and their derivatives can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Their toxic components can damage red blood cells (RBC), leading to a hemolytic anemia. In particular, cats are 2 to 3 times more susceptible to RBC damage from these components than other species. Onion toxicosis is noted in animals that consume more than 0.5% of their body weight; in a 10 lb cat, this would be 8 oz. Ingestion of smaller amounts over several days can lead to RBC damage. Notably, manufacturers often add onion powder to baby food to increase palatability; and baby food is often given to cats when they are ill to entice eating. Commonly, signs lag behind consumption by a few days – vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and dehydration may occur. Treatment is mainly supportive. Owners should restrict access to these foodstuffs. [MK]

Related articles:
Salgado BS, Monteiro LN, Rocha NS: Alliumspecies poisoning in dogs and cats, J Venon Anim Toxins incl Trop Dis 17:4,2011.  

The genus Allium includes onion, garlic, leek, chives, shallots, and scallions. All Allium species and their derivatives can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Their toxic components can damage red blood cells (RBC), leading to a hemolytic anemia. In particular, cats are 2 to 3 times more susceptible to RBC damage from these components than other species. Onion toxicosis is noted in animals that consume more than 0.5% of their body weight; in a 10 lb cat, this would be 8 oz. Ingestion of smaller amounts over several days can lead to RBC damage. Notably, manufacturers often add onion powder to baby food to increase palatability; and baby food is often given to cats when they are ill to entice eating. Commonly, signs lag behind consumption by a few days – vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and dehydration may occur. Treatment is mainly supportive. Owners should restrict access to these foodstuffs. [MK]

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Monday, June 27, 2011

High dietary menaquinone intake is associated with reduced coronary calcification.

Dietary vitamin K is thought to decrease risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing coronary calcification, but inconsistent results are reported. This may be due to different effects of vitamin K(1) (phylloquinone) and vitamin K(2) (menaquinone, MK), but few studies included both.

We investigated the association of intake of phylloquinone and menaquinone, including its subtypes (MK4-MK10), with coronary calcification in a cross-sectional study among 564 post-menopausal women. Phylloquinone and menaquinone intake was estimated using a food-frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS: Sixty-two percent (n=360) of the women had coronary calcification based on 1.5-mm thick slices. Phylloquinone intake was not associated with coronary calcification with a relative risk (RR) of 1.17 (95%-confidence interval: 0.96-1.42; p(trend)=0.11) of the highest versus lowest quartile. Menaquinone intake was associated with decreased coronary calcification with an RR of 0.80 (95%-CI: 0.65-0.98; p(trend)=0.03).

CONCLUSION: This study shows that high dietary menaquinone intake, but probably not phylloquinone, is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate menaquinone intakes could therefore be important to prevent cardiovascular disease.
Dietary vitamin K is thought to decrease risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing coronary calcification, but inconsistent results are reported. This may be due to different effects of vitamin K(1) (phylloquinone) and vitamin K(2) (menaquinone, MK), but few studies included both.

We investigated the association of intake of phylloquinone and menaquinone, including its subtypes (MK4-MK10), with coronary calcification in a cross-sectional study among 564 post-menopausal women. Phylloquinone and menaquinone intake was estimated using a food-frequency questionnaire.

RESULTS: Sixty-two percent (n=360) of the women had coronary calcification based on 1.5-mm thick slices. Phylloquinone intake was not associated with coronary calcification with a relative risk (RR) of 1.17 (95%-confidence interval: 0.96-1.42; p(trend)=0.11) of the highest versus lowest quartile. Menaquinone intake was associated with decreased coronary calcification with an RR of 0.80 (95%-CI: 0.65-0.98; p(trend)=0.03).

CONCLUSION: This study shows that high dietary menaquinone intake, but probably not phylloquinone, is associated with reduced coronary calcification. Adequate menaquinone intakes could therefore be important to prevent cardiovascular disease.
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