kennel_keeper
Posted : 7/12/2006 5:21:33 AM
ORIGINAL: papillon806
That, and the fact that the website says "for supplemental feeding only" ...that scares me
Here's Natures Logic's response to that statement (it's on their FAQ page). You have to read through alot of explainations about AAFCO/NRC stuff, but they do finally answer the question.
"
In a recent nutrient analysis of Nature#%92s Logic#%92s Dry Canine Chicken Diet, it was found to exceed all AAFCO nutrient minimums of amino acids and contained all other vitamins and minerals (listed in the AAFCO Nutrient Profile) from 100% food without the addition of any chemically synthesized vitamins or minerals. Of the AAFCO required vitamins and minerals, 19 out of 23 exceeded the AAFCO minimum requirements. One vitamin found naturally in small amounts in the diet but not meeting the AAFCO minimum requirement was Vitamin D. The AAFCO minimum level is 500 IU/kg which would be hard to meet with any food. Nature#%92s Logic does not intend to ever use chemically synthesize Vitamin D to meet this AAFCO nutrient profile for two reasons. The NRC, in its book, “Vitamin Tolerance of Animals”, plainly states that Vitamin D is not required in the diet if sufficient amounts of sunlight are received. Adequate sunlight results in the production of sufficient vitamin D from the skin - naturally. Nature never intended for animals or humans to consume chemically synthesized forms of Vitamin D, but nature did intend humans and animals to be exposed to sunlight. If one chooses not to expose their pets to some needed sunlight, the alternative is to risk the supplementing of chemically synthesized Vitamin D. Some of the hypervitaminosis (vitamin toxicity) associated with over exposure to chemically synthesized forms of vitamin D in dogs are hypercalcemia, cardiovascular and nephrocalcinosis and increased blood pressure. Isn#%92t sunlight better?
Nature#%92s Logic chooses not to meet the AAFCO nutrient profile using potentially dangerous chemically synthesized forms of vitamins and minerals. [link
http://www.natureslogic.com/testing/faq/pdf/vitaminmineral.pdf](Click here to see research and results of animal testing of synthetic vitamins and minerals)[/link] All Nature#%92s Logic#%92s foods exceed the AAFCO nutrient profile on all amino acids and also exceed the nutrient profile on most vitamins and minerals. The few that do not exceed the AAFCO minimums are present in the diet, but may be slightly lower than the AAFCO nutrient profile. In the case of vitamin D, it can be argued that it is not needed. With the others it can be argued that AAFCO may not be correct in their requirements because data is admittedly, insufficient. It can also be argued that even though a few vitamins or minerals may be slightly under the AAFCO minimum, the smaller amount of natural nutrients from food sources are more bioavailable and safer than a larger amount of chemically synthesized nutrient forms. NRC research does indicate that a number of the synthetic forms of nutrients are not readily absorbed and utilized and some can even interfere with the absorption of other nutrients.
It is Nature#%92s Logic#%92s position that its diets will be proven to supply more than adequate nutrition for all life stages. All AAFCO required nutrients are present in all Nature#%92s Logic#%92s™ diets and most are exceeded. But because just a few, like Vitamin D, do not exceed or meet the AAFCO minimum, Nature#%92s Logic is required at this time to use the statement, “Nature#%92s Logic#%92s™ diets are intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.” At the time of this writing, Nature#%92s Logic#%92s™ diets are in their 12th week of a successful all life stage feeding trial. Upon completion of the trial, the feeding trial adequacy statement will be used on future Nature#%92s Logic™ packaging."