What is Sodium Ascorbate & How Will it Help My Pet?

By :Becki Baumgartner, PhD 0 comments

What is Sodium Ascorbate?

Sodium ascorbate is a form of vitamin C commonly used as a dietary supplement. It is the sodium salt of ascorbic acid, which is the chemical name for vitamin C.

Sodium ascorbate has the same basic properties as ascorbic acid but is less acidic.

We prefer sodium ascorbate to regular vitamin C supplements because it's less acidic.

Being less acidic, sodium ascorbate doesn't cause gastrointestinal upset and cramping.
Sodium ascorbate is absorbed better and stays in the body longer
Sodium ascorbate has a neutral, almost flavorless taste so, pets (even cats!) do not taste it in their food.
In powder form, sodium ascorbate is easily measured and mixed into wet food or treats.

What Does Sodium Ascorbate Do?

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that is crucial in various biological processes in your pet's body. It is known for its antioxidant properties, which help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.

It is also essential for synthesizing collagen, a protein vital for the health of connective tissues, skin, blood vessels, and bones. Additionally, it helps absorb iron from plant-based sources and supports the immune system.

Health Benefits

Supplementing your pet's diet with sodium ascorbate supplies his/her body with additional vitamin C, which provides several benefits.

Antioxidant activity: Vitamin C, including sodium ascorbate, acts as an antioxidant, which means it helps protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause oxidative stress and contribute to the development of various health conditions. By neutralizing free radicals, vitamin C helps reduce oxidative damage and supports overall cellular health.
Collagen synthesis: Sodium ascorbate is vital for the synthesis of collagen, a protein that is essential for the structure, strength, and elasticity of various tissues in the body, including skin, blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Collagen plays a vital role in wound healing, maintaining healthy skin, and supporting the health of joints and connective tissues.
Immune system support: Vitamin C supports the immune system. It enhances the function of various immune cells and helps stimulate the production of antibodies. Adequate vitamin C levels are essential for maintaining a healthy immune response, reducing the severity and duration of common infections, and promoting overall immune system function.
Iron absorption: Sodium ascorbate enhances the absorption of non-heme iron, which is the form of iron found in plant-based foods. Vitamin C helps convert non-heme iron into a more readily absorbable form, increasing its bioavailability. This is particularly beneficial for pets not eating enough or those with lower iron intake or absorption.
Collateral effects: Vitamin C, including sodium ascorbate, is associated with various potential health benefits, such as supporting cardiovascular health, promoting healthy aging, and supporting cognitive function.

Health Challenges

Vitamin C is also a powerful tool for helping pets suffering from many different health challenges, including (but not limited to):

Allergies
Ankylosing spondylitis
Asthma
Autoimmune diseases
Bacterial infections
Burns
Cancer
Constipation
Degenerative joint disease
Feline AIDS
Feline leukemia
Gingivitis
Hip dysplasia
Immune-mediated diseases
Influenza
Injuries
Kennel cough
Spinal issues
Surgery recovery
Upper respiratory infections
Viral pneumonia
Viruses

History of Use

I first learned about the magic of Vitamin C from The Very Healthy Cat Book by Wendell O. Belfield, DVM. The copy I have is an old paperback from 1983.

In his book, Dr. Belfield calls Vitamin C "Nature's Great Detoxifier." He then quotes Edward J. Calabrese, an environmental health expert at the University of Massachusetts who said "Vitamin C markedly affects the toxicity of greater than 50 pollutants, many of which are ubiquitous in the air, water and food environments."

Tadpole Experiment

Dr. Belfield also mentions a Chinese study involving tadpoles and lead. Researchers placed 100 tadpoles in water containing a high level of lead. Within 24 hours, eight tadpoles died.

The living tadpoles were then divided, half going in a tank of plain water and half going in a tank of plain water plus vitamin C. After six days, 88% of the tadpoles in the plain water tank had died, while all of the tadpoles in the vitamin C-treated water were still alive.

1939 Lead Detox

In another instance, he wrote about how in 1939 the Brain Bio Center in Princeton, NJ developed an effective combination of 2 g of vitamin C and 30 mg of zinc gluconate daily to dramatically improve the health of lead workers. The vitamin C and zinc detoxed the lead out of the workers' bodies.

There were also other interesting facts and studies like using vitamin C to detox cadmium from quail, blocking the formation of nitroso compounds in test animals, and inhibiting the release of histamine.

Interesting, right?! I thought, "Why isn't this stuff taught in school?" and "Why aren't more people working with vitamin C?"

At the time, I was working in Dr. Marc Smith's clinic, Natchez Trace Veterinary Services. He decided to implement some vitamin C protocols in the clinic, and they were a success! He still uses them today.

Another excellent resource for learning more about vitamin C is the Linus Pauling Institute website. The site is geared towards humans, but the general information translates over to pets. Warning: If visit this site, you'll probably start taking more vitamin C yourself!

Does My Pet Need a Vitamin C Supplement?

Dogs and cats create their own vitamin C in the form of ascorbic acid by synthesizing it in their liver.

In addition, most animals automatically produce more ascorbic acid when facing a toxic challenge.

The above facts consequently lead many people to believe dogs and cats don't need to ingest vitamin C to be healthy.

But what happens if toxins overwhelm the animal's ability to detoxify themselves by depleting all the self-made vitamin C? The result is sickness, or even death.

Stress Depletes Natural Vitamin C

However, it's not just toxins that deplete your pet's vitamin C. Stress, both physical and emotional, is the most significant cause of vitamin C depletion in pets.

Below are some examples of situations that can deplete your pet's natural vitamin C.

Physical Stressors

Physical stressors for dogs and cats include:

Uncomfortable environment
Extreme heat or cold
Chronic illness
Overexertion
Injury or physical trauma

Emotional Stressors

Emotional stressors for dogs and cats include:

Interruption of daily routines
Moving to a new home
Travel
Dog/Cat shows
Sudden noises like fireworks and thunder
New household members, like a new pet or baby
Multiple animals in the household who don't get along
Vet, groomer, kennel, or cattery visit
Another cat moving into the territory
Being alone in the home too much
Lack of exercise/boredom

It's up to you, with the help of your vet, to decide if your pet will benefit from supplementing with sodium ascorbate.

How Much Sodium Ascorbate Should I Give My Pet?

First off, make sure you use sodium ascorbate, not ascorbic acid. As mentioned earlier, sodium ascorbate has a neutral pH. So, there are fewer gastrointestinal side effects with sodium ascorbate compared to ascorbic acid.

Ascorbic acid is the most common form of vitamin C, but it has an acidic pH. The acidic pH makes it taste bad and causes gastrointestinal distress. So, we do not recommend using ascorbic acid.

How Much Sodium Ascorbate to Supplement

Standard recommended supplementation is:

Pets under 10 pounds: 1/16 - 1/4 teaspoon mixed in each meal
Pets 11-30 pounds: 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon mixed in each meal
Pets 31-50 pounds: 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon mixed in each meal
Dogs 51-75 pounds: 3/4 - 1 teaspoon mixed in each meal
Dogs over 75 pounds: 1 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon for every 10 pounds over 75 mixed in each meal

However, with chronic diseases or in acute health situations, our founding veterinarians often recommend high-dose sodium ascorbate in their clinics.

What Are The Warnings and Side Effects?

Sodium ascorbate is water soluable. It's absorbed in the small intestine, and what your pet's body cannot use is excreted immediately, making it non-toxic. However, it may cause loose stools in very high doses.

Supplemental vitamin C increases urinary oxalate concentrations, but whether an increase in urinary oxalate elevates the risk for kidney stones is not yet known. Those predisposed for kidney stone formation may consider avoiding high-dose vitamin C supplementation (Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute.)

Every 1,000 mg of sodium ascorbate contains 111 mg of sodium. However, the sodium content is safe for pets at the recommended dose. However, if your pet has hypertension, diabetes, kidney problems, or is on a low-salt diet, use only with your veterinarian's supervision, especially at high doses.

And, remember, it's always best to talk to your veterinarian before adding any new supplements to your pet's health plan.

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