Purina Veterinary Diets HA (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Purina Veterinary Diets HA dry dog food is not rated due to its intentional low meat therapeutic design.

Purina claims its Veterinary Diets HA hypoallergenic dry dog food “provides complete and balanced nutrition for the growth of puppies and maintenance of the adult dog”.1

This statement implies the product meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for both growth and maintenance.

Purina Veterinary Diets HA

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 20% | Fat = 9% | Carbs = 63%

Ingredients: Starch, hydrolyzed soy protein isolate, vegetable oil, calcium phosphate, partially hydrogenated canola oil preserved with TBHQ, powdered cellulose, corn oil, potassium chloride, vegetable gums (gum arabic, guar gum), choline chloride, DL-Methionine, salt, magnesium oxide, lecithin, taurine, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, manganese sulfate, niacin, calcium carbonate, Vitamin A supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, garlic oil, Vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, calcium iodate, biotin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), sodium selenite

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis18%8%NA
Dry Matter Basis20%9%63%
Calorie Weighted Basis19%21%60%

The first ingredient in this dog food is simply labeled starch. The starch listed here is a carbohydrate of anonymous origin. Is this potato starch, wheat starch or what? Without more information, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.

The second ingredient is hydrolyzed soy protein isolate. Soy protein isolate is a highly refined form of soy bean protein with a protein content of about 90%.

In this case, the soy protein has been hydrolyzed which means it has been broken down into its individual amino acid components.

Hydrolyzed proteins are valued for their inherently hypoallergenic properties.

The third ingredient is vegetable oil… a generic oil of unknown origin. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in any oil is nutritionally critical and can vary significantly (depending on the source).

Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of any item vaguely described as simply “vegetable oil”.

The fourth item is calcium phosphate… a nutritional supplement used as a source of both calcium and phosphorous.

The fifth ingredient is partially hydrogenated canola oil… also known as canola margarine. Hydrogenated oils are (at least in humans) considered a source of unhealthy trans fats.

What’s worse, this fat has also been preserved with TBHQ… a suspected cancer-causing agent.

The sixth ingredient is powdered cellulose… a non-digestible plant fiber usually made from cotton or sawdust. Cellulose is sometimes added to dilute the number of calories per serving and to give the feeling of fullness when it is eaten.

Except for the usual benefits of fiber, powdered cellulose provides no nutritional value to a dog.

The seventh ingredient is corn oil. Corn oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and can unfavorably affect the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With four notable exceptions…

First, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

Next, we note the minerals here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.

Thirdly, garlic oil may be a controversial item. We say “may be” here because we are not certain of the oil’s chemical relationship to raw garlic itself.

Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2

However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).

And lastly, Purina Veterinary Diets HA also contains menadione… a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.

Purina Veterinary Diets HA Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Even though this is a prescription product, we continue to limit our judgment to the estimated meat content of the recipe as well as the apparent quality of its ingredients. And nothing else.

Our ratings have nothing to do with the accuracy of claims made by the manufacturer as to this product’s ability to effectively treat or cure a specific health condition.

So, to find out whether or not this dog food is appropriate for your particular pet, you must consult your veterinarian.

With that understanding…

Judging by its ingredients alone, Purina Veterinary Diets HA looks to be a below-average dry dog food.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 20%, a fat level of 9% and estimated carbohydrates of about 63%.

Low protein. Low fat. And very high carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

In addition, when you consider the plant-based protein-boosting effect of the soy protein isolate, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing zero meat.

Now, please understand, we do recognize the need for providing an effective hypoallergenic dog food. However, we also respect a dog’s natural carnivorous bias.

For this reason, we feel this meatless prescription recipe takes that nutritional goal to a unreasonable extreme.

What’s more, the inclusion of the two controversial preservatives, menadione and TBHQ, makes this product even less desirable for long term use.

Bottom line?

Purina Veterinary Diets HA is a meatless starch-based dry dog food using soy protein as a substitute for animal protein.

However, due to its intentional low meat prescriptive design, this dog food is not rated.

A Final Word

This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

02/02/2011 Original review
08/15/2011 Changed rating to “Not Rated”
08/15/2011 Last Update

  1. Purina Veterinary Diets website ↩
  2. Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Katherine Carey

    I have a lovely 8 year old dog, Penny, who has been suffering from some kind of skin disease.  We basically tried everything under the sun to find the cause of her issue, including various biopsies, blood tests, and the intradermal allergy testing.  And she tested negative for everything.  

    She was prescribed prendnisone for nearly two years by our lousy vet back in Houston.  She responded well to this drug at first and stayed at quite a low dosage.  She just stopped taking them the March of last year.  I wish we knew the dangers of this drug before starting it… But anyways, to keep her symptoms in control, we’re giving her Atopica.  Our goal really is to keep her off of these drugs.  But even on atopica, she has inflammation and itchy areas and it hurts us to see her mumbling away at her paws everyday.  As a last resort to find the reason for her illness, we’re giving the food trial another shot.  

    Three years back, our vet recommended a duck and potato trial.  Penny didn’t respond to this diet trial so we ruled out food allergy.  This time, our new vet introduced us to Purina HA and Hills ZD.  Penny eats everything and has a terrific appetite most of the time, so contemplating between Purina’s Dry food VS Hill’s Dry+ wet food is not an issue. 

    Reading the ingredient list, I can see that the  ingredients used in these prescription food is not ideal and fairly poor, but is there one that is better than the other in terms of quality?  I noticed that the first ingredient in Purina HA is “starch,” which is alarming, but then in  Hills ZD, there is chicken?  

    And is it possible that feeding Penny these low nutrient food for 10 weeks will harm her health in any way permanently or even short term? Which brand works best at diagnosing food allergy?

    It would be really wonderful if you could give us any input and opinion about which food to choose, Hills ZD or Purina HA. We are really lost on what to buy, but also if a food allergy trial is actually worth giving your beloved pets bad dog food.  

  • Chelle82968

    I could not agree more.  My Great Dane has been on this food for 2 years with terrific results.  Tried everything else under the sun, horrible diarrhea.  he was diagnosed with Inflamamtory Bowel Disease at 7 months old, and has been fine since switching to this food.  yes, he is also medicated, and I have slowly introduced small amounts of carbs and new proteins into his diet.  Do I care what other people think is right for him?  NO! This works, rated or not, good or bad, this is what works for him, he is finally healthy, happy and in remission from horrible discomfort.

  • Shawna

    Oh my gosh Destiny!!!!  You poor thing AND your poor dear pup!!!!  What a horrible thing for the both of you to have to experience.

    I have to admit —- I am NOT AT ALL fond of this food but sometimes we just have to do what we can as you said.. 

    The reason this food works is because the protein source in the food, soy, has been “hydrolyzed”.  By hydrolyzing protein (any protein) they break it down into amino acids.  The body recognizes amino acids — not rejecting them by vomitting or diarrhea..  My issue is they could have just as easily used a species appropriate protein with the same results..  It is the hydrolyzing that makes the food work not the type of protein.

    Second, soy is a food that is REALLY high in glutamic and aspartic acids.  When a protein is hydrolyzed it “frees” the amino acids and when consumed in excess (like every day) they can become “excitotoxic”.  They can cause brain damage, nerve damage (in humans multiple sclerosis), aggression and many more illnesses/issues.  I have brain damage (diagnosed via MRI) from free glutamic and aspartic acids.

    I hope that your pup is healthy enough some day to get off this food but if not — sometimes the lesser of two evils is the best choice :)   If there is a holistic vet in your area, they can be very very helpful in illnesses like what your pup has experienced…

    Good luck to you both!!!!!

  • Shawna

    Yes :)   I think probiotics and enzymes are VERY VERY VERY important to digestive as well as immune health.  They do SOOO much more then just help the digestive tract.  My raw fed dogs get probiotics and enzymes even.. :)

  • Shawna

    Lisamarin ~~ I totally missed that you had replied.  Sometimes I’m not on for a full day and if there is a lot of activity I can miss many posts. 

    Good detective work on the potato.  Still doin okay on the Instinct?  Brother’s is a great food imo.. 

    If you get a chance, update us on how things are going..

  • melissa

    Destiny-

    When you have a dog with a medical condition that nothing else works for, feed what does work.No rating can replace results : )

  • Destiny

    Well this food was the only one my dog did not react to have IBD. Meaning here entire digestive system would react to animal and or plant protien.  For years I feed her Go natural Salmon and oatmeal diet, then she started voimiting again, we put her a bland diet, then tried the food again.  I spent 1 year looking for foods to feed, very Raw diet gave her diarrhea and voimiting, there were and still are very few single source, single carbohydrate diets on the market. Ocean fish is made up of several type of fish granted all fish, that all have a different protien. I would like to see a non raw diet(raw fish is bad) 5 star single source protien, carbohydrate diet.  My dog can’t handle the antibotics, lose dose of prednisone that can be used to help deal with IBD.  I spent hunderds of dollers and a year trying to help my dog. I started this food 5 years ago, she stoped panting after eat on a 32 degree day, she did not grunt grown or show any abdominal discomfort, she stoped the daily vomiting, she stoped having intermidant diarrhea. 70 pound dog that only ate 2 cups of this food a day, and pooped once a day.  This food work for my dog.  I realize it did not pass this sites test, but it made my dogs life much better.  I started adding protiens back into the her diet and as soon as I did she started all over with vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal discomfort.  The only over diet she did not have a problem with Purina EN canned only(maybe the cocnut milk helped).
    Worse part every human durg we used to treat DJD caused abdominal discomfort.  I can’t treat her arthrits pain, I can only use the Hypo-allerginic Omega 3 Fatty Acid chews.

    In all we humans need to do what we can to help are pets the best we can, and if the only food your dog can handle is the unrated Hypoallerginic food, that every is call carp food, they I say they are wrong. You are going to learn more about dog food labels then you thought posible, by the end of the year I was dreading the fact I would be euthanisizing her becasue she can’t life off boiled chicken breast alone. Vomiting 7 times a day with diarrhea was not something I wanted to put her through, I also could not bear to lose a 7yr old dog.

  • Bob K

    Jasmine – There are many grain free dog foods that contain seafood or lamb.  Is this an option?  Have you kept a detailed diary of all the dog food brands and formulas you have tried?   What makes you say the dog is allergic? 

  • Bob K

    Lisamarin – What foods have you tried?  How long on metronidizole?  Did they run tests for Giardia, Crypto often these are extra tests.  It could be an allergy.  What else is the dog eating and drinking?  Lake, River, Swamp water?  Eating leaves, grass, sticks, other animals feces?  Are you using a monthly parasite and hertworm preventative?  How about flea and tick preventatives?  How often do you bathe your dog?  What shampoo do you use?  How are the dogs ears, eyes and nose?  Have you tried grain free foods?  Have you kept a log of all dog food brands and formulas you have tried?  There are many questions that need to be answered.

    You don’t need to buy mailorder dog food at $3.00/lb. You need a comprehensive diagnosis plan and a vet who can lead you through this problem.  Could be an allergy including various foods.  There are many questions.  Hopefully your vet is asking you dozens.    You can spend lots of money of different foods, supplements, probiotics, vitamins, herbal remedies but you really need to determine what is causing the problem before you treat it otherwise its all a big guessing game and trial and error.

  • http://BrothersComplete.com/ Richard Darlington

    Lisamarin

    If you continue to feed him the Instinct then I suggest that you add a digestive enzyme and probiotic.

    If you switch to Brothers at some point then you won’t need to add them as they are already on the kibble and in a form that will actually be very effective. 

    I don’t know how long your dog has been on metronidazole but since it’s an antibiotic it is acting against the probiotics you are trying to seed the colon with. If your dog’s been taking the anti-biotic long enough to rule out Giardia or Trichomonas then it might be more productive to stop so you can get the bacteria colony re-established in the colon. 

    Most people don’t realize that the bacterial colony they carry around in their gut is 3 to 4 pounds of bacteria. Dogs have as much or more based on their size so it’s no small thing to kill them all with an anti-biotic or to get them reestablished.

    I am of the opinion that the health of the beneficial bacteria in the colon is crucial to the overall health of the dog. 80% or so of the immune system is generated in the mucosal lining which the bacteria keep healthy, thick, and operating effectively. 

    I’m sure Shawna, Toxed and others can say more about how effective it is to take antibiotics at the same time as probiotics but it does seem a bit counter productive to me.

  • Lisamarin

    Sorry…I mean turkey and tapioca. Should I order the enzyme and the probiotic you suggested?

  • Lisa

    Shawna…yes…I have been giving him the Great Life enzyme + for awhile now….I had read that potatoes might be a problem so I just switched him to instinct LID duck and tapioca. So far so good because of the metronidazole. I also read about the brothers food?

  • Shawna

    Have you tried giving puppy enzymes and HIGH quality probiotics?  The enzymes will help break down all the food eaten (carbs, fats and protein).  And the probiotics will help break down food as well as fight off any pathogenic bacteria in the intestines along with other benefits.

    Check out the enzymes and probiotics on the following link.  They are some of the best on the market.  You don’t have to get these but take the info on the page and look for something similar or just as good.  http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/products.aspx

    The reason why this food might work is the protein has already been broken down to amino acids or hydrolyzed (the same thing that the enzymes and probiotics would do only in a natural and healthy way).

    Start off slow with the probiotics as they can actually cause diarrhea short term while they repopulate the digestive tract with the good bacteria.

  • Lisa

    Help! My vet wants to put my 5 month old puppy on this food as a test for 8 weeks. He has a had diarrhea since the day I got him at 8 weeks. The only thing to clear it up is metronidizole antibiotic. All of his fecals and blood work have come back negative. I am currently feeding him Acana and she thinks he can’t process protein. Any help advice would be appreciated! 

  • Lynn

    I don’t know if it’s been pointed out in other threads, but I’ve noticed people always point out the lifespans of wolves being quite short in the wild, and try claiming the ancestral diet can’t be all that great because of this fact. For one, wolves are BIG! They weigh anywhere from 55-170+ lbs, and as any large breed owners know, the lifespan of large breed dogs tends to be shorter than than that of small breeds. The average wolfhound lifespan is only 6-8 years, the great dane 7-10. This is with a life full of vet treatment. A wolf in the wild has an average lifespan of 8 years! That’s without vaccines, flea treatment, etc, not to mention having tons of parasites. Most die as pups from parvo, or starvation. This alone shows the ancestral diet works. Then I never understand why people don’t take into consideration all the wolves in zoos. They live on average 15-16 years. That’s amazing for a big canine! And I highly doubt the zoologists are feeding them bowls of kibble everyday. This alone to me proves raw is better, and canines do not need carbs to survive. I know this does not relate specifically to the HA diet, but I’m tired of seeing people trying to use wolves in the wild as proof that carbs work wonders.

  • Jasmine

    My dog is allergic to everything including all grains and birds. Now they want to do allergy testing on her for all kinds of seasonal allergies too. I am not happy with this perscription diet the vet wants her on but it is the only hypoalergenic diet that we could find that did not have birds or grains in it. I cant even give her rice. They will not do the testing unless she is on it for 10 weeks. I am stuck with this for 10 whole weeks unless someone can give me a better idea.

  • Shawna

    This is quoted from the “Medical Dictionary”

    “excitotoxicity
    Neurology Neuronal injury caused by excessive release of excitatory neurotransmitters–glutamate and aspartate causing damage to nerve and glial cells, which occurs in diverse neurologic diseases that may be acute–eg hypoglycemia, seizures, stroke, or trauma or chronic neurodegenerative disease–eg AIDS-dementia complex, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and possibly Alzheimer’s disease”
    http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Glutamate-induced+neurotoxicity

  • Shawna

    This one (taken from the Oxford Journals) is pretty clear cut. (It also includes AIDS as a disease associated with excitotoxins — I’ve never heard that relation before.)

    “In contrast, the excitatory amino acids (EAA), L-glutamic acid, and aspartic acid are well established neurotoxins. Over three decades ago, it was discovered that L-glutamic acid destroys dendrites and cell bodies of neurons in the developing brain, thus causing brain lesions (Olney, 1969a). Oral and subcutaneous administration of L-glutamic acid to infant animals (rodents and primates) induces acute neuronal necrosis in several regions of the developing brain including the hypothalamus and the hippocampus (Kubo et al., 1993; Olney et al., 1972). As adults, treated animals show stunted skeletal development, obesity, and female sterility (Olney, 1969a). Retinal neuronal changes also occur in rats after prolonged administration of high L-glutamic acid diets (Ohguro et al., 2002), whilst in adult humans, it elicits headache in susceptible individuals and is believed to be responsible for the “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” (Schaumburg et al., 1969), symptoms of which include chest pain, numbness, burningand facial pressure.
    Similar hypothalamic lesions can be induced by aspartic acid, one of two of the constituent amino acids in the dipeptide sweetener aspartame (Olney and Ho, 1970). Following ingestion, aspartame is rapidly hydrolyzed to release three biologically active chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol, which are absorbed into the portal blood (Burgert et al., 1991; Ranney and Oppermann, 1979). It has been commonly used in diet drinks and sugar-free foods throughout the world for over 20 years, despite reports of panic attacks, seizures, and headaches with its use (Blumenthal and Vance, 1997; Drake, 1986; Walton, 1986). Recently, chronic exposure of aspartame was found to affect memory in rats (Christian et al., 2004).
    Excitotoxins destroy central neurons by excessive stimulation of postsynaptic excitatory membrane receptors (Rothman and Olney, 1995), whereas the under-stimulation of such receptors during the developmental period triggers apoptosis (Ikonomidou, 1999). Thus, excitotoxic and apoptotic neurodegeneration are two distinct cell death processes that are readily distinguishable ultrastructurally (Ishimaru et al., 1999). It is well established that an excitotoxic mechanism plays a role in many neurologic disorders, from acute insults such as stroke and head trauma to chronic neurodegenerative states such as Huntington’s disease and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex (Choi, 1988; Lipton and Rosenburg, 1994; Meldrum and Garthwaite, 1990). The over-stimulation of such receptors leads to the opening of voltage-dependant calcium channels, initiating a cascade of events involving the activation of protein kinases, phospholipases, proteases, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), generation of free radicals and mitochondrial damage (Beal, 1992). The NMDA receptor plays a prominent role because of its high permeability to Ca2+; however other EAA receptor subtypes also contribute to these processes. Selective non-competitive NMDA antagonists such as MK-801 markedly protect CNS neurons against direct excitotoxic effects; this has been demonstrated in primary cultures of hippocampal neurons following L-glutamic acid exposure (Michaels and Rothman, 1990). Our data are consistent with a role for excitotoxicity in the mechanism of injury caused by some flavor-enhancing food additives. CNS-1102 (a NMDA receptor antagonist) protected against both L-glutamic acid and aspartame-induced neurite inhibition, whilst the results demonstrated that food color-induced neurotoxicity was not mediated by NMDA receptor activation.”
    http://toxsci.oxfordjournals.org/content/90/1/178.long

  • aimee

    Hi Shawna,

    All very interesting postings. I’ll get back to you with a proper reply , hopefully soon! But I don’t see much free time to write in the upcoming days.

    With any Luck I’ll be starting to move back into my kitchen!

  • Shawna

    aimee,

    I’m not exactly sure what you mean here “Feeding enzymes does not accomplish the same goals as specialized hydrolyzed protein diets”

    Hydrolyzing proteins is a chemical or enzymatic way to break down proteins into amino acids. Digestive enzymes do the same thing. I do an experiment in one of my classes where I take two glass jars of oatmeal from the same packet – identical. To one jar I add digestive enzymes and have a class participant stir the enzymes into the oatmeal while we continue the class. Within 15 to 20 minutes the enzyme jar is pure liquid.

    I don’t know the exact process but when proteins are fed the ph of the gut lowers which triggers a protein digesting enzyme to be released by the gut. Some feel (I have no science to back this up) that kibbled or other highly cooked foods does not cause the same lower ph as raw or minimally cooked. If the ph doesn’t hit that certain acidic level the protein digesting enzyme is not released and can further hamper protein digestion. By adding supplemental enzymes this further assists in digestion when the body is not digesting efficiently (for whatever reason).

    “Hydrolyzed protein is protein that has been hydrolyzed or broken down into its component amino acids. While there are many means of achieving this, two of the most common are prolonged boiling in a strong acid (acid-HVP) or strong base or using an enzyme such as the pancreatic protease enzyme to stimulate the naturally occurring hydrolytic process.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrolyzed_protein

  • Shawna

    My comprehension skills the other day (or yesterday) were apparently quite off. Yesterday I was looking at EPI (exocrine pancreatic insufficiency) however Jewel states, after a re-read, that her dog has PLE (protein losing enteropathy).

    Although enymes are beneficial in PLE (aiding in digestion and, I found, “treating canine PLE”) the enymes used to “treat” are not ONLY digestive enzymes like papain and bromelain. I’m not sure if metabolic enzymes would be spared (or if the “special” enzymes in the blend are even metabolic) if fed digestive enzymes?

    “A New Approach for Treating PLE

    Now there is a more natural way to target the underlying mechanisms involved in PLE development. Neprinol, a proprietary combination of nattokinase, serrapeptase, rutin, bromelain, papain and other protein-dissolving enzymes, effectively combats cardiac-mediated PLE, while Syntol, apowerful blend of probiotics, prebiotics and enzymes, is the best choice for gastrointestinal-mediated PLE.” http://www.enzymus.com/protein-losing-enteropathy/neprinol/

    I do still feel that the reason HA worked for Jewel is the hydrylyzing of the protein source — which makes the amino acids absorable and makes the protein non-allergenic. When my Pom had colitis I used (short term use) a “hydrolyzed whitefish protein” called SeaCure to help repair her digestive tract. Because soy, from all I’ve read, however is a food quite high in glutamic and asparatic acid I still feel long term use might be more detrimental then beneficial. Just my opinion though.

  • Shawna

    aimee,

    Here’s some of the data I found on excitotoxins. In addition to the diseases/conditions described in the below information I have anecdotal evidence from others with symptoms of migraines, fibromyalgia, gout like inflammation, depression plus.

    Several of the studies I pulled up were “paid” for papers and didn’t contain any data or only a portion of the data studied. However, the fact that the study is done, imo, indicates a concern at the very least. Dr. Blaylock has access to these studies.

    Some people have a lower tolerance of these excitotoxins but they have been implicated in multiple sclerosis, brain damage (which for me went undiagnosed for almost 20 years despite seeing neurologists and M.D.s when my symptoms began), seizures and epilepsy, huntington disease and eye degeneration. Anecdotal evidence from people I have spoke with include gout like swelling, migraines, depression and more.

    Glutamate excitotoxicity in a model of multiple sclerosis.
    D Pitt, P Werner, C S Raine
    Thus, glutamate excitotoxicity seems to be an important mechanism in autoimmune demyelination, and its prevention with AMPA/kainate antagonists may prove to be an effective therapy for multiple sclerosis. http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:212398
    “The cornerstone of this emerging model seems to focus on the critically important role of mitochrondrial energy metabolism and its relationship to the toxic effects of excitatory neurotransmitters. In this model excitatory neurotransmitters (predominantly glutamate2) stimulate specific neuronal receptors, which, when altered by deficient ATP production leads to a self-perpetuating cascade of events ultimately culminating in neuronal death.” http://www.inutritionals.com/healthy-living/neurodegenerative-conditions/endocrine-and-aging
    Kainate (KA), an analog of glutamate, is a potent neurotoxin that has long been known to induce behavioral and electrophysiological seizures as well as neuropathological lesions reminiscent of those found in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. http://www.mendeley.com/research/review-kainate-receptors-epilepsy-excitotoxicity/
    “Huntington Disease and Tourette Syndrome.
    II. Uptake of Glutamic Acid and Other Amino Acids by Fibroblasts
    Injection of kainic acid, a rigid analog of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamic acid (glu), into the neostriatum of rats produces a condition that mimics Huntington disease (HD) in at least 12 different morphological and biochemical parameters. These results suggested that one of the possible basic mechanisms in HD is a defect in the presynaptic or glial uptake of glu, resulting in chronic hyperstimulation and death of a specific set of neurons. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1684945/pdf/ajhg00362-0025.pdf

    The Toxic Effect of Sodium L-Glutamate on the Inner Layers of the Retina http://archopht.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/summary/58/2/193

    This 14 page paper is titled “Accumulation of glutamic acid in isolated brain tissue”
    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1274882/?page=1

    This isn’t a study but says the same as several of the studies and is easier to read / concise
    “Pathophysiology
    Excitotoxicity can occur from substances produced within the body (endogenous excitotoxins). Glutamate is a prime example of an excitotoxin in the brain, and it is also the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS.[9] During normal conditions, glutamate concentration can be increased up to 1mM in the synaptic cleft, which is rapidly decreased in the lapse of milliseconds.[10] When the glutamate concentration around the synaptic cleft cannot be decreased or reaches higher levels, the neuron kills itself by a process called apoptosis.[11] [12]” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excitotoxicity

  • melissa

    Shawna-

    Gee thanks! My very “own” article”. LOL. I would put a smiley., but simply do not know how. I will read more later, as I have to get a bunch of stuff done here.

    But-

    The part you quoted stated that the horses grazed extended periods of time-on the Yellow thistle-The average size horse(mine eat much more as they are big, lol) grazes and comsumes approx 15-20 lbs of forage a day. If the horses were consuming that amount for an extended period, I am sure anything could become toxic-There is such a thing as water poisoning : )

  • Shawna

    Thanks aimee!!!!!!!!!!

    I’ll include the rest of the research papers I found tomorrow. I’m exhausted and my eyes are crossing. I had to search at least 5 different google criteria and search back as far as 5 pages to find “research” material. Most everything is topics about MSG/aspartame without actual research..

  • Shawna

    PLEASE not the words “neurotoxic” and “toxic”

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