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Vitamins
What Are Vitamins?
Vitamins are requisite for normal health and nutrition. They are required
in small amounts and should be ingested regularly in order to maximize health. They were first called Accessory
Factors when it was discovered that organisms need more than fat, carbohydrate, protein and water to thrive. The
word Vitamin comes from Vita (life) and Amine (organic base). Vitamins were discovered in 1906 and the Vitamin Hypothesis
of Deficiency Disease was first postulated in 1912. Vitamins
cannot be lumped all together based on chemical structure. They are a diverse group of compounds.
Many substances were first listed as vitamins but have since lost their vitamin designation with more research.
Despite nearly a century of vitamin research, much is still not known about this class of vital nutritional
compounds. The RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for human nutrition is still not well agreed upon. For
example, a study just published in 2006 reveals that the RDA of 400 mg of Vitamin D is probably only HALF of what the
human body really needs. How many times have we hard to take more Vitamin C, now take less Vitamin C? It
can be quite confusing particularly since due to individual body biochemistry and genetic makeups, certain individuals require
more of a particular vitamin while others can get by on much less.
Well unfortunately, even less is known about avian nutrition, and most of what
is known comes from the poultry industry. Therefore, the best we can do is to take what is known for humans (which
are the most researched organisms with regards to vitamin requirements) and chickens (which are the most researched bird species),
and apply this information towards our finches. In this section, I will discuss the major and agreed upon
vitamins and their health benefits.
Vitamin A
Also known as Retinol, this is a fat soluble vitamin. Vitamin A is critical for
the health of mucous membranes, skin, eyes, skeletal growth and the reproductive systems. Vitamin A helps
keep the mucous linings of lungs, intestines, bladder and the reproductive tract functioning properly. Mucous
is the first line of defense against microbial attack, and must be secreted continually to do it's job effectively.
Vitamin A also makes up part of the photoreceptor in the eye for purple pigment perception.
Vitamin A is stored in the liver. It can take an adult bird several months to show signs
of Vitamin A deficiency whereas chicks will show deficiency symptoms depending upon how much Vitamin A was passed on
to the egg from the mother bird.
Vitamin A Deficiency
Also called Hypovitaminosis A, Vitamin A deficiency can result in the following
disease symptoms:
-Low fertility
-Ruffled feathers
-Weight loss
-Drop in egg hatchibility
-DIS (Dead in shell) chicks
-Watery discharge from eyes
-Lesions in the GI tract
-Pustules in nasal cavity, mouth, throat and crop
-Ataxia (loss of coordination)
-Skin disease
-Skeletal growth defects or retardation
-Night blindness
-Susceptibility to serious infection
-Permanent blindness
-Death
Vitamin A Deficiency is the single most frequent disease seen in caged and aviary kept birds.
It's also totally preventable with attention to diet and supplements.
Forms of Vitamin A
Vitamin A actually comes in two forms: Vitamin A1 found in egg yolks, milk, liver (the
liver is the site for Vitamin A storage) and cod liver oil. A1 is the most biologically active form of Vitamin
A. Vitamin A2 is found in the liver of freshwater fish and only has about 40% of the biological activity of Vitamin
A1.
Beta Carotene and Vitamin A
Beta Carotene is the inactive precursor of Vitamin A. It is an antioxidant. Please
see the Carotenoids section for an in-depth discussion on pigments and their significance for Finch health. Beta
Carotene consists of two Vitamin A molecules attached to one another by their tail ends. When Beta Carotene is
ingested, the body converts it into biologically active Vitamin A. There is some question if Blue mutation Gouldians
might not have a propensity towards Vitamin A Deficiency due to their carotenoid mutation. Please see Carotenoids Section
above for an in-depth discussion on this topic.
Aside from the items listed above, most foods which which claim they contain Vitamin
A actually have Beta Carotene. So long conversion of Beta-Carotene to Vitamin A is possible, this system works
fine. Most colorful and dark green vegetables and fruits contain Beta Carotene and this is typically listed in Vitamin
A1 Equivalents.
B Vitamins
Although essential B Vitamins are listed up to B12, there are really only eight of them.
Four have been dropped over the years. All B Vitamins are water soluble and many are not heat stable.
B1 (Thiamine or Antiberiberi Factor): A component of thiamine
pyrophosphate, thiamine is critical for carbohydrate metabolism, appetite maintenance as well as cardiovascular and nervous
system health. Sources of Thiamine include whole grains, yeast (if you dare), pork, whole grains, nuts and legumes
(beans). Beriberi is a common human disease still in Asia. Symptoms include neurological, cardiovascular
and gastrointestinal problems. Even with treatment, the neurological symptoms may persist. It can be fatal.
B2 (Riboflavin or Lactoflavin): Riboflavin is necessary for
respiratory enzymes (found in subcellular organelles called mitochondria) and their biochemical oxidation reactions.
We cannot live without Mitochondria - every cell contains thousands of these little powerhouses. They
are responsible for making the energy for nearly all living organisms via oxidation from bacteria (which mitochondria
are related to) to humans. Sick Mitochondria = sick organism. It's really that simple. In
humans, defiency leads to the inflammation of the tongue which also turns purple, skin disease, eye irritation and cracks
or fissure in the corner of the mouth. Sources of Riboflavin include: milk, organ meats and enriched grains.
None of these are things one would typically feed their finches, so this is one vitamin that needs to be obtained through
supplementation.
B3 (Niacin or Nicotinic Acid - also known as Nicotinamide or
Niacinamide in the amide form): Niacin is essential for energy metabolism and is converted by the body
to NADP, NADH, NAD & NAD+. These are all are co-enzyme compounds critical for the health of cells (again their
main function is in the mitochondria). Niacin is also important for DNA repair.
Niacin is really just oxidized nicotine, but don't be fooled. Smoking cigarettes will
not provide you (or your birds) with the Niacin necessary to be healthy and will only foul your lungs. Niacin
is used as a food coloring for meat in some countries. It reacts with hemoglobin (blood) and myoglobin (meat fibers)
to produce a bright red color.
Niacin can be synthesized in the liver from the Amino Acid Tryptophan, but this reaction
is very inefficient and requires Vitamin B6. Therefore, it's best to just supplement with this vitamin.
Niacin deficiency is called Pellagra in humans and Black-Tongue in dogs. Deficiency
can cause:
-Skin Problems
-Diarrhea
-Dementia
-Death
Liver, lean meats, eggs, yeast, leafy vegetables, broccoli, carrots, nuts, legumes (beans)
and whole grains are good sources of niacin.
B5 (Pantothenic Acid): Pantothenic Acid is necessary for
a critical biochemical component called Coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is absolutely require for the metabolism (break down) of
Fatty Acids (fats and oils), Steroids (hormones), Phospholipids (make up membranes), heme (part of red blood cells), amino
acids (protein) and carbohydrates (starches and sugars). Nearly every cell needs or uses Pantothenic Acid.
The adrenals are particularly important for Vitamin B5 activity. The adrenals are located atop of each kidney.
Pantothenic Acid is found in nearly every plant or animal based food product.
There is no known deficiency disease state or toxicity currently known for Pantothenic Acid.
The best sources of Vitamin B5 include: eggs, yeast, sunflower, soy, peas, legumes (beans),
broccoli, leafy greens, whole grain and wheat germ.
B6 (Pyridoxine, Pyridoxal and Pyridoxamine): The B6 Vitamins
all combine with biological phosphorus to form Pyridoxal Phosphate which is needed for the metabolism (break down) of
fatty acids (fats and oils), glucose (sugar) and amino acids (protein). Due to it's role in glucose metabolism,
this vitamin is commonly supplemented in higher quantities for people with sugar problems.
B6 Deficiency include neurological (necessary for the synthesis of the neurotransmitters
seratonin and GABA), stunting, weight loss and anemia.
The best sources of B6 Vitamins are liver and other organ meats, whole grains, wheat germ,
green leafy vegetables, eggs, brown rice and seeds.
Over or mega dose can result in nerve damage.
B7/B8 (Biotin or Vitamin H): Vitally necessary as a coenzyme
for the metabolism (break down) of carbohydrates (sugars and starches), fats and amino acids (protein), Biotin is needed in
only very small quantities. It also is necessary for DNA, RNA and nucleic acid and fatty acid synthesis.
Muscles, bone marrow, neurons also rely on Biotin. Vitamin B7 is required for the transfer and removal
of carbon dioxide. This is another B vitamin that may benefit individuals with sugar metabolism issues. It helps
hair from going gray, nails from being brittle and keeps skin healthy.
Biotin is synthesized by intestinal bacteria, so deficiency in humans is unheard of.
Now, if you subscribe to the 'sterile bowel theory' in birds, this is one vitamin you should be sure to give your birds.
Sources of Biotin include: egg yolks, kidney, liver, yeast, peas, wheat germ, nuts,
legumes (beans), oats and other whole grains.
There is no known toxicity to Biotin.
B9 (Folic Acid or Folate): It is well known that pregnant
women need plenty of Folic Acid in order to prevent developmental defects specifically Spinal Bifida (incomplete spinal cord
closure) and Anacephaly (absence of forebrain in human children). B9 is most important in the period
of rapid growth and cell division because it's necessary for DNA replication. Folate
is also critical, in combination with Vitamin B12, for the maturation of red blood cells in the bone marrow. If there
is a Folate deficiency, Megobalstic Anemia may result. These are red blood cells which are huge. Only DNA replication
is affected by Folate deficiency, not RNA or protein synthesis.
Folic acid is important for normal nerve cell growth and is used in making several neurotransmitters.
Folic Acid is also critical for making genetic material, both RNA and DNA and is necessary for protein metabolism. To
maintain healthy skin and hair as well as to prevent premature graying, folate is required.
Symptoms of Folate deficiency are subtle and include: diarrhea, loss of appetite, sore
tongue, headaches, heart palpitations, irritibility and behavioral disorders. It's not uncommon to have a folate deficiency
in the case of severe alcoholism.
Sources of Folic Acid include: yeast, legumes and leafy greens such as spinach as well as
fruits and wheat germ.
B12 (Cycobalamin): Cycobalamin is a very complex molecule. The main
portion is similar to Heme (from red blood cells), but is different and far too complex to go into details about here.
Cycobalamin requires cobalt to be active.
Produced in appreciable quantities by bacteria and fungi, plants and animals are unable to
synthesize their own Cycobalamin. Typically there will be ample B12 due to intestinal bacterial production, but
it is possible to suffer from B12 deficiency which usually due to malabsorbtion from the intestines rather than from
not having it available in the first place. Calcium and protein rich foods help with the absorbtion of Vitamin B12.
Large amounts of Vitamin B12 can be stored in the liver, kidney and heart. Cycobalamin
is necessary for red blood cell maturation along with Vitamin B6. Nerve cells require B12 which also helps to modulate
mood. Carbohydrate (starch and sugar), fat metabolism rely upon Vitamin B12 as does protein synthesis. Cycobalamin
promotes growth and appetite and is necessary for the proper use of Vitamin B6 (Pyroxidine). Both are necessary
for bone marrow maturation and a healthy immune system.
There are several disease states named for Vitamin B12 deficiency. A factor
called "intrinsic factor" is critical for B12 absorbtion, and again, it's possible to have enough B12 in the diet but
still be anemic due to a problem with Intrinsic Factor. This disease state is called Pernacious Anemia.
Tapeworms can outcompete the body for B12, resulting in Blind Loop Syndrome.
Megoblastic Anemia occurs when there is too little B12 present in the first place.
There can be long term consequences from too little B12 uptake including permanent nerve cell
death and demyelination (the outer insulation coming off of neurons - so they short out - it's like taking the insulation
off an electrical wire).
Fatigue, weakness, constipation, loss of appetite and weight loss are all symptoms of Cobalamin
deficiency. Numbness, tingling, depression, dementia, and an odd walking gait are symptoms of severe B12 deficiency.
Failure to thrive and grow can be due to B12 deficiency.
Again, any gastrointestinal disorder my result in an inability to absorb Vitamin B12.
In humans, Crohn's disease, gluten intolerance (Sprue) and surgical procedures can all result in an B12 malabsorbtion and
deficiency. Increased age can also be an issue for B12 absorbtion. Anyone over 50 should be supplementing this
in their diet.
Worth noting, Pyroxidine, Folate and Cobalamin deficiencies can all increase homocysteine
levels. High homocysteine is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
B12 has a very low toxicity so it's really hard to overdose on it.
Most sources of B12 are not the sorts of things one would normally feed their finches.
Liver, fish, shellfish, dairy, yogurt, sweat meats and eggs are all good sources of Cycobalamin. Since plants don't
make Cobalamin any more than animals do, they are a poor source of this critical vitamin. It's best to be sure B12
is in their vitamin s.
Vitamin C - Ascorbic Acid
Water soluble, Vitamin C is also readily oxidized. This means that cooking and poor
storage can destroy this vitamin. Birds, one bat species, guinea pigs, primates and humans all CANNOT make their own
Vitamin C. That means it must be obtained via the diet.
Vitamin C is important for connective tissues and matrix proteins - these are the glue that
holds the body together and includes things like collagen, cartilage, bone matrix and dentin (teeth). Tissues which
have a high level of matrix proteins include skin, teeth, bones and mucous membranes.
Vitamin C is also important for the neurotransmitters dopamine, noradrenaline and adrenaline.
Tissues which have high Vitamin C levels include the adrenals, pituitary, thymus, corpus luteum (females only) and retina.
Since Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it is important for prevent cellular damange from reactive
oxygen species produced during oxidation. It's substrate is an enzyme called Ascorbate Peroxidase. Vitamin C is
also believed to recharge Vitamin E (absorb the charge) so that Vitamin E is reconstituted as an active antioxidant again.
Please see the Carotenoids section for a more indepth discussion on antioxidants.
As if all that isn't important enough, Vitamin C is involved in the synthesis of carnitine
which is important in the Mitochondria for energy. Oh those mitochondria - there's just no way of escaping them.
Scurvy is the disease state for Vitamin C deficiency. The thing is that it takes
about 3-4 mos to see this disease since Vitamin C is metabolized so slowly. Symptoms include, bleeding gums, easy
bruising, poor healing, compromised immunity and mild anemia.
I read somewhere years ago that Gouldians are particularly susceptible to Vitamin C deficiency.
I do not know if this is true or not.
There is a huge controversy over what is the correct levels of Vitamin C. Some megadose
and whether that is good or bad remains to be seen.
Some consider Vitamin C to be a macronutrient. Humans have three of the four enzymes
needed to convert glucose to Ascorbic Acid. Some feel that humans need more what is in line with what animals make -
which would be 3 ,000 - 4,000 mg/day. I take 3,000 and if I take less, I feel horrible. For my body, I need more
than the RDA (60 - 95 mg). This isn't really the place for it, but there is a test you can do on your body to see how
much Vitamin C you need. I've never been able to max out on Vitamin C to the point where I give myself diarrhea (at
a dose of 6,000 mgs/day). But I am concerned about possible negative reports on ingesting too much Vitamin C.
So I stick with 1,500 mgs in the morning and another 1,500 at night. It seems to be working OK for me.
The salt of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) is called Ascorbate. There are two forms of Vitamin
C - only the L form is biologically active. A similar situation exists with Vitamin E. Commerically synthesized
Vitamin C is usually a mix of both forms as well as the Ascorbate. If you are sensitive to the flavor of salt (which
I am), you can tell which Vitamin C chewable tablets have a high Ascorbate level because they taste salty. The D or
inactive form of Vitamin C has no biological activity - but it's also harmless. Those who are old enough may remember
back in the 1980's when people were dying from chemically synthesized tryptophan supplements which were the wrong type.
In that case, the L form of tryptophan was lethal.
Vitamin C is not stored in the body in any one organ like many other vitamins.
Sources include: Citrus, tomatoes, red pepper, berries, green and yellow veggies, berries,
rose hips, and sweet potatoes are all good sources of Ascorbic Acid. Since most animals can make their own Vitamin
C, most are also good source. Milk, liver, shellfish and most meat all have some amount of Vitamin C. Now
whether it's there after you are done cooking it is another issue entirely. It may seep into the cooking liquid assuming
you don't inactivate it by cooking too long a high temperatures.
Vitamin D (Calciferol)
Before I even get into the details of Vitamin D, the very first thing that bird owners need
to get straight about Vitamin D is that inside kept birds do not get enough direct sunlight to make their own Vitamin
D. PERIOD. I don't care what kind of lighting you use, your birds need Vitamin D supplementation.
And that's a FACT!
Here's how the theory works.... The precusor (7-dehydrocholestrol) for Vitamin D is
in the oil of the uropygeal (preen) gland. The bird spreads preen oil over it's feathers as part of it's regular maintenance. The
bird then sun bathes where UVB light (with wavelengths of 290 to 315 nm) change the Vitamin D precursor into the
avian biologically active form of Vitamin D3 or Cholecalciferol. The birds then preen their feathers again and ingest
some of the newly synthesized Vitamin D that is in the oil on their feathers. This works for outdoor kept birds - but
it does not work for indoor kept birds. Furthermore, full spectrum lights DO NOT make enough nor less strong enough
UV to catalyze the reaction from inactive to active Vitamin D in any appreciable quantity. So getting your birds really
fancy full spectrum lighting may help with making your birds look pretty, but they won't help with Vitamin D. Bottom
line is that you need to supplement your birds with Vitamin D. Let me repeat:
YOU CANNOT USE FULL SPECTRUM LIGHTS AND THINK YOUR BIRDS WILL NOT HAVE A VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
BECAUSE THEY WILL!!!
Melanism/ Melanistic Birds
This brings us the the obvious disease of Vitamin D deficient state in birds -
MELANISM. What is melanism? Well, it's named for the major pigment that accumulates - eumelanin - which
is black in color. This pigment needs to be removed from body tissues and so the bird deposits the excess melanin in
the feathers which are a biologically inactive dead end sink.
Some confuse melanistic Zebras with the Black Faced mutation. Usually
you can tell them apart because of the pattern of pigment deposition - the melanistic bird having black pigment where you'd
not normally see it with a true Black Face. Melanistic birds will have black all over - whereas Black Face Zebras will
not have so much extensive black feathering.
In Gouldians, melanistic birds sometimes look both more colorful and blurry.
There seems to be heightened color and at the same time, the areas of color difference are not clearly demarcated. They
are somewhat fuzzy or blurry on the edges.
In the White Breasted Gould, the breast may become bluish or blue speckled.
These are NOT blue breasted gouldians despite what some ignorant people want to profess - these are SICK WHITE BREASTED
GOULDIANS, and you should RUN not walk away from them.
| Fanbelt - MELANISTIC BH White Breasted Gouldian |
|
| While some blue molted out recently, he has a long way to go to be back to a true looking WB. |
I currently have one blue speckled male in my bird room, and it's because I said
I wanted a WB male. I forgot to mention that I didn't want a melanistic WB male (seemed like an obvious fact to me -
but wasn't to the person who bred him). Since I said I'd take the bird, I felt obligated and took him. His name
is Fanbelt because his screeching little song sounds like a loose fan belt on an old car. (I have since sold this bird.)
Let me explain why 'blue breasted' or 'blue speckled breasted' happens in
a White Breasted Gouldian. But first we have to understand what makes for blue feathers. Blue feathers are the
combination of melanin (a pigment) and structural elements in the barbules of the feathers. These structural elements scatter
light (Constructive Interference) in a way that is still not necessarily very well understood. The net
end result is that we see blue.
Now in Gouldians, the normal breast color is purple. This
color is created using phaeomelanin, an orangish pigment similar to but not identical to eumelanin, combined with the same
structural elements in the barbules that make blue. The phaeomelanin pigment plus the structural elements combine to
create purple.
In the WB Gould, the phaeomelanin is not made at all. That
is what the WB mutation is - a lack of phaeomelanin production. The only place we really see this effect is in the breast,
which because there is no phaeomelanin in a White Breast, appears white. The structural element is STILL there
in the breast feathers, but since there is NO pigment to act upon, it does nothing and the net end result is a white
breasted bird.
If your WB Gouldian is Vitamin D deficient, it starts to synthesize too much
melanin (black) pigment. The next time the bird molts, it uses its feathers as melanin sinks and dumps as much excess
melanin into the feathers as possible. While you may not notice some extra pigment in the back or head, you will notice
it for sure in a WB bird. The melanin is deposited in the breast feathers too, and depending upon how much eumelanin
is present, the breast may be blue flecked or even suffused with blue . Remember, to make blue, you need eumelanin (black
pigment) plus the structural element. The white breasted still has the structural element and with the excess eumelanin
being deposited into the breast feathers - VOILA - blue breasted.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BLUE BREASTED MUTATION GOULDIAN. THERE ARE ONLY MELANISTIC
VITAMIN D-DEFICIENT GOULDIANS WITH BLUE BREASTS. Anyone who tries to sell you a blue breasted Gouldian is ignorant at
best and may very well be an outright liar. STEER CLEAR.
Ok, now that you understand a bit about Vitamin D in relation to pigmentation in
feathers what else is Vitamin D good for?
Vitamin D is a precursor for hormones which means it is also FAT soluble.
Technically, Vitamin D is a HORMONE but since it's been wrongly classified as a vitamin, it remains misclassified.
Cholcalciferol is also necessary for the proper maintenance of Calcium
and Phosphorus. In fact, you can give a bird calcium all day long, and if it's deficient in Vitamin D3 (lysine and magnesium),
it cannot absorb the calcium at all. There are five types of Vitamin D:
D1 - Ergocalciferol and Lumisterol
D2 - Ergocalciferol or Calciferol
D3 - Cholecalciferol, Calcidiol and Calcitriol ****
D4 - 22,23-dihydroergocalciferol
D5 - Sitocalciferol
VITAMIN D3 IS THE ONLY IMPORTANT FORM FOR BIRDS!
Cholecalciferol/Vitamin D3 is transported to the liver where it is converted again and stored.
Calcitriol is the most potent form of Vitamin D3 which binds to a transcription factor that regulates the gene expression
of transport proteins.
In addition to melanism seen in birds, other diseases associated with Vitamin D deficiency
include Ricketts (youth disease resulting in the deformity of long bones), Osteoporosis and Osteomalacia. Magnesium
and Calcium Deficiency are also a problem occuring with Vitamin D3 Deficiency. For adult laying hens, egg shell
thickness may be negatively affected as well - resulting in thinning. It takes 2-3 weeks for a hen to run
out of Vitamin D3 resulting in deficiency and shell quality degrades once the hen runs out of D3.
Growth retardation and crooked legs are the first signs of D3 deficiency in chicks.
Weak and rubbery beaks and claws are also symptoms of Vitamin D3 deficiency. Poor feathering with feather banding
also occurs.
Long-term deficiency results in weak, soft and deformed bones.
In humans, Vitamin D deficiency may also be linked to chronic diseases like cancer,
chronic fatigue, chronic pain, MS, Type I Diabetes, mental illness, psoriasis, tuberculosis, periodontal disease, inflammatory
bowel disease, heart disease and rheumatoid arthritis. People over 50, with dark skin or those who live at higher
lattitudes may have more trouble making their own Vitamin D for various reasons and should take supplements. So
I guess you could say Vitamin D3 is pretty important stuff.
Sources of Vitamin D3 include: Egg, Cod liver oil, fatty fish such as mackeral, tuna and
salmon.
A recent study of cancer patients showed that 800 mg/day is more effective than the currently
recommended 400 mgs. The US RDA may be changed to reflect this study but it's too soon to know just yet.
Overdosing with Vitamin D is very rare but can result in toxicity.
Vitamin E (Tocopherol and Tocotrienol or Tocols):
Vitamin E is fat soluble and there are eight forms (isomers) found naturally. Vitamin
E is an excellent antioxidant. Due to it's structure, it can be placed into membranes is is very important for membrane
health, particularly of skin. Vitamin E also prevents the good lipoproteins LDLs from becoming oxidized and is
believed to be important for cardiac health and cholesterol control. There is also some indication that Vitamin E is important
for protection against cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and cataracts. For some animals, it is essential
for reproduction. In large doses, Vitamin E acts as an anticoagulant and can help with calf pain.
Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin C and Selenium are all necessary for Vitamin E to work to it's
maximum. Vitamin C and CQ10 both 'recharge' Vitamin E so that it can get back to work as an anti-oxidant.
There are several types of Vitamin E available. Commercially synthesized Vitamin
E is a mixture of its two forms - one is active, the other is inert. The Vitamin E which is commercially available
may also be in the form of tocopherol acetate. Many consider synthetic Vitamin E not worth the effort because so little
of it can be the actual active form.
Naturally obtained Vitamin E contains only the active form (d) and is often sold as "Mixed
Tocopherols". Some processing converts the Beta, Delta and Gamma Tocopherols to forms of d-alpha-Tocopherols.
The reason for this is only d-alpha-Tocopherols are counted by the government as Vitamin E. Semi-synthetic forms of
Vitamin E are converted back to Tocopherols in the liver. Sick, ill or young people may have problems with this conversion.
True natural sources of Vitamin E also contain tocotrienols, which are a modified form of
Vitamin E which may actually have better antioxidant activity.
Tocopherols: The tail of the Vitamin E molecule is saturated.
There are no double bonds.
Alpha - this is currently recognized as the most active form of
Vitamin E. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. All supplements only count this form. Alpha Tocopherol is
the form that found in the most abundance in the human tissue.
Beta -
Delta -
Gamma - Found in nuts and seeds as well as corn, this is the major
form of Tocopherol in the American diet. It is less efficient than Alpha Tocopherol at scavanging most reactive
oxygen species. However, it is more efficient in regards to some reactive species called reactive NITROGEN species and
is more effective at inhibiting the oxidation of phospholipids (very important for cell membranes), DNA and proteins.
Tocotrienols: the tails of these
molecules contain double bond. This double bond is believed to
make Tocotrienols better antioxidants that the Tocopherols. The best sources of Tocotrienols are oils such as palm,
rice bran oil, palm kernel oil and coconut oil. Corn oil has a small amount of tocotrienols. All other oils do
not contain Tocotrienols.
Alpha - Second most antioxidant effective form of Vitamin E.
Beta - Third most antioxidant effective form of Vitamin E.
Delta -
Gamma - Recent studies indicate that this may actually be the MOST
active form of Vitamin E.
Vitamin E Deficiency
Vitamin E Deficiency can occur in small babies or the sick and elderly due to decreased ability
to absorb fat. Cystic Fibrosis, Crohn's Disease and the complete removal of the stomach may all result in Vitamin E
deficiency. Symptoms are usually neurological based and the result of nerve impulses gone awry. Peripheral neuropahty
is the primary symptom. Diarrhea is also a problem. Red blood cells may have membrane fragility in the case of
severe Vitamin E deficiency.
In chicks, there are three diseases typically seen with Vitamin E Deficiency which is usually
associated with rancid feed that is still high in fat.
Encephalomalacia - lack of coordination and paralysis
due to edema and hemorrhaging in the cerebellum of the brain. It seems to be due to lipid peroxidation (See Carotenoid
section to understand this phenomenom better.) Other antioxidants can prevent Encephalomalacia indicating that this
is strictly a disease due to peroxidation and that is the function for which Vitamin E is critical in the cerebellum.
Exudative Diathesis - the bird must be both Vitamin E and
Selenium Deficient. Usually seen in chicks which are 1 - 5 weeks of age. This is a 'subcutaneous edema (fluid
build up) with exudate'. The capillaries become leaky.
Muscular Dystrophy - Again, this is caused by both a lack
of Vitamin E and Selenium as well as sulfur containing amino acids. The skeletal muscles degenerate resulting in a stiff
and jolting gait. Since this requires so many deficiencies, it is rare and only present in birds on VERY POOR DIETS.
It typically shows up in about 4 week old chicks.
All of these diseases can be alleviated by supplementing Vitamin E and depending on
the disease, Selenium, sulfur proteins and antioxidants.
Symptoms of Vitamin E deficiency include:
- Imbalance
-Staggering
-Uncontrolled Movements
-Falling over
-Paralysis
-Ventral Edema
-Skin Lesions
Vitamin E Sources
The best sources of Vitamin E are vegetable, nut and olive oils. It's also found in
grains, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and leafy greens.
Since Vitamin E is lipid (fat) soluble, it is possible to accumulate too much. However,
there is no data on Vitamin E toxicity.
Vitamin K (Phylloquinone, Menaquinones, Menadione):
A fat soluble protein, Vitamin K is produced by bacteria in the intestine. Deficiency
is rare unless the absorbtion is impaired as in the following intestinal diseases: cystic fibrosis, Crohn's disease,
ulcerative colitis, Whipple's disease, celiac sprue, short bowel syndrome. If there is severe liver damage, there
may also be Vitamin K deficiency. Again, if you believe in the Sterile Bowel Theory, then finches don't have Vitamin
K available to them in their intestines naturally and must be supplemented.
Vitamin K is needed for modify some proteins (the process is called post translational modification)
and blood coagulation. Menaquinone is modified in the liver into blood coagulation factors including prothrombin.
Pharmaceutical anticoagulation factors antagonize Vitamin K and prevent blood from clotting as easily. Vitamin K is
one of the newer vitamins to be discovered.
Types of Vitamin K
There are two principal types of Vitamin K, K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 is the main form
found in the diet. K3 (Menadione) is found in pet foods and it is metabolized into Vitamin K2.
Vitamin K Deficiency
The prime symptom of Vitamin K deficiency is a lack of blood coagulation. Chicks which
hatch from eggs where the hen was Vitamin K deficient may have this deficiency upon hatching resulting in hemorrhagic syndrome
(prolonged clotting time and in extreme cases, bleed out due to a bruise or cut). Borderline cases may result in visible
bruising.
Sulfur drugs can affect bleeding and clotting in birds. Intestinal disorders my also
affect Vitamin K uptake. Birds which are deficient in Vitamin K may also practice coprophagy or eating droppings.
Coccidia is well documented to lead to severe intestinal bleeding and decreased Vitamin K uptake. Antibiotics may suppress/kill
the bird's endogenous bacteria (which synthesize Vitamin K) making the birds 100% reliant on dietary Vitamin K.
Of course, if you believe in the sterile bowel theory, you'd have to feed your birds 100% of their Vitamin K anyway.
Vitamin K Sources
The best sources (outside of intestinal bacteria) of K1 include: leafy green veggies,
vegetable oils, and bacteria. Butter, egg yolk, cow liver and some cheeses contain Vitamin K2.
Recommended Vitamin Values
Anyone who has kept birds for any period of time knows that there really is not any information
regarding how much of which vitamins a bird should ingest each day. Even for chickens, which are much more studied than
any exotic bird, the values change with age, type of chicken (layer vs. broiler), whether you want eggs for hatching or eggs
for consumption, age, disease state, temperature, etc etc etc.
The two tables below present values for chickens. I then converted the daily values
for finches into a bird gram weight basis since kgs are useless for finches due to their small size (6 - 30 grams).
The values presented here have not been tested experimentally. In fact, neither I nor anyone else has any
idea if finch nutritional needs are more, less, equivalent to or possibly even different from those of chickens. But
it's pretty much all we have to go on right now. There is a group that is currently studying the nutritional needs of
Gouldians and perhaps in a few years, there will be more relevant data available.
Recommended Vitamin Daily Values
per Bird
|
|
|
Finch**
|
|
Finch**
15 g
|
Finch**
20 g
|
|
|
|
0.3 IU/g
|
|
4.5 IU
|
6 IU
|
|
Thiamine
(B1)
|
0.7 - 0.8 mg/kg
|
0.7 - 0.8 ug/g
|
7 - 8 ug
|
10.5 - 12 ug
|
14 - 16 ug
|
|
|
|
0.25 - 0.35 ug/g
|
|
3.8 - 5.3 ug
|
5 - 7 ug
|
|
|
|
1.0 - 1.1 ug/g
|
|
15 - 17 ug
|
20 - 22 ug
|
|
|
|
0.2 - 0.7 ug/g
|
|
3 - 11 ug
|
4 - 14 ug
|
|
Pyroxidine
(B6)
|
0.25 - 0.45 mg/kg
|
0.25 - 0.45 ug/g
|
2.5 - 4.5 ug
|
3.8 - 6.8 ug
|
5 - 9 ug
|
|
Biotin
(B7/B8)
|
0.01 - 0.011 mg/kg
|
0.01 - 0.011 ug/g
|
0.1 - 0.11 ug
|
0.15 - 0.16 ug
|
0.2 - 0.22 ug
|
|
Folic Acid
(B9)
|
0.025 - 0.038 mg/kg
|
0.025 - 0.038 ug/g
|
0.25 - 0.38 ug
|
0.38 - 0.54 ug
|
0.50 - 0.76 ug
|
|
Cycobalamin
(B12)
|
0.00004 - 0.008 mg/kg
|
0.00004 - 0.008 ug/g
|
0.0004 - 0.08 ug
|
0.0006 - 0.12 ug
|
0.0008 - 0.16 ug
|
|
D3
|
30 - 33 ICU/kg
|
30 - 33 ICU/g
|
300 - 330 ICU
|
450 - 495 ICU
|
600 - 660 ICU
|
|
E
|
0.5 - 1.0 IU/kg
|
0.5 - 1.0 IU/g
|
5 - 10 IU
|
7.5 - 15 IU
|
10 - 20 IU
|
|
K
|
0.055 - 0.10 mg/kg
|
0.055 - 0.10 ug/g
|
0.55 - 1.0 ug/g
|
0.83 - 1.5 ug
|
1.1 - 2.0 ug
|
*Source: Chiba, Poultry Nutrition and Feeding, 2005
**All Finch Values are extrapolated from Chicken Values.
Vitamin D is given in ICU (International Chicken Units) because birds cannot utilize
Vitamin D2, they can only use Vitamin D3.
One thing that should be apparent from the table above is that the amount
of any vitamins necessary per bird per day is seemingly trivial indeed. It would be nearly impossible to weigh out quantities
of vitamin unless you owned a very sensitive gram scale capable of measuring out microgram, nanogram & picogram
quantities accurately. I doubt most finch keepers have such a balance.
Recommended Vitamins in Feed
Another way to determine how much vitamins to give to your birds is to analyze
how much vitamin is in their feed. While you may not be 100% sure how much vitamin your bird is ingesting exactly, you
know if the feed contains these levels, the bird will not suffer from deficiency syndromes. Below is a table of vitamins found in feed for chickens of different ages and types.
Recommended Poultry Vitamins
Daily Values in Feed
|
|
|
|
Broilers
|
|
|
|
|
7 - 14 IU/g
|
|
Thiamine (B1)
|
Add your content here
|
0.6 - 0.88 mg/kg
|
2.2 - 3.0 mg/kg
|
|
|
|
|
