{"topic_id":"dzanis_1994_section_04","category":"us-2026","context":"---\ntopic_id: dzanis_1994_section_04\ncategory: AAFCO-HISTORICAL\ntitle: SUPPLEMENT\nlang: en\nsource: aafco_jnutrition_dzanis_1994.pdf\ndate_parsed: 2026-07-18\ntokens_estimated: 1104\nextra: {\"publication_year\": 1994, \"author\": \"David A. Dzanis\", \"journal\": \"J. Nutrition\", \"section_index\": 4}\n---\n\n# SUPPLEMENT\n\nSUPPLEMENT\n\nSome new serum chemistry analyses were also\nadded to the protocols. For example, whole blood tau\nrine levels must be determined on all cats in the tests.\nAlso, serum alkaline phosphatase levels must be run\non animals during the maintenance trials. The latter\ntest is intended to assure adequate calcium in the diet,\nwhereas the previous maintenance trial would not be\nable to detect an adverse effect. The subcommittee\nrecognized that this parameter was not ideal in terms\nof specificity or sensitivity, but weighed potential\nbenefit against the cost and impracticality of other\nmeans (e.g., parathormone assays, bone densitometry).\nUnequivocal proof of a product's nutritional ade\nquacy for all animals under all conditions can never\nbe achieved. However, with the changes in both the\nnutrient profiles and feeding trial protocols, assurances\nof nutritional adequacy to the consumer have been\nimproved. Substantiation of the nutritional adequacy\nof a pet food based on the nutrient profiles may be\nless reliable than the results of feeding trials. For ex\nample, the nutrient profiles cannot assess the accept\nability, palatability and other factors of a product as\nwell as the feeding trials. Also, although formulations\nshould be adjusted to account for nutrient levels at\nthe time of feeding, processing losses can remain a\nfactor. On the other hand, the validity of a feeding\ntrial greatly depends on the competence and integrity\nof the conductor of the trial. Especially in the mainte\nnance trials, subtle chronic nutrient deficiencies or ex\ncesses can be overlooked. In the future, this author\nenvisions a hybridization of the two methods.\n","sources":[],"tokens_estimated":1104,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}