Nutritional Supplements as Support for Behavioral Health

Like humans, animals (including dogs, cats, and horses) commonly experience situations that result in elevated stress-related behaviors and changes in physiological biomarkers. In these situations, behavior responses may be attenuated by nutritional supplements as support for behavioral health.

The word calm has been described as “a state of tranquility” and “free from agitation or disturbance,” phrases that should universally apply to the human-animal bond, as pets and pet parents benefit mutually from a serene, supportive relationship.

The “calmness” and “tranquility” of the human-animal bond may be at risk when pets experience fear, anxiety, and stress, signs which are manifested in dogs and cats not only with abnormal behaviors but also physiological changes.

Challenging and distressing examples of responses to fear, anxiety, and stress in dogs include avoidance, flight, immobility, and aggression (Hydbring-Sandberg et al., 2014). In cats, inexplicable and frustrating behaviors such as indiscriminate urination, aggression, and compulsive grooming may be observed (Amat et at., 2016). The human-animal bond may be damaged by these behaviors and make caring for a pet difficult (or perhaps impossible), consequences undesired by both veterinary healthcare practitioners and pet parents.

Research has demonstrated that the physiological pathways associated with fear, anxiety, and stress are mediated by a variety of neurotransmitters as well as hormones, minerals, other molecules, and nutrition. It is suggested that these nutritional supplements for behavioral health provide opportunities to assist in the alleviation of fear, anxiety and stress, improving the quality of life for suffering animals (including cats and dogs) and their pet parents.

Of particular interest for their physiological effects on fear, anxiety, and stress are the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA, the amino acids L-theanine and L-tryptophan, the essential mineral magnesium, and the herb ashwagandha. Noted is the importance of filling nutritional gaps with attention to a diet that stresses a whole food-based approach to nutrition.

Through the modulation of identified neurotransmitters, amino acids, minerals, herbs and nutrition, the associated pathways have the potential to undergo positive alterations and produce calming effects. These alterations can assist in re-establishing, reinforcing, and strengthening the human-animal bond.

Neurotransmitters: GABA and Glutamate

GABA and glutamate are the two primary neurotransmitters, with opposite roles in the nervous system.

GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, preventing chemical messages from passing from nerve cell to nerve cell. The inhibitory property of GABA is associated with analgesic, anxiolytic, and calming effects (Briguglio et al., 2018).

The evidence of the importance of endogenous GABA, combined with evidence of the efficacy of oral supplementation in a variety of species, lends support to the benefits of oral GABA supplementation towards a calming effect.

Glutamate, on the other hand, is the main excitatory neurotransmitter, allowing chemical messages to be carried from nerve cell to nerve cell. (Olsen & Li, 2012; Jewett & Sandeep, 2023; Briguglio et al., 2018).

Theanine to Calm Anxiety

Theanine is a non-proteinogenic amino acid that has two isomers, the L-form and the D-form. It is abundantly found in nature in the L-form; primary sources being tea plants (green and black teas).

As a structural analogue to glutamate (the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the body) (Dramard et al., 2012; Kimura et al., 2007; Lu et al. 2004), L-theanine is able to competitively block the reuptake receptors for glutamate across synapses thus preventing the binding of excitatory glutamate to post-synaptic neurons.

Additionally, L-theanine increases GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) (the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter) concentrations as well as influences levels of dopamine and serotonin, neurotransmitters both associated with relaxation (Dramard et al., 2012; Saeed et al. 2017; Zhang et al., 2019).

Through the inhibition of glutamate and by increasing GABA, L-theanine generates an anti-stress effect and a sense of well-being.

Tryptophan to Promote Calm

Tryptophan is a proteinogenic amino acid that has two isomers, the L-form and the D-form. L-tryptophan is the form of tryptophan that the body uses as D-tryptophan is not typically recognized. Tryptophan (unlike theanine) is an essential amino acid, in that it is not naturally synthesized by the body but is required by the body, thus necessitating its presence in the diet.

L-tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter promoting calmness when levels are optimal. Serotonin is a precursor to melatonin, itself calming in that it promotes quality sleep. A deficiency of L-tryptophan may result in reduced levels of serotonin, leading to increased frequency of undesirable behaviors associated with stress, anxiety and lack of restful sleep. Ensuring adequate amounts of L-tryptophan through supplementation has been documented to mitigate the manifestation of stress-related behaviors.

Magnesium: Macromineral Aide for Stress Relief

Magnesium is an essential macromineral, and another nutritional supplement for behavioral health. It is a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, including protein synthesis, blood pressure regulation, and muscle and nerve function. Magnesium facilitates extracellular communication through the secretion and function of hormones and is vital for stability of nerve cell membranes. (National Research Council, 2006).

Two very important roles that magnesium has in the nervous system are:

1. effects on neurotransmitters
2. regulation of the primary stress hormone, cortisol.

Given magnesium’s ability to decrease the primary excitatory and increase the primary inhibitory (calming) neurotransmitter, along with magnesium’s role in regulating the primary stress hormone, cortisol, it is not unexpected that a magnesium deficiency would “remove the brakes,” resulting in increased neurological excitement and cortisol levels. This leads to a potential increase in the manifestation of fear, stress, and anxiety as undesirable behaviors in dogs and cats.

Supplementation of a bioavailable magnesium may negate effects of stress and anxiety thereby calming pets and, as an additional benefit, fill a nutritional gap.

Ashwagandha: Adaptogenic Herb to Support Mood Regulation

Withania somnifera

Ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb derived from an evergreen shrub found in parts of India, Africa, and the Middle East. It contains several bioactive compounds, including a group of substances known as withanolides. Withanolides have been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects (National Institute of Health, 2023).

Ashwagandha has been used as a medicinal plant for thousands of years, especially in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Its holistic properties have been associated with a variety of benefits in people, including support of the immune system, modulation of inflammation, and easing the challenges of everyday life through balancing physiological responses to environmental stressors.

Benefits of offering ashwagandha as a nutritional supplement in animals has been associated with a calming effect, a reduction of fear, anxiety and stress, towards maintaining and/or improving the physical and emotional health of animals.

Nutrition to Support Emotional and Behavioral Health

Proper nutrition is a major component of supporting the health of the gastrointestinal microbiota, the gut-brain axis looping connections and communications and thus overall physical and behavioral health.

Nutrition plays a key role in the type of behavioral and emotional responses manifested when confronted with situations resulting in fear, stress, and anxiety.

A whole food-based nutritional supplement is a complex formula of targeted ingredients that may include whole food-based plant ingredients, plant extracts, animal tissues/extracts, desiccates, botanicals etc. as required to create dietary supplements for supporting health systems.

Whole food-based supplements provide a broad spectrum of nutrients, along with essential vitamins and minerals, tailored to a patient’s species and to support normal body processes.

Consideration should be given to the addition of whole food-based nutritional supplements to a quality diet, along with other integrative modalities in a healthcare toolbox, to further support systems that affect manifestations of stress, fear and anxiety, systems including the gastrointestinal tract, the immune system, and the neurological system.

Nutritional supplements which might include, but not be limited to, prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics as well as omega-3 fatty acids (EPA/DHA) and beta-glucans from fungal (mushrooms) and/or grain (oats) sources

Nutrition provides additional modalities to balance neurological and physiological pathways associated with reactions to fear, stress, and anxiety. A healthy diet also offers the potential to beneficially impact and improve pets’ sense of calm and promote good behavior.

Summary

Appreciating Nutritional Supplements as an Integrative Modality for Behavioral Support

L-theanine, L-tryptophan, GABA, and magnesium all mediate important physiological pathways associated with fear, anxiety, and stress. Given their ability to beneficially alter these pathways, the oral administration of L-theanine, L-tryptophan, GABA, and magnesium are all clinically relevant in the modification of behavioral manifestations of fear, anxiety, and stress. In addition, the herb ashwagandha has known calming benefits.

It is undisputed that good nutrition is important for physical, mental, and behavioral health. The inclusion of whole food-based nutrients (free of contaminants such as pathogenic microbes or harmful chemicals), both as food and as supplements, can assist in filling nutritional gaps and supporting overall health.

The management of both the behavioral and physiological aspects of fear, anxiety, and stress in animals  modulates the restoration and maintenance of calm and tranquil behavior. This not only improves pets’ quality of life and sense of peace but also supports the gratifying, positive experience of pet ownership, ultimately fostering and nurturing the precious gift of the human-animal bond.