Master Amino Acid Pattern / SON formula

[Rolfe]

I've been approached by a cat owner whose pet has been diagnosed with chronic renal failure. She's been "researching" treatments available in the USA, and come across this amino acid product that seems to be promoted by some US vets in treating the condition.

It's true there is some connection between protein metabolism and renal function, though that's given less emphasis these days than when I was a student. However, I can't find anything at all about this approach to feline renal disease in the mainstream literature.

It seems to involve feeding an amino acid supplement, possbly instead of dietary protein. I don't know how you'd accomplish this with a cat. All I can find seem to be sites promoting and selling the stuff, mainly for sports performance or even "anti-ageing", and a single paper that itself looks like a promotional exercise, involving a single, uncontrolled case study in sports physiology, not renal medicine.

I've never heard of this stuff, or anyone using it in Britain. I'm rather dubious about reports that US vets are selling it, because I can't find any trials even in human renal patients, never mind cats. However, it does sneak under the medicines regulations radar, as a food supplement.

Does anyone have any experience of the product? Is there any science in this, or is it just snake-oil? I have to say I'm leaning towards snake-oil myself, but I don't want to jump to conclusions.

Here are the main links.

SON formula (http://www.sonformula.com/)
Master Amino Acid Pattern (http://www.masteraminoacidpattern.com/)
The only published paper (http://www.springerlink.com/content/xv528178400w5654/) I can find

Any comments welcome. Even just confirmation that anyone else has heard of this!

Rolfe.

[casebro]

The SON formula doesn't give the formula, except to say "pure crystalline amino acids".

The MAP site seemed no help at all.

The published study gives the MAP credit for what any long walk would do.

Sounds like bollocks. Except maybe, being only the essential amino acids, it may delete from the diet what ever excess that overloads the kidneys. (Since the earliest test for kidney failure is microalbumin, maybe it has no albumin? ) Do I think the supplement seller knows this? Ha Ha.

But, a cat sized dose is probably cheap enough. Placebo for the owner? But it sounds like Umami. Maybe you can send her to the local Oriental grocers for some Vietnamese fish sauce? Nuoc Mom? One drop on the cat's food will stink up the whole house, multiplying the owner's placebo effect. And probably being as good for the cat, who will love it's aroma. Mmmm, dead fish!

[Rolfe]

I couldn't find any rationale either, or even any references to its use in renal medicine - human or veterinary.

I may be out of date on this, but I believe the whole idea of amino acid catabolism "overloading" the kidneys has been revised quite a bit. Amino groups from deamination become ammonia which becomes urea which is excreted by the kidney. Failing kidneys can't cope and plasma urea rises. Manipulating the diet will decrease plasma urea all right, but that's metabolic - it doesn't mean renal function has improved. Urea is fairly non-toxic, and it's passively filtered, so you're really just changing a concentration while doing nothing to improve the underlying situation.

I still haven't even found out what these "master amino acids" actually are. I also haven't found out how you'd use the product in the cat. If it is to replace the protein in the diet, that sounds very problematic and potentially quite hazardous. If it's as an extra on top of the dietary protein, I really can't see the point at all.

I'm trying to keep an open mind on this, as it was presented to me as a mainstream approach favoured by vets in the USA which we Brits hadn't caught on to yet. The more I look at it though, the more it seems to me like some sort of patent snake oil which is being pushed by a few US vets (presumably) and has thus acquired something of an internet presence.

I just wondered if anyone here had come across it before, and if so, what do you know about it.

Rolfe.

[MRC_Hans]

If it is mainstream among US vets, there must be some network where you can ask. Or publications.

Hans

[Rolfe]

I know where to ask, but my home email is playing up. I haven't managed to find any publications at all, which is a bit of a red flag.

Rolfe.