Inositol: Why do some pet food companies include this ingredient?

The vitamin-like compound inositol may facilitate other B-vitamin action, though its inclusion in pet food formulas has never been fully defined.

Greg Aldrich, Ph.D.

November 13, 2019

Inositol is included in many vitamin mixes in pet food formulations, but its exact purpose remains nebulous. (Anna Gawlik | Shutterstock.com)

Inositol is included in many vitamin mixes in pet food formulations, but its exact purpose remains nebulous. (Anna Gawlik | Shutterstock.com)

Several pet food companies have included inositol in their vitamin list for decades. One estimate is that 10% of pet foods contain this ingredient. However, inositol is not currently recognized as an essential nutrient by Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profiles. So why would companies add it as an ingredient to their foods and do so with no fanfare? Does it have some other benefit?

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