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A nutraceutical is defined as "a substance that is produced in purified or extracted form, administered orally to provide agents required for normal body structure and function with the intent of improving the health and well-being of animals" <ref>Anonymous. Council defines "nutraceutical." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 1996; 209:1986.</ref>. Nutraceuticals are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceuticals and do not have to undergo the same rigorous testing to be approved. Efficacy has not been properly evaluated for most nutraceuticals.
 
A nutraceutical is defined as "a substance that is produced in purified or extracted form, administered orally to provide agents required for normal body structure and function with the intent of improving the health and well-being of animals" <ref>Anonymous. Council defines "nutraceutical." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 1996; 209:1986.</ref>. Nutraceuticals are not regulated in the same way as pharmaceuticals and do not have to undergo the same rigorous testing to be approved. Efficacy has not been properly evaluated for most nutraceuticals.
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==Alpha-casozepine==
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==Alpha-Casozepine==
 
Alpha-casozepine is a trypsin hydrolysate of bovine milk casein with anxiolytic and anti-epileptic effects in laboratory rodent models<ref>Miclo, L.,  Perrin, E., Driou, A., Papadopoulos, V., Boujrad, N., Vanderesse, R., Boudier, J.F., Desor, D., Linden, G., Gaillard, J.L. (2001) Characterization of α-casozepine, a tryptic peptide from
 
Alpha-casozepine is a trypsin hydrolysate of bovine milk casein with anxiolytic and anti-epileptic effects in laboratory rodent models<ref>Miclo, L.,  Perrin, E., Driou, A., Papadopoulos, V., Boujrad, N., Vanderesse, R., Boudier, J.F., Desor, D., Linden, G., Gaillard, J.L. (2001) Characterization of α-casozepine, a tryptic peptide from
 
bovine αs1-casein with benzodiazepine-like activity. FASEB J.15(10):1780-2.</ref>. It has been shown to have potential anxiolytic effects in cats and dogs in two open label trials<ref>Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Diaz, C., et al. Comparison of the effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) versus selegiline hydrochloride on anxiety disorders in dogs. J Vet Behav 2007;2:175-83.</ref>  <ref>Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Coll, V., et al. Effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) on anxiety in cats. J Vet Behav 2007;2:40-6.</ref>. However, only one of these studies included a control group, the inclusion criteria were very broad, the populations small and outcomes were measured using questionnaires that had not been validated or checked for test-retest reliability. More studies are required to confirm clinical efficacy.
 
bovine αs1-casein with benzodiazepine-like activity. FASEB J.15(10):1780-2.</ref>. It has been shown to have potential anxiolytic effects in cats and dogs in two open label trials<ref>Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Diaz, C., et al. Comparison of the effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) versus selegiline hydrochloride on anxiety disorders in dogs. J Vet Behav 2007;2:175-83.</ref>  <ref>Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Coll, V., et al. Effect of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) on anxiety in cats. J Vet Behav 2007;2:40-6.</ref>. However, only one of these studies included a control group, the inclusion criteria were very broad, the populations small and outcomes were measured using questionnaires that had not been validated or checked for test-retest reliability. More studies are required to confirm clinical efficacy.