The majority of feedstuffs fed to horses are relatively low
in vitamin E content. Consequently, supplemental vitamin E is
recommended for all horses except those grazing pastures during early
plant growth. Such pastures can provide an adequate level of vitamin E.
Most commercial horse feeds contain some supplemental vitamin E.
The body does not store vitamin E as well as it does the other
fat-soluble vitamins. In fact, plasma and liver vitamin E concentrations
fall to pre-supplemented values within three to seven weeks,
respectively, after supplementation is stopped. Deficiencies of vitamin
E and/or selenium can result in several health problems in horses
including white muscle disease and steatitis (yellow fat disease) in
foals and degenerative myeloencephalopathy, exertional rhabdomyolisis
(tying-up), and decreased immune response.
Unlike the other fat-soluble vitamins (A and D), excessive vitamin E
is not considered toxic. There have been no signs or detrimental effects
of vitamin E toxicosis reported in horses.
As indicated in the companion article “Biopotency of Natural and
Synthetic Vitamin E,” vitamin E activity varies by species. New
reports show
that the difference in
bioavailability of natural (d-alpha) versus synthetic (dl-alpha) vitamin
E is even more pronounced in horses than in most other species. In one
study with horses, increases in plasma vitamin E over baseline were four
times greater with natural vitamin E compared to the synthetic form.
Horses are athletes that are prone to exercise-induced muscle damage.
Vitamin E is a critical antioxidant necessary for removal of reactive
oxygen metabolites and free radicals formed during exercise. Free
radicals and reactive oxygen metabolites damage muscle cell membranes,
proteins, and lipids, thereby reducing the muscle’s ability to
function. Normal horses and horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy
have had reduced episodes of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolisis
(tying-up) and exhibited increased exercise tolerance when fed NATURAL
GLO®* stabilized rice bran which contains all-natural
vitamin E.
NATURAL GLO stabilized rice bran contains over
1000 IU/lb of
all-natural vitamin E in tocopherol forms as well as 220 IU/lb in tocotrienol forms. ADM Alliance Nutritionä
products, SENIORGLO®
(250 IU/lb), POWERGLO® (250 IU/lb), ShowBoost®
(70 IU/lb),
and MOORGLO®
(500I/lb), contain all-natural vitamin E from NATURAL GLO and soybeans. Use of these products provides vitamin E that is
several times more biopotent than the synthetic forms found in most
other horse feeds currently available.
When choosing a source of vitamin E for horses, consider the merits
of natural (d-alpha) forms versus synthetic (dl-alpha) forms for
increased biopotency, retention in body tissues, and performance
capability.
For More
Information e-mail at
AN_EquineHelp@admworld.com
or call toll free
EQUINE
NUTRITION HELPLINE
1-800-680-8254
7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Central Time
ADM Alliance Nutrition, Inc.
1000 North 30th Street P.O. Box C1 Quincy, IL USA 62305-3155
