Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation helps prevent various disorders affecting both the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, including neuroaxonal dystrophy\/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, equine motor neuron disease, vitamin E deficient myopathy, and nutritional myodegeneration. These conditions can be prevented largely by providing adequate dietary vitamin E to horses, and recent research shows* that a liquid vitamin E supplement may be more beneficial than a powdered formulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe current recommended daily dietary intake of vitamin E for adult horses is 1-2 IU\/kg. Many horses obtain adequate vitamin E from pasture. When horses have limited access to pasture, either due to an underlying metabolic condition or during times of drought, and are instead offered hay, vitamin E levels may be depleted. In such cases, vitamin E supplementation could prove beneficial,\u201d explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research<\/a> (KER).<\/p>\n\n\n\n One recent study* assessed the impact of supplementing horses with various vitamin E products for eight weeks. Included horses were healthy, but all had low circulating vitamin E (?-TP) levels (<2 ?g\/mL). Horses were either administered no vitamin E, a natural vitamin E acetate powdered formulation (5,000 IU\/day), or a natural water-soluble vitamin E product (5,000 IU\/day).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Circulating ?-TP levels increased significantly in horses offered water-soluble vitamin E within a week of supplementation, and levels remained higher than horses offered either the vitamin E acetate powder or no vitamin E. Serum ?-TP increased significantly by week 7 in the group supplemented with vitamin E acetate powder. The increases in serum ?-TP levels were reflected in a rise in ?-TP in cerebrospinal fluid\u2014the fluid that bathes and protects the brain and spinal cord. Muscle ?-TP levels were not different between groups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAlthough water-soluble vitamin E supplements tend to be a little pricier, this study shows that supplementation with this product was a cost-effective means of rapidly increasing systemic vitamin E levels in horses,\u201d explained Crandell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She added, \u201cKER offers Nano\u2022E, a powerful water-soluble liquid vitamin E antioxidant supplement for horses. This product is rapidly bioavailable and plays a vital role in immune, cardiovascular, circulatory, neuromuscular, and reproductive functions.\u201d<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) supplementation helps prevent various disorders affecting both the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, including neuroaxonal dystrophy\/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy, equine motor neuron disease, vitamin E deficient myopathy, and nutritional myodegeneration. These conditions can be prevented largely by providing adequate dietary vitamin E to horses, and recent research shows* that a liquid vitamin E supplement … <\/p>\n