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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Blood thiamine (vitamin B1 ), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2021; 35(4); 1988-1994; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16188

Blood thiamine (vitamin B1 ), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and cortisol concentrations in healthy and ill neonatal foals.

Abstract: Sepsis is common in foals and several treatments are used to facilitate recovery. Evidence in people suggests an association between low blood concentrations of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and cortisol and sepsis, with further evidence suggesting that administration of hydrocortisone, thiamine, and ascorbic acid may improve outcome. No information is available with regard to these treatments in foals. Objective: To compare blood concentrations of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and cortisol in healthy and ill foals. Methods: Fifteen healthy and 27 ill (septic and sick-nonseptic [SNS]) foals were evaluated at admission. Fewer healthy and ill foals were available for sampling at 72 and 120 hours. Methods: Prospective study. Blood was collected from healthy foals at 12 (n = 15), 72 (n = 11), and 120 (n = 9) hours of age and from ill foals <48 hours old at admission (n = 27), 72 (n = 8), and 120 (n = 8) hours after presentation. Thiamine, ascorbic acid, and cortisol concentrations were measured in blood samples and compared between groups of foals. Results: Blood concentrations of thiamine were significantly lower in septic compared to healthy foals at 72 (median, 1.72 ng/mL; P = .02) and 120 (median, 2.0 ng/mL; P = .04) hours after admission; blood concentrations of ascorbic acid also were significantly lower in septic compared to healthy foals at 72 (median, 4.4 μg/mL; P = .02) and 120 hours (median, 4.8 μg/mL; P = .03). Blood concentrations of ascorbic acid were lower in SNS compared to healthy foals at 72 (median, 6.9 μg/mL; P = .03) and 120 (median, 6.4 μg/mL; P = .04) hours after admission. Serum cortisol concentrations were significantly higher at admission in septic (median, 4.23 μg/dL) compared to SNS (median, 1.8 μg/dL; P = .01) and healthy (median, 2.2 μg/dL; P = .002) foals. Conclusions: A potential association exists between illness in foals and lower blood concentrations of thiamine and ascorbic acid during hospitalization. Additional studies are needed to examine a larger population of foals and determine the clinical impact of low vitamin concentrations, if any, on morbidity and mortality.
© 2021 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-30 PubMed ID: 34056771PubMed Central: PMC8295700DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16188Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This scientific research examines the relationship between sepsis, a common illness in foals, and blood concentrations of thiamine, ascorbic acid, and cortisol. It found that sick or septic foals had significantly lower levels of these components, raising questions about potential treatments or prophylactic measures.

Methods of the Research

  • The research compared the blood concentrations of thiamine (vitamin B1), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and cortisol in both healthy and ill (septic and sick-nonseptic [SNS]) foals.
  • A total of 42 foals were tested, with 15 healthy and 27 ill. The blood of these young horses was collected at specific intervals: for healthy foals, at 12, 72, and 120 hours of age, while blood from ill foals was collected less than 48 hours after admission and at 72 and 120 hours after presentation.
  • The study was prospective, meaning the researchers identified participants and collected data going forward in time.

Results of the Research

  • Blood concentrations of thiamine were significantly lower in septic foals compared to healthy foals, which was identified at 72 and 120 hours after admission. Similarly, blood concentrations of ascorbic acid also followed the same trend.
  • Compared to healthy foals, the blood concentration of ascorbic acid was lower in SNS foals at 72 and 120 hours after their health condition was admitted.
  • Contrastingly, serum cortisol concentrations were substantially higher at admission in septic foals in comparison to both SNS and healthy foals.

Conclusions from the Research

  • This study suggests a possible association between illness in foals and lower blood concentrations of thiamine and ascorbic acid during their hospitalization. This may indicate a potential treatment pathway involving the supplementation of these vitamins.
  • However, the scientists advise that more studies are needed to determine whether low vitamin concentrations have a direct impact on the disease rates and survival of foals.
  • Further studies are also required to scrutinize larger populations of foals for more accurate and diverse data.

Cite This Article

APA
Wong DM, Young L, Dembek KA. (2021). Blood thiamine (vitamin B1 ), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and cortisol concentrations in healthy and ill neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med, 35(4), 1988-1994. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16188

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 35
Issue: 4
Pages: 1988-1994

Researcher Affiliations

Wong, David M
  • Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
Young, Lauren
  • Private Practice.
Dembek, Katarzyna A
  • North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Ascorbic Acid
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horses
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sepsis / drug therapy
  • Sepsis / veterinary
  • Thiamine
  • Vitamins

Grant Funding

  • VCS grant, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Wong D, Sahoo DK, Faivre C, Kopper J, Dersh K, Beachler T, Esser M. Oxidative stress in critically ill neonatal foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Jan-Feb;39(1):e17297.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17297pubmed: 39854109google scholar: lookup
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