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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D and E vary with ...
Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14480

Circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D and E vary with age but not with pneumonia status in foals during the first 5 months of life.

Abstract: Adequate vitamin availability is vital for cellular and immune function and for normal growth. Available data on age-related changes in serum concentrations of vitamins in foals are limited. In addition, associations between circulating vitamin concentrations and the development of bronchopneumonia in foals are not described. Objective: (1) To quantify circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D and E from birth to weaning in foals; (2) to determine associations between vitamin concentrations and the development of bronchopneumonia during this period. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: Blood samples were serially collected from 100 initially healthy Warmblood foals from birth to 5 months of age. Health status was evaluated weekly, and the development of subclinical and clinical bronchopneumonia was recorded. After weaning, foals were allocated to healthy, subclinical and clinical pneumonia groups, and samples from 15 foals/group were randomly selected for vitamin C, D and E quantification via ELISA and HPLC. Data were analysed with linear mixed models (p < 0.05). Results: Circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D and E did not differ between healthy foals and foals with subclinical or clinical pneumonia. Foal age significantly impacted vitamin concentrations (p < 0.001) in a vitamin-specific manner. Vitamins C and E concentrations increased during the first week of life and then decreased until weaning. Vitamin C concentrations were higher at pneumonia diagnosis in foals with pneumonia diagnosed at or before 8 weeks of age than in healthy foals. Vitamin D concentrations were lowest on Day 7 and then increased steadily until weaning. Conclusions: A small number of foals was included, and results may be specific to this study population due to environmental and farm management factors. Conclusions: Circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D and E vary with age in foals, but do not appear to be related to the development of bronchopneumonia.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-30 PubMed ID: 39888035DOI: 10.1111/evj.14480Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates changes in the concentrations of vitamins C, D, and E in the blood of foals from birth to weaning and the correlation of these concentrations with the onset of pneumonia. The study shows that the levels of these vitamins change with age, but there does not appear to be a link between vitamin concentration and development of pneumonia.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers carried out a prospective cohort study involving 100 initially healthy Warmblood foals.
  • Blood samples from these foals were routinely collected from the time of their birth to when they were 5 months old.
  • Every week, the health of the foals was assessed, tracking the development of both subclinical and clinical bronchopneumonia.
  • After the foals were weaned, they were sorted into healthy, subclinical, and clinical pneumonia groups.
  • Samples from 15 foals in each group were then randomly selected for vitamins C, D, and E quantification using ELISA and HPLC.
  • The resulting data was analyzed with linear mixed models.

Findings of the Study

  • The research found no significant difference between the concentrations of vitamins C, D, and E in healthy foals and foals with either subclinical or clinical pneumonia.
  • There were notable changes observed in vitamin concentrations with the foal’s age, with variations differing for each vitamin.
  • Concentrations of both vitamins C and E increased during the first week of the foals life, after which they decreased up to the point of weaning.
  • Vitamin C levels were higher at the time of pneumonia diagnosis for foals diagnosed at or not beyond 8 weeks compared to healthy foals.
  • Vitamin D concentrations were at their lowest on Day 7, and then steadily increased up until weaning.

Conclusions

  • The study’s results could be specific to the study population, as environmental and farm management factors might have influenced them.
  • The key conclusion drawn from the study is that circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D, and E vary with age in foals, however, these do not seem to be linked to the occurrence of pneumonia.

Cite This Article

APA
Helbig H, Berghaus LJ, Venner M, Berghaus R, Hart KA. (2025). Circulating concentrations of vitamins C, D and E vary with age but not with pneumonia status in foals during the first 5 months of life. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14480

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Helbig, Hannah
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Berghaus, Londa J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Venner, Monica
  • Equine Clinic, Destedt, Germany.
Berghaus, Roy
  • Department of Population Health, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Hart, Kelsey A
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.

Grant Funding

  • Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

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