Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Effect of selenium and vitamin C on clinical outcomes, trace element status, and antioxidant enzyme activity in horses with acute and chronic lower airway disease. A randomized clinical trial.
Abstract: Excess production of reactive oxygen species is involved in the pathogenesis of airway disorders in horses. Trace element antioxidants have a beneficial role in oxidant/antioxidant balance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of sodium selenite and ascorbic acid on clinical outcome, antioxidant enzymes, and trace elements status in horses with lower airway disease. For this purpose, 40 draft horses with lower airway disease were randomly selected (acute, n = 20; chronic, n = 20). Both acute and chronic cases were randomly allocated into two subgroups (ten each). Groups 1 and 2 were the horses with acute disease, while groups 3 and 4 were chronically ill. For all groups, each horse was administered antibiotic, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and mucolytic drug. In addition, groups 2 and 4 were injected with 15 mg/kg sodium selenite and 30 mg/kg ascorbic acid every 24 h for successive 4 weeks. Venous blood samples were obtained from diseased horses on three occasions; at first examination, and at 2 and 4 weeks post-treatment. Clinically, antioxidant supplementation improved the clinical signs with significant decrease (p < 0.05) of the clinical index score in both acute and chronic cases. In supplemented groups compared with non-supplemented, there was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in the levels of copper, zinc, selenium, and iron as well as in the activity of glutathione-S-transferase and catalase. Meanwhile, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the levels of manganese, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and low-density lipoprotein and in the activity of glutathione reductase. The results of the present study indicate that administration of sodium selenite and ascorbic acid may have beneficial effect on clinical outcome and antioxidant balance in horses with acute and chronic lower airway disease.
Publication Date: 2013-03-13 PubMed ID: 23479319DOI: 10.1007/s12011-013-9636-5Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
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.
This research investigates the effects of sodium selenite and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) in horses with acute and chronic lower airway disorders. The results suggest that these supplements could improve clinical symptoms and enhance the levels of certain trace elements and antioxidant enzyme activity, which may help balance reactive oxygen species involved in these airway ailments.
Study Overview
- This study was carried out with 40 draft horses suffering from lower airway disease. They were chronic and acute cases (20 horses each) and were randomly assigned into four groups.
- Group 1 and 2 had acute lower airway disease while Group 3 and 4 were chronic cases.
- All horses were treated with an antibiotic, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, and a mucolytic drug. Additionally, Groups 2 and 4 received a 15 mg/kg injection of sodium selenite and a 30 mg/kg shot of ascorbic acid for four weeks.
- Blood samples were collected at different stages – initial examination and after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment- to assess the levels of certain trace elements and antioxidant enzyme activity.
Findings
- The antioxidant supplement seems to have improved the clinical symptoms of horses in both chronic and acute cases, evidenced by a significant drop in their clinical index score.
- It was observed that there was an increased level of copper, zinc, selenium, and iron, as well as a boost in the activity of antioxidant enzymes-Catalase and Glutathione-S-transferase-in groups 2 and 4 compared to others.
- A significant decrease in manganese, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and low-density lipoprotein levels as well as in the activity of Glutathione reductase was also noticed in horses receiving sodium selenite and ascorbic acid supplement.
Conclusion
- This research suggests that administering sodium selenite and ascorbic acid could potentially improve the condition of horses suffering from chronic and acute lower airway diseases.
- The supplements appear to impact clinical conditions positively, increase the levels of critical trace elements, and boost antioxidant enzyme activity.
It supports the hypothesis that trace element antioxidants play a crucial role in maintaining a balance between oxidants and antioxidants, which might be beneficial in addressing airway disorders in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Youssef MA, El-khodery SA, Ibrahim HM.
(2013).
Effect of selenium and vitamin C on clinical outcomes, trace element status, and antioxidant enzyme activity in horses with acute and chronic lower airway disease. A randomized clinical trial.
Biol Trace Elem Res, 152(3), 333-342.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-013-9636-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt.
MeSH Terms
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Antioxidants / metabolism
- Ascorbic Acid / administration & dosage
- Ascorbic Acid / therapeutic use
- Chronic Disease
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / enzymology
- Horses
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / blood
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / drug therapy
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / enzymology
- Respiratory Tract Diseases / veterinary
- Sodium Selenite / administration & dosage
- Sodium Selenite / therapeutic use
- Trace Elements / blood
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Liu S, Wei W, Wang J, Chen T. Theranostic applications of selenium nanomedicines against lung cancer. J Nanobiotechnology 2023 Mar 20;21(1):96.
- Pitel MO, McKenzie EC, Johns JL, Stuart RL. Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2132-2141.
- Ibrahim MN, El Azab EF, Alanazi A, Shahin OR, Ndagire CT. Natural products and dietary bioactives as antiviral agents against herpesviruses: molecular mechanisms, immunomodulatory actions, and nutritional perspectives. Arch Microbiol 2026 Feb 23;208(5).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
