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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(5); 2132-2141; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15862

Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency.

Abstract: Selenium or alpha-tocopherol deficiency can cause neuromuscular disease. Beta-carotene has limited documentation in horses. Objective: To evaluate the effect of owner practices on plasma beta-carotene concentration and risk of selenium and alpha-tocopherol deficiencies. Methods: Three-hundred and forty-nine adult (≥1 year), university and privately owned horses and mules. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Whole blood selenium, plasma alpha-tocopherol, and plasma beta-carotene concentrations were measured once. Estimates of daily selenium and vitamin E intake, pasture access, and exercise load were determined by owner questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t tests, Mann-Whitney tests, parametric or nonparametric analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation and contingency tables (P < .05). Results: Nearly 88% of the horses received supplemental selenium; 71.3% received ≥1 mg/d. Low blood selenium concentration (<80 ng/mL) was identified in 3.3% of horses, and 13.6% had marginal concentrations (80-159 ng/mL). Non-supplemented horses were much more likely to have low blood selenium (odds ratio [OR], 20.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.26-42.7; P < .001). Supplemental vitamin E was provided to 87.3% of horses; 57.7% received ≥500 IU/d. Deficient (6 h/d) and daily provision of ≥500 IU of vitamin E was associated (P < .001) with higher plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations. Plasma beta-carotene concentration was higher in horses with pasture access (0.26 ± 0.43 versus 0.12 ± 0.13 μg/mL, P = .003). Conclusions: Suboptimal blood selenium and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations occurred in 16.7% and 35.5% of horses, respectively, despite most owners providing supplementation. Inadequate pasture access was associated with alpha-tocopherol deficiency, and reliance on selenium-containing salt blocks was associated with selenium deficiency.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-20 PubMed ID: 32686861PubMed Central: PMC7517834DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15862Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research investigates the influence of owner management practices on the concentrations of blood selenium, vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), and beta-carotene in horses and mules, as well as the risk of nutritional deficiency. Despite nutritional supplementation, the results show that a significant proportion of horses still exhibit suboptimal levels of these nutrients.

Study Design and Methods

  • The study involved 349 adult horses and mules, some owned by the university involved in the research and others privately-owned.
  • This cross-sectional study assessed the horses’ whole blood selenium, plasma alpha-tocopherol, and plasma beta-carotene concentrations at a single point in time.
  • Participants were required to complete a questionnaire to estimate daily intake of selenium and vitamin E, the extent of pasture access, and exercise load of the horses.
  • Several statistical methods were used to analyze the data, including t-tests, Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman’s correlation and ANOVA.

Study Findings

  • The study found that the majority (88%) of horse owners provided their horses with selenium supplements, with approximately 71.3% given a dose of at least 1 mg/day. Despite this, low blood selenium concentrations were found in 3.3% of horses, with a further 13.6% exhibiting marginal levels.
  • Horses that did not receive supplemental selenium had significantly higher chances of displaying low blood selenium levels.
  • Similarly, around 87% of horses were supplemented with vitamin E, yet 15.4% still showed deficient levels while almost 20% had marginal concentrations. Access to pasture and a minimum daily vitamin E provision of 500 IU were linked with higher plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations.
  • A connection was noted between plasma beta-carotene concentration and pasture access, with horses having access showing higher concentrations.
  • In conclusion, despite supplementation, suboptimal concentrations of blood selenium and plasma alpha-tocopherol concentrations occurred in 16.7% and 35.5% of horses, respectively.

Implications and Recommendations

  • The study implies that current owner practices may not be sufficient to prevent nutritional deficiencies in horses, specifically regarding selenium and alpha-tocopherol.
  • Inadequate access to pasture was associated with a deficiency in alpha-tocopherol, so increasing access to green spaces may improve this.
  • The study also suggests that reliance on selenium-containing salt blocks could potentially lead to selenium deficiency, indicating that alternative supplementation methods may need to be considered.

Cite This Article

APA
Pitel MO, McKenzie EC, Johns JL, Stuart RL. (2020). 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, 34(5), 2132-2141. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15862

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 5
Pages: 2132-2141

Researcher Affiliations

Pitel, Mariya O
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.
McKenzie, Erica C
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.
Johns, Jennifer L
  • Department of Biomedical Science, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA.
Stuart, Robert L
  • Stuart Products, Inc., Bedford, Texas, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horses
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin E
  • Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary
  • beta Carotene

Grant Funding

  • Oregon State University Department of Clinical Sciences
  • Stuart Products

Conflict of Interest Statement

Dr. Robert Stuart is the director and owner of Stuart Products, 112 Bedford Road, Bedford, Texas, which produces a vitamin E supplement and other nutritional products.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Quaresma M, Marín C, Bacellar D, Nóvoa M, Navas FJ, McLean A. Selenium and Vitamin E Concentrations in Miranda Jennies and Foals (Equus asinus) in Northeast Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061772pubmed: 34198534google scholar: lookup
  2. Lobato ADSM, Silva JARD, Rodrigues TCGC, Silva AGME, Cruz AVD, Ferreira APD, Costa MM, Cunha AMQ, Lourenço-Costa VV, Barbosa AVC, Prates JAM, Silva WCD, Lourenço-Júnior JB. Impact of Production Systems on the Levels of Vitamin E, β-Carotene, and Cholesterol in the Liver of Cattle Raised in the Eastern Amazon. Foods 2024 May 21;13(11).
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  3. Dos Santos Miranda Lobato A, da Silva JAR, de Carvalho Rodrigues TCG, Silva AGME, da Cruz AV, Ferreira APD, Costa MM, Cunha AMQ, Lourenço-Costa VV, Barbosa AVC, Prates JAM, de Brito Lourenço-Júnior J. Impact of rearing systems in the Eastern Amazon on cholesterol, β-carotene and vitamin E homologues in steer. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1331913.
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