The effect of added dietary soybean oil on vitamin E status of the horse.

The research investigates if supplementing a horse’s diet with soybean oil impacts the horse’s vitamin E status. The study showed that adding soybean oil did not affect the vitamin E status on non-exercising, two-year-old horses.

Research Methodology

• The research involved fourteen two-year-old quarter horses and quarter Horse x Thoroughbreds.
• They were divided into two groups – one group being the control (without added soybean oil) and the second group that was supplemented with 6.4% soybean oil in their diet.
• The diet for both groups met current NRC nutrient requirements and had similar nutrient to energy ratios.
• Blood samples were collected on days 0, 30, 60, and 90 of the experiment for analysis.

Serum Analysis

• The blood samples were analyzed for serum alpha-tocopherol (a form of Vitamin E), serum cholesterol, and serum triglyceride levels.
• The sum of serum cholesterol and serum triglyceride values was taken as an estimate of serum total lipid content.
• The ratio of serum alpha-tocopherol to serum total lipid was used as a measure of the horses’ vitamin E status.

Findings

• Horses on the soybean oil diet had higher cholesterol concentrations at 30, 60, and 90 days than the control group.
• The soybean oil diet did not influence the serum triglyceride levels.
• While the total serum lipids tended to be higher for the soybean oil group, it wasn’t statistically significant.
• Serum alpha-tocopherol concentration was higher in the soybean oil group at 90 days.
• A significant correlation was observed between total serum lipids and serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in the soybean oil group, not found in the control group.
• The ratio of serum alpha-tocopherol to serum total lipid – a measure of vitamin E status – wasn’t affected by the diet.

Conclusion

• The results suggest that vitamin E status in non-exercising, 2-year-old horses fed recommended vitamin E levels wasn’t affected by adding 6.4% soybean oil to the diet.