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Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / The selenium and vitamin E status of horses in Prince Edward...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2010; 51(9); 979-985;

The selenium and vitamin E status of horses in Prince Edward Island.

Abstract: Serum selenium (Se), vitamin E, and resting thyroid hormone concentrations were measured in 201 horses in Prince Edward Island (PEI). Selenium concentrations were either marginal (0.0053 to 0.1200 ppm) or deficient (< 0.0053 ppm) in 79% of horses based on current reference ranges for Se in serum. Aged and young adult pleasure horses had a higher prevalence of inadequate Se concentrations compared to racehorses and broodmares (82% and 97% versus 45% and 72%, respectively). Overall, 13% of horses had inadequate (< 200 μg/dL) serum vitamin E concentrations; most of these were young pleasure horses. No horses were hypothyroid and, contrary to findings in other species, there was a positive relationship between serum thyroxine and Se concentrations (P < 0.05). We conclude that Se deficiency is widespread in PEI horse populations, especially in pleasure horses, and vitamin E deficiency is more common in young pleasure horses. Micronutrient supplementation practices employed by PEI horse owners appear inadequate to ensure sufficiency. Les concentrations de sérum de sélénium (Se), de vitamine E et d’hormones thyroïdiennes au repos ont été mesurées chez 201 chevaux à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard (Î.-P.-É.). Les concentrations de sélénium étaient soit négligeables (de 0,0053 à 0,1200 ppm) ou déficientes (< 0,0053 ppm) chez 79 % des chevaux en se fondant sur les fourchettes de référence actuelles pour le Se dans le sérum. Les chevaux de promenade âgés et jeunes adultes présentaient une prévalence supérieure de concentrations inadéquates de Se par rapport aux chevaux de course et aux juments d’élevage (82 % et 97 % contre 45 % et 72 %, respectivement). Au total, 13 % des chevaux présentaient des concentrations inadéquates (< 200 μg/dL) de sérum de vitamine E; la plupart de ces animaux étaient des jeunes chevaux de promenade. Aucun cheval n’était hypothyroïdien et, contrairement aux résultats chez d’autres espèces, il y avait une relation positive entre les concentrations de sérum de thyroxine et de Se ( < 0,05). Nous avons conclu que la carence de Se est généralisée au sein des populations de chevaux de l’Î.-P.-É., particulièrement chez les chevaux de promenade, et qu’une carence en vitamine E est plus commune chez les jeunes chevaux de promenade. Les pratiques de supplémentation employées par les propriétaires de chevaux de l’Î.-P.-É. semblent inadéquates pour assurer la suffisance. (Traduit par Isabelle Vallières)
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Publication Date: 2010-12-02 PubMed ID: 21119864PubMed Central: PMC2920172
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Summary

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The research studies the levels of selenium and vitamin E in the serum of horses in Prince Edward Island (PEI), revealing that many horses have inadequate levels of these nutrients. Especially deficiency of Selenium found in 79% of horses and this deficiency is more prevalent in pleasure horses. The study also identifies a correlation between serum thyroxine and selenium levels and suggests current micronutrient supplementation practices may be insufficient.

Measurement of Nutrient Concentrations

  • This study examined the concentrations of selenium (Se), vitamin E, and resting thyroid hormone in the serum of 201 horses in PEI. These substances are critically important for the health and well-being of horses.
  • Scientists conducted tests to measure the levels of these substances, using currently accepted reference ranges for selenium in serum to categorise the horses as having adequate, marginal, or deficient levels.

    • Selenium Deficiency

  • The results exhibited selenium deficiency was extremely prevalent, with 79% of horses having either marginal or deficient levels.
  • Of these, aged and young adult pleasure horses were more prone to have inadequate selenium levels compared to racehorses and broodmares with an incidence of 82% and 97% against 45% and 72% respectively.

    • Vitamin E Deficiency

  • Conversely, 13% of horses had inadequate serum vitamin E concentrations. This was more frequently observed in young pleasure horses.

    • Relationship between Thyroid Hormones and Selenium

  • An interesting finding of the study was the positive relationship between serum thyroxine, a vital thyroid hormone, and selenium concentrations. This disagrees with findings in other species, where there is usually no such correlation.
  • However, none of the horses in the study showed signs of hypothyroidism, a condition characterized by low production of thyroxine.

    • Insufficient Micronutrient Supplementation Practices

  • The researchers concluded that the high prevalence of selenium and vitamin E deficiencies indicated that the current micronutrient supplementation practices employed by horse owners in PEI were inadequate.
  • While the study does not offer specific recommended changes to these practices, it suggests that a review and potential enhancement of supplementation strategies may be necessary to correct the deficiency issues identified in the horse population of PEI.

    • Cite This Article

    APA
    Muirhead TL, Wichtel JJ, Stryhn H, McClure JT. (2010). The selenium and vitamin E status of horses in Prince Edward Island. Can Vet J, 51(9), 979-985.

    Publication

    The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
    ISSN: 0008-5286
    NlmUniqueID: 0004653
    Country: Canada
    Language: English
    Volume: 51
    Issue: 9
    Pages: 979-985

    Researcher Affiliations

    Muirhead, Tammy L
    • Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. tmuirhead@upei.ca
    Wichtel, Jeffrey J
      Stryhn, Henrik
        McClure, J Trenton

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
          • Animals
          • Dietary Supplements
          • Female
          • Health Status
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horses / blood
          • Male
          • Prevalence
          • Prince Edward Island / epidemiology
          • Selenium / administration & dosage
          • Selenium / blood
          • Selenium / deficiency
          • Sex Factors
          • Thyroid Hormones / blood
          • Vitamin E / administration & dosage
          • Vitamin E / blood
          • Vitamin E Deficiency / epidemiology
          • Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 8 times.
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