FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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)
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-12-02 PubMed ID: 21119864PubMed Central: PMC2920172
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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 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

          References

          This article includes 47 references
          1. Underwood EL, Suttle NF. The Mineral Nutrition of Livestock. 3rd ed. New York: BABI Publ; 2001. Selenium; pp. 421–475.
          2. Winter K, Gupta U, Nass H, Kunelius H. Selenium content of feedstuffs produced in Prince Edward Island. Can J Anim Sci 1973;53:113–124.
          3. Winter K, Gupta U. Selenium content of forages grown in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland. Can J Anim Sci 1979;59:107–111.
          4. Lewis LD. Feeding and Care of the Horse. 2nd ed. New York: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 1996.
          5. Löfstedt J. White muscle disease of foals.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1997 Apr;13(1):169-85.
            pubmed: 9106350doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30262-6google scholar: lookup
          6. Gupta U, Winter K. Selenium content of soils and crops and the effects of lime and sulphur on plant selenium. Can J Soil Sci 1975;55:161–166.
          7. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Horses. 6th ed. Washington: The National Academies Press; 2007.
          8. Stowe HD, Pagan JD. Advances in Equine Nutrition. UK: Nottingham Univ Pr; 1998. Selenium supplementation for horse feed; pp. 97–103.
          9. Pagan JD. Micromineral requirements in horses. Advances in Equine Nutrition; Proc for the Equine Nutrition Conf for Feed Manufacturers; Lexington, Kentucky 2000. p. 107.
          10. Richardson SM, Siciliano PD, Engle TE, Larson CK, Ward TL. Effect of selenium supplementation and source on the selenium status of horses.. J Anim Sci 2006 Jul;84(7):1742-8.
            pubmed: 16775058doi: 10.2527/jas.2005-413google scholar: lookup
          11. Van Vleet JF. Retention of selenium in tissues of calves, lambs, and pigs after parenteral injection of a selenium-vitamin E preparation.. Am J Vet Res 1975 Sep;36(9):1335-40.
            pubmed: 1163872
          12. Wichtel JJ, Grace ND, Firth EC. The effect of injectable barium selenate on the selenium status of horses on pasture.. N Z Vet J 1998 Oct;46(5):186-90.
            pubmed: 16032047doi: 10.1080/00480169.1998.36087google scholar: lookup
          13. Wichtel JJ, Keefe GP, Van Leeuwen JA, Spangler E, McNiven MA, Ogilvie TH. The selenium status of dairy herds in Prince Edward Island.. Can Vet J 2004 Feb;45(2):124-32.
            pmc: PMC548601pubmed: 15025148
          14. Wichtel JJ, Grace ND, Firth EC. Selenium in the horse: New developments. Newsletter of New Zealand Veterinary Association 1997.
          15. Kirschvink N, de Moffarts B, Lekeux P. The oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium in horses.. Vet J 2008 Aug;177(2):178-91.
            pubmed: 17897849doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.07.033google scholar: lookup
          16. Portier K, de Moffarts B, Fellman N, Kirschvink N, Motta C, Letellierw C, Ruelland A, van Erck E, Lekeux P, Couder J. The effects of dietary N-3 and antioxidant supplementation on erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition and fluidity in exercising horses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):279-84.
            pubmed: 17402432doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05553.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          17. Wilson TM, Morrison HA, Palmer NC, Finley GG, van Dreumel AA. Myodegeneration and suspected selenium/vitamin E deficiency in horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1976 Jul 15;169(2):213-7.
            pubmed: 939713
          18. Higuchi T, Ichijo S, Osame S, Ohishi H. Studies on serum selenium and tocopherol in white muscle disease of foal.. Nihon Juigaku Zasshi 1989 Feb;51(1):52-9.
            pubmed: 2927038doi: 10.1292/jvms1939.51.52google scholar: lookup
          19. Arthur JR, McKenzie RC, Beckett GJ. Selenium in the immune system.. J Nutr 2003 May;133(5 Suppl 1):1457S-9S.
            pubmed: 12730442doi: 10.1093/jn/133.5.1457sgoogle scholar: lookup
          20. Knight DA, Tyznik WJ. The effect of dietary selenium on humoral immunocompetence of ponies.. J Anim Sci 1990 May;68(5):1311-7.
            pubmed: 2365642doi: 10.2527/1990.6851311xgoogle scholar: lookup
          21. Awadeh FT, Kincaid RL, Johnson KA. Effect of level and source of dietary selenium on concentrations of thyroid hormones and immunoglobulins in beef cows and calves.. J Anim Sci 1998 Apr;76(4):1204-15.
            pubmed: 9581946doi: 10.2527/1998.7641204xgoogle scholar: lookup
          22. Wichtel JJ, Craigie AL, Freeman DA, Varela-Alvarez H, Williamson NB. Effect of selenium and lodine supplementation on growth rate and on thyroid and somatotropic function in dairy calves at pasture.. J Dairy Sci 1996 Oct;79(10):1865-72.
            pubmed: 8923257doi: 10.3168/jds.s0022-0302(96)76554-2google scholar: lookup
          23. Donald GE, Langlands JP, Bowles JE, Smith AJ. Subclinical selenium insufficiency. 4. Effects of selenium, iodine, and thiocyanate supplementation of grazing ewes on their selenium and iodine status, and on the status and growth of their lambs. Aus J Exp Agric 1993;33:411–416.
          24. Muirhead TL, McClure JT, Wichtel JJ, Stryhn H, Frederick Markham RJ, McFarlane D, Lunn DP. The effect of age on serum antibody titers after rabies and influenza vaccination in healthy horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2008 May-Jun;22(3):654-61.
            pubmed: 18466246doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0091.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          25. McClure JT, DeLuca JL, Lunn DP, Miller J. Evaluation of IgG concentration and IgG subisotypes in foals with complete or partial failure of passive transfer after administration of intravenous serum or plasma.. Equine Vet J 2001 Nov;33(7):681-6.
            pubmed: 11770990doi: 10.2746/042516401776249273google scholar: lookup
          26. Feurstein M, Schlemmer G. Determination of Selenium in Human Serum by GFAAS with Transverse Heated Graphite Atomizer and Longitudinal Zeeman Effect Background Correction. 20 ed. Bodenseewerk, Uberlingen, Germany: Perkin Elmer Bodenseewerk; 1999.
          27. Stahr HM. Analytical Methods in Toxicology. New York: Jon Wiley and Sons; 1991. pp. 239–245.
          28. Eitenmiller R, Landen WO. Vitamin Analysis for the Health and Food Sciences. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC press; 1999. pp. 109–148.
          29. Bourgeious C. Determination of Vitamin E: Tocopherols and Tocotrienols. New York: Elsevier Applied Science; 1992. pp. 14–65.
          30. Puls R. Mineral Levels in Animal Health: Diagnostic Data. 2nd ed. Clearbrook, British Columbia: Sherpa International; 1994.
          31. Puls R. Vitamin levels in Animal Health: Diagnostic Data and Bibliograhics. Clearbrook, British Columbia: Sherpa International; 1994.
          32. Messer NT, Riddle WT, Traub-Darbatz DA, Rafsal KJ, Thompson DL. Thyroid hormone levels in thoroughbred mares and their foals at parturition. Proc Ann Conv AAEP 1998:248.
          33. Mahan DC, Parrett NA. Evaluating the efficacy of selenium-enriched yeast and sodium selenite on tissue selenium retention and serum glutathione peroxidase activity in grower and finisher swine.. J Anim Sci 1996 Dec;74(12):2967-74.
            pubmed: 8994911doi: 10.2527/1996.74122967xgoogle scholar: lookup
          34. Maas J, Peauroi JR, Tonjes T, Karlonas J, Galey FD, Han B. Intramuscular selenium administration in selenium-deficient cattle.. J Vet Intern Med 1993 Nov-Dec;7(6):342-8.
            pubmed: 8114030doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1993.tb01029.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          35. Stowe HD, Herdt TH. Clinical assessment of selenium status of livestock.. J Anim Sci 1992 Dec;70(12):3928-33.
            pubmed: 1474029doi: 10.2527/1992.70123928xgoogle scholar: lookup
          36. Ronéus B. Glutathione peroxidase and selenium in the blood of healthy horses and foals affected by muscular dystrophy.. Nord Vet Med 1982 Oct;34(10):350-3.
            pubmed: 7177798
          37. Whelan BR, Peter DW, Barrow NJ. Selenium fertilizers for pasture grazed by sheep. 1. Selenium concentration in whole blood and plasma. Aus J Agric Res 1994;45:863–875.
          38. Varo P, Alfthan G, Ekholm P, Aro A, Koivistoinen P. Selenium intake and serum selenium in Finland: effects of soil fertilization with selenium.. Am J Clin Nutr 1988 Aug;48(2):324-9.
            pubmed: 2841842doi: 10.1093/ajcn/48.2.324google scholar: lookup
          39. Ullrey DE. Vitamin E for swine.. J Anim Sci 1981 Oct;53(4):1039-56.
            pubmed: 7319959doi: 10.2527/jas1981.5341039xgoogle scholar: lookup
          40. Ramirez S, Wolfsheimer KJ, Moore RM, Mora F, Bueno AC, Mirza T. Duration of effects of phenylbutazone on serum total thyroxine and free thyroxine concentrations in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 1997 Nov-Dec;11(6):371-4.
            pubmed: 9470164doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.1997.tb00483.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          41. Morris DD, Garcia M. Thyroid-stimulating hormone: response test in healthy horses, and effect of phenylbutazone on equine thyroid hormones.. Am J Vet Res 1983 Mar;44(3):503-7.
            pubmed: 6682298
          42. Glade MJ, Luba NK. Serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine concentrations in weanling horses fed carbohydrate by direct gastric infusion.. Am J Vet Res 1987 Apr;48(4):578-82.
            pubmed: 3109287
          43. Katovich M, Evans JW, Sanchez O. Effects of season, pregnancy and lactation on thyroxine turnover in the mare.. J Anim Sci 1974 Apr;38(4):811-8.
            pubmed: 4856698doi: 10.2527/jas1974.384811xgoogle scholar: lookup
          44. Flisińska-Bojanowska A, Komosa M, Gill J. Influence of pregnancy on diurnal and seasonal changes in cortisol, T3 and T4 levels in the mare blood serum.. Comp Biochem Physiol A Comp Physiol 1991;98(1):23-30.
            pubmed: 1673372doi: 10.1016/0300-9629(91)90571-sgoogle scholar: lookup
          45. Chen CL, Riley AM. Serum thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations in neonatal foals and mature horses.. Am J Vet Res 1981 Aug;42(8):1415-7.
            pubmed: 7294478
          46. Arthur JR, Nicol F, Hutchinson AR, Beckett GJ. The effects of selenium depletion and repletion on the metabolism of thyroid hormones in the rat.. J Inorg Biochem 1990 Jun;39(2):101-8.
            pubmed: 2380704doi: 10.1016/0162-0134(90)80018-sgoogle scholar: lookup
          47. Wichtel JJ. A review of selenium deficiency in grazing ruminants. Part 2: towards a more rational approach to diagnosis and prevention.. N Z Vet J 1998 Apr;46(2):54-8.
            pubmed: 16032016doi: 10.1080/00480169.1998.36056google scholar: lookup

          Citations

          This article has been cited 8 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. Cappai MG, Taras A, Cossu I, Cherchi R, Dimauro C, Accioni F, Boatto G, Deroma M, Spanu E, Gatta D, Dall'Aglio C, Pinna W. Effects of Dietary Zn/Se and α-Tocopherol Supplementation on Metabolic Milieu, Haemogram and Semen Traits of Breeding Stallions. Biol Trace Elem Res 2021 Sep;199(9):3287-3296.
            doi: 10.1007/s12011-020-02447-7pubmed: 33098077google scholar: lookup
          3. 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.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.15862pubmed: 32686861google scholar: lookup
          4. Shawaf T, Almathen F, Meligy A, El-Deeb W, Al-Bulushi S. Biochemical analysis of some serum trace elements in donkeys and horses in Eastern region of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Vet World 2017 Oct;10(10):1269-1274.
            doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2017.1269-1274pubmed: 29184375google scholar: lookup
          5. Yaghmaie P, Ramin A, Asri-Rezaei S, Zamani A. Evaluation of glutathion peroxidase activity, trace minerals and weight gain following administration of selenium compounds in lambs. Vet Res Forum 2017 Spring;8(2):133-137.
            pubmed: 28785389
          6. Gomez DE, Valberg SJ, Magdesian KG, Hanna PE, Lofstedt J. Acquired multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and marked selenium deficiency causing severe rhabdomyolysis in a horse. Can Vet J 2015 Nov;56(11):1166-71.
            pubmed: 26538673
          7. Finno CJ, Estell KE, Katzman S, Winfield L, Rendahl A, Textor J, Bannasch DL, Puschner B. Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Tocopherol and Selenium Concentrations in Neonatal Foals with Neuroaxonal Dystrophy. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Nov-Dec;29(6):1667-75.
            doi: 10.1111/jvim.13618pubmed: 26391904google scholar: lookup
          8. Stahl LT, Müller A, Krohn J, Büttner K, Wehrend A. Serum concentrations of selenium, copper, and zinc in neonatal foals: Influence of failure of passive transfer and age-related changes. Can Vet J 2024 May;65(5):481-487.
            pubmed: 38694739
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.