Vitamin E deficiency and risk of equine motor neuron disease.
Abstract: Equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is a spontaneous neurologic disorder of adult horses which results from the degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain stem. Clinical manifestations, pathological findings, and epidemiologic attributes resemble those of human motor neuron disease (MND). As in MND the etiology of the disease is not known. We evaluated the predisposition role of vitamin E deficiency on the risk of EMND. Methods: Eleven horses at risk of EMND were identified and enrolled in a field trial at different times. The horses were maintained on a diet deficient in vitamin E and monitored periodically for levels of antioxidants--alpha-tocopherols, vitamins A, C, beta-carotene, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD1). In addition to the self-control another parallel control group was included. Survival analysis was used to assess the probability of developing EMND past a specific period of time. Results: There was large variability in the levels of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, GSH-Px, and SOD1. Plasma vitamin E levels dropped significantly over time. Ten horses developed EMND within 44 months of enrollment. The median time to develop EMND was 38.5 months. None of the controls developed EMND. Conclusions: The study elucidated the role of vitamin E deficiency on the risk of EMND. Reproducing this disease in a natural animal model for the first time will enable us to carry out studies to test specific hypotheses regarding the mechanism by which the disease occurs.
Publication Date: 2007-07-02 PubMed ID: 17605810PubMed Central: PMC1950518DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-49-17Google 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
- 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 discusses the link between vitamin E deficiency and the risk of equine motor neuron disease (EMND), a neurologic disorder in adult horses. It was found that a vitamin E deficient diet in horses correlated with a significant development of EMND.
Research Methodology
- The researchers identified eleven horses that were at risk of developing EMND and were enrolled into a field trial at different stages.
- These horses were put on a diet deficient in vitamin E. Their antioxidant levels were monitored over time, specifically for alpha-tocopherols, vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD1).
- Alongside these test subjects, there was also a parallel control group which was kept under similar conditions but without the vitamin E deficiency.
- A survival analysis was used to assess the likelihood of the horses developing EMND.
Results and Findings
- There was considerable fluctuation in the levels of vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, GSH-Px, and SOD1 among different subjects.
- However, over time, it was observed that the plasma vitamin E levels notably dropped in the test group horses.
- A significant finding was that out of the eleven at-risk horses that were put on a vitamin E deficient diet, ten developed EMND within 44 months of the trial period with a median time of 38.5 months.
- None of the horses from the control group developed the disease, indicating a possible direct link between vitamin E deficiency and EMND.
Conclusions and Future Implications
- The research proved a relationship between vitamin E deficiency and the risk of developing EMND in horses.
- This study is the first to reproduce EMND in a natural animal model, helping understand its mechanism of development in relation with Vitamin E.
- Such findings open avenues for further studies to test specific hypotheses about the mechanism of the disease and perhaps lead to potential preventative measures or treatments.
Cite This Article
APA
Mohammed HO, Divers TJ, Summers BA, de Lahunta A.
(2007).
Vitamin E deficiency and risk of equine motor neuron disease.
Acta Vet Scand, 49(1), 17.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-49-17 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. hom1@cornell.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Breeding
- Female
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- Motor Neuron Disease / blood
- Motor Neuron Disease / epidemiology
- Motor Neuron Disease / etiology
- Motor Neuron Disease / veterinary
- Risk Factors
- Vitamin E / blood
- Vitamin E Deficiency / complications
- Vitamin E Deficiency / veterinary
References
This article includes 49 references
- Cork LC, Griffin JW, Munnell JF, Lorenz MD, Adams RJ. Hereditary canine spinal muscular atrophy.. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1979 May;38(3):209-21.
- el-Hamidi M, Leipold HW, Vestweber JG, Saperstein G. Spinal muscular atrophy in Brown Swiss calves.. Zentralbl Veterinarmed A 1989 Dec;36(10):731-8.
- Higgins RJ, Rings DM, Fenner WR, Stevenson S. Spontaneous lower motor neuron disease with neurofibrillary accumulation in young pigs.. Acta Neuropathol 1983;59(4):288-94.
- Cummings JF, de Lahunta A, George C, Fuhrer L, Valentine BA, Cooper BJ, Summers BA, Huxtable CR, Mohammed HO. Equine motor neuron disease; a preliminary report.. Cornell Vet 1990 Oct;80(4):357-79.
- Divers TJ, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Valentine BA, De Lahunta A, Jackson CA, Summers BA. Equine motor neuron disease: findings in 28 horses and proposal of a pathophysiological mechanism for the disease.. Equine Vet J 1994 Sep;26(5):409-15.
- Brownell B, Oppenheimer DR, Hughes JT. The central nervous system in motor neurone disease.. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1970 Jun;33(3):338-57.
- Hirano A. Neuropathology of ALS: an overview.. Neurology 1996 Oct;47(4 Suppl 2):S63-6.
- LAWYER T Jr, NETSKY MG. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. AMA Arch Neurol Psychiatry 1953 Feb;69(2):171-92.
- Polack EW, Cummings JF, King J, Mohammed HO. Morphometric studies on equine motor neuron disease. Equine Vet J. 1998;30:255u2013259.
- de la Ru00faa-Domu00e8nech R, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, de Lahunta A, Summers BA. Intrinsic, management, and nutritional factors associated with equine motor neuron disease.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1997 Nov 15;211(10):1261-7.
- Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, Valentine B, de Lahunta A, Summers B, Farrow BR, Trembicki-Graves K, Mauskopf A. Risk factors associated with equine motor neuron disease: a possible model for human MND.. Neurology 1993 May;43(5):966-71.
- de la Ru00faa-Domu00e8nech R, Mohammed HO, Atwill ER, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, Summers BA, deLahunta A, Jackson C. Epidemiologic evidence for clustering of equine motor neuron disease in the United States.. Am J Vet Res 1995 Nov;56(11):1433-9.
- Divers TJ, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF. Equine motor neuron disease.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1997 Apr;13(1):97-105.
- De la Ru00faa-Domu00e8nech R, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, De Lahunta A, Summers BA. Association between plasma vitamin E concentration and the risk of equine motor neuron disease.. Vet J 1997 Nov;154(3):203-13.
- Armon C, Kurland LT, Daube JR, O'Brien PC. Epidemiologic correlates of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. Neurology 1991 Jul;41(7):1077-84.
- Divers TJ, Cummings JE, de Lahunta A, Hintz HF, Mohammed HO. Evaluation of the risk of motor neuron disease in horses fed a diet low in vitamin E and high in copper and iron.. Am J Vet Res 2006 Jan;67(1):120-6.
- Riis RC, Jackson C, Rebhun W, Katz ML, Loew E, Summers B, Cummings J, de Lahunta A, Divers T, Mohammed H. Ocular manifestations of equine motor neuron disease.. Equine Vet J 1999 Mar;31(2):99-110.
- Cummings JF, de Lahunta A, Mohammed HO, Divers TJ, Summers BA, Valentine BA, Jackson CA. Endothelial lipopigment as an indicator of alpha-tocopherol deficiency in two equine neurodegenerative diseases.. Acta Neuropathol 1995;90(3):266-72.
- Mayhew IG, Brown CM, Stowe HD, Trapp AL, Derksen FJ, Clement SF. Equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy: a vitamin E deficiency that may be familial.. J Vet Intern Med 1987 Jan-Mar;1(1):45-50.
- Nelson JS, Fitch CD, Fischer VW, Broun GO Jr, Chou AC. Progressive neuropathologic lesions in vitamin E-deficient rhesus monkeys.. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 1981 Mar;40(2):166-86.
- Burtis C, Ashwood E, eds . Tietz Textbook of clinical chemistry. 2. W.B. Saunders; 1994. Dinitrophenyl hydrazine method; pp. 1313u20131314.
- Paglia DE, Valentine WN. Studies on the quantitative and qualitative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase.. J Lab Clin Med 1967 Jul;70(1):158-69.
- Paoletti F, Mocali A. Determination of superoxide dismutase activity by purely chemical system based on NAD(P)H oxidation.. Methods Enzymol 1990;186:209-20.
- Kaplan EL, Meier P. Nonparameteric estimation from incomplete observations. J Am Stat Assoc. 1958;53:457u2013481. doi: 10.2307/2281868.
- de la Ru00faa-Domu00e8nech R, Wiedmann M, Mohammed HO, Cummings JF, Divers TJ, Batt CA. Equine motor neuron disease is not linked to Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase mutations: sequence analysis of the equine Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase cDNA.. Gene 1996 Oct 31;178(1-2):83-8.
- Kelsey JL, Whitmore AS, Evans AS, Thompson WD. Methods in Observational Epidemiology. Monograph in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Vol. 10. Oxford University Press: New York; 1996.
- Nelson JS. Neuropathological studies of chronic vitamin E deficiency in mammals including humans.. Ciba Found Symp 1983;101:92-105.
- Uchino M, Ando Y, Tanaka Y, Nakamura T, Uyama E, Mita S, Murakami T, Ando M. Decrease in Cu/Zn- and Mn-superoxide dismutase activities in brain and spinal cord of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. J Neurol Sci 1994 Dec 1;127(1):61-7.
- Muller DP, Lloyd JK, Wolff OH. Vitamin E and neurological function.. Lancet 1983 Jan 29;1(8318):225-8.
- Oteiza PI, Uchitel OD, Carrasquedo F, Dubrovski AL, Roma JC, Fraga CG. Evaluation of antioxidants, protein, and lipid oxidation products in blood from sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.. Neurochem Res 1997 Apr;22(4):535-9.
- Halliwell B. Free radicals, antioxidants, and human disease: curiosity, cause, or consequence?. Lancet 1994 Sep 10;344(8924):721-4.
- Bergeron C. Oxidative stress: its role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. J Neurol Sci 1995 May;129 Suppl:81-4.
- Cookson MR, Shaw PJ. Oxidative stress and motor neurone disease.. Brain Pathol 1999 Jan;9(1):165-86.
- Gurney ME, Cutting FB, Zhai P, Doble A, Taylor CP, Andrus PK, Hall ED. Benefit of vitamin E, riluzole, and gabapentin in a transgenic model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. Ann Neurol 1996 Feb;39(2):147-57.
- Rosen DR, Siddique T, Patterson D, Figlewicz DA, Sapp P, Hentati A, Donaldson D, Goto J, O'Regan JP, Deng HX, Rahmani Z, Krizus A, McKenna-Yasek D, Cayabyab A, Gaston SM, Berger R, Tanzi R, Halperin JJ, Herzfeldt B, Van den Berg R, Hung W, Bird T, Deng G, Mulder DW, Smyth C, Laing NG, Soriano E, Pericak-Vance MA, Haines J, Rouleau G, Gusella JF, Horvitz HR, Brown RH. Mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene are associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nature. 1993;362:59u201362. doi: 10.1038/362059a0.
- Gurney ME, Pu H, Chiu AY, Dal Canto MC, Polchow CY, Alexander DD, Caliendo J, Hentati A, Kwon YW, Deng HX. Motor neuron degeneration in mice that express a human Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase mutation.. Science 1994 Jun 17;264(5166):1772-5.
- O'Reilly SA, Roedica J, Nagy D, Hallewell RA, Alderson K, Marklund SL, Kuby J, Kushner PD. Motor neuron-astrocyte interactions and levels of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. Exp Neurol 1995 Feb;131(2):203-10.
- Armon C. Environmental risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. Neuroepidemiology 2001 Feb;20(1):2-6.
- Traber MG, Sies H. Vitamin E in humans: demand and delivery.. Annu Rev Nutr 1996;16:321-47.
- Bonnefont-Rousselot D, Lacomblez L, Jaudon M, Lepage S, Salachas F, Bensimon G, Bizard C, Doppler V, Delattre J, Meininger V. Blood oxidative stress in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. J Neurol Sci 2000 Sep 1;178(1):57-62.
- de Bustos F, Jimu00e9nez-Jimu00e9nez FJ, Molina JA, Esteban J, Guerrero-Sola A, Zurdo M, Ortu00ed-Pareja M, Tallu00f3n-Barranco A, Gu00f3mez-Escalonilla C, Ramu00edrez-Ramos C, Arenas J, Enru00edquez de Salamanca R. Cerebrospinal fluid levels of alpha-tocopherol in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 1998;105(6-7):703-8.
- Hall ED, Andrus PK, Oostveen JA, Fleck TJ, Gurney ME. Relationship of oxygen radical-induced lipid peroxidative damage to disease onset and progression in a transgenic model of familial ALS.. J Neurosci Res 1998 Jul 1;53(1):66-77.
- Machlin LJ, Filipski R, Nelson J, Horn LR, Brin M. Effects of a prolonged vitamin E deficiency in the rat.. J Nutr 1977 Jul;107(7):1200-8.
- Wechsler IS. Recovery in amyotorphic lateral sclerosis. Neurology. 1940;114:948u2013950.
- Dorman JD, Engel WK, Fried DM. Therapeutic trial in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. JAMA 1969 Jul 14;209(2):257-8.
- Galbussera A, Tremolizzo L, Brighina L, Testa D, Lovati R, Ferrarese C, Cavaletti G, Filippini G. Vitamin E intake and quality of life in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a follow-up case series study.. Neurol Sci 2006 Jul;27(3):190-3.
- Molina JA, de Bustos F, Jimu00e9nez-Jimu00e9nez FJ, Esteban J, Guerrero-Sola A, Zurdo M, Ortu00ed-Pareja M, Gasalla T, Gu00f3mez-Escalonilla C, Ramu00edrez-Ramos C, Guillamu00f3n F, Arenas J. Serum levels of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, and vitamin A in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.. Acta Neurol Scand 1999 May;99(5):315-7.
- Apostolski S, Marinkoviu0107 Z, Nikoliu0107 A, Blagojeviu0107 D, Spasiu0107 MB, Michelson AM. Glutathione peroxidase in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: the effects of selenium supplementation.. J Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol 1998;17(3-4):325-9.
- McGorum BC, Mayhew IG, Amory H, Deprez P, Gillies L, Green K, Mair TS, Nollet H, Wijnberg ID, Hahn CN. Horses on pasture may be affected by equine motor neuron disease.. Equine Vet J 2006 Jan;38(1):47-51.
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Cahalan SD, Boehm I, Jones RA, Piercy RJ. Recognising the potential of large animals for modelling neuromuscular junction physiology and disease.. J Anat 2022 Nov;241(5):1120-1132.
- Owen RN, Semanchik PL, Latham CM, Brennan KM, White-Springer SH. Elevated dietary selenium rescues mitochondrial capacity impairment induced by decreased vitamin E intake in young exercising horses.. J Anim Sci 2022 Aug 1;100(8).
- Mayaki AM, Abdul Razak IS, Adzahan NM, Mazlan M, Rasedee A. Clinical assessment and grading of back pain in horses.. J Vet Sci 2020 Nov;21(6):e82.
- Aleman M, Berryhill E, Woolard K, Easton-Jones CA, Kozikowski-Nicholas T, Dyson S, Kilcoyne I. Sidewinder gait in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Sep;34(5):2122-2131.
- 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.
- Bookbinder L, Finno CJ, Firshman AM, Katzman SA, Burns E, Peterson J, Dahlgren A, Ming-Whitfield B, Glessner S, Borer-Matsui A, Valberg SJ. Impact of alpha-tocopherol deficiency and supplementation on sacrocaudalis and gluteal muscle fiber histopathology and morphology in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Nov;33(6):2770-2779.
- Finno CJ, Kaese HJ, Miller AD, Gianino G, Divers T, Valberg SJ. Pigment retinopathy in warmblood horses with equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy and equine motor neuron disease.. Vet Ophthalmol 2017 Jul;20(4):304-309.
- Husulak ML, Lohmann KL, Gabadage K, Wojnarowicz C, Marquu00e9s FJ. Equine motor neuron disease in 2 horses from Saskatchewan.. Can Vet J 2016 Jul;57(7):771-6.
- Finno CJ, Miller AD, Sisu00f3 S, Divers T, Gianino G, Barro MV, Valberg SJ. Concurrent Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy and Equine Motor Neuron Disease in Three Young Horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1344-50.
- Du00edez de Castro E, Zafra R, Acevedo LM, Pu00e9rez J, Acosta I, Rivero JL, Aguilera-Tejero E. Eosinophilic Enteritis in Horses with Motor Neuron Disease.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 May;30(3):873-9.
- Bourke CA. Molybdenum Deficiency Produces Motor Nervous Effects That Are Consistent with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.. Front Neurol 2016;7:28.
- Lear AS, Byers SR, Callan RJ, McArt JA. Evaluation of sample handling effects on serum vitamin e and cholesterol concentrations in alpacas.. Vet Med Int 2014;2014:537213.
- Maru0119dziak M, Marycz K, Smieszek A, Lewandowski D, Toker NY. The influence of static magnetic fields on canine and equine mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue.. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2014 Jun;50(6):562-71.
- El-Assaad I, Di Bari JA, Yasuda K, Divers TJ, Summers BA, de Lahunta A, Mohammed H. Differential expression of TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) in the central nervous system of horses afflicted with equine motor neuron disease (EMND): a preliminary study of a potential pathologic marker.. Vet Res Commun 2012 Dec;36(4):221-6.
- Rosenfeld J, Ellis A. Nutrition and dietary supplements in motor neuron disease.. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2008 Aug;19(3):573-89, x.