Vitamin E is a crucial fat-soluble vitamin for your horse. So, what does vitamin E do for your horse; do you think your horse is getting enough vitamin E; and are they getting the right form? I will answer these questions for you, helping to ensure that you have happy, healthy horses.
Vitamin E is one of the many antioxidants in the body which helps remove harmful free radicals that are produced as a byproduct of the horse converting feed into energy for their body. These free radicals can steal electrons from DNA and cell membranes causing oxidative stress to the body if they aren’t neutralized by antioxidants like vitamin E. Vitamin E also plays an important role in neuromuscular function. Adequate levels help to prevent and minimize neurological issues, such as Equine Motor Neuron and Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy. In addition, vitamin E helps maintain the integrity of mitochondria in horses that have a high level of workload and helps muscles to recover faster. Vitamin E and selenium work together in the body to protect against disease and maintain normal muscle and nerve function.
Horses who have access to green pasture on a regular basis typically receive adequate amounts of vitamin E, consuming approximately 2,000 IU of vitamin E per day. However, horses that are in dry lot pens or dry pasture, typically receive diets that are very low in vitamin E, due the volatile nature of vitamin E. Vitamin E starts to degrade as soon as hay is harvested and continues to breakdown when being stored. Studies show that up to 80% of the vitamin E disappears when hay is stored for 6 months.
The National Research Council (NRC) recommends 500-1,000 IU for 1,100 lb horse as a maintenance level. Vitamin E levels increase to a minimum of 1,000 IU per day for working horses, or broodmares. This may not meet the needs of horses with special requirements, or horses at a very strenuous workload. For example, vitamin E recommendations for horses with EPM, PSSM, or Insulin Resistance range from 5,000-10,000 IU of vitamin E. In addition, some horses just don’t absorb vitamin E as well. Also, horses that are skinny typically require higher levels of vitamin E because they don’t have the fat to store it.
Vitamin E encompasses eight compounds- tocopherols and tocotrienols, with four structural varieties: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Alpha-tocopherol is the compound that is the most bioactive and used in most horse feeds. Of alpha-tocopherol there are two forms: natural and synthetic. Most horses needs are met with the synthetic form of vitamin E(dl-alpha-tocopherol) when fed at 1,000-1,500 IU like Horse Guard, Mega Dose, Trifecta, and Super Weight Gain. However, horses with special requirements or extremely high workloads can benefit greatly from natural vitamin E(d-alpha-tocopherol) supplementation.
Most supplements on the market contain synthetic vitamin E to keep the supplements cost effective for the customer. However, if you have a horse that needs higher levels of vitamin E, it is recommended to give a specific natural vitamin E product to your horse. Eas-E Guard contains 1,000 IU of natural vitamin E per scoop. This allows you to feed you’re a vitamin-mineral and then cater to your horse’s individual vitamin E needs.
Horse Guard, Flaxen Eas-E Guard, 4 lb
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As you move into this summer with this knowledge of vitamin E should help to guide you in a direction to best supply your horse with the vitamins and minerals they need to perform and feel the best.
