Vitamin E and Horses
Did you know that vitamin E is a biological antioxidant that helps to maintain normal neuromuscular function?
Antioxidants like vitamin E protect cells from free radicals. Too much free radical damage can destroy cells, often to the point of cell death. This will cause organs and tissues like the liver and muscles not to function properly.
Ensuring your horse receives the proper amount of vitamin E to protect and promote cellular health can be easily administered; however, not just any type of vitamin E will provide proper results.
There are several forms of vitamin E, but only natural vitamin E, such as Equine Omega Vitamin E®, contains a form known as d-alpha Tocopherol. Horses cannot synthesize vitamin E alone and must consume it in their forage. Natural vitamin E or d-alpha Tocopherol has been scientifically proven to be the most bioavailable; horses can absorb this vitamin more easily in this form.
Equine Omega Vitamin E® is a specially formulated version of Equine Omega Complete® containing 10,000 IU of all-natural vitamin E per daily dose.
Equine Omega Vitamin E® provides 10,000 IU of absorbable natural d-alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) per serving suspended in soybean oil to maximize absorption of this essential fat-soluble vitamin. Equine Omega Vitamin E® is an excellent choice for horses on a hay-based diet. Lack of access to quality pasture can lead to vitamin E deficiency.
Equine Omega Vitamin E ®is formulated to support horses affected with conditions such as Equine Motor Neuron Disease (EMND), Vitamin E Deficient Myopathy (VEM), Nutritional Myodegeneration (NMD) or White Muscle Disease, Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (NAD), and Equine Degenerative Myeloencephalopathy (EDM). Equine Omega Vitamin E® is also useful for horses who are in hard work to aid in performance recovery.
Research recommends horses consume 1-2 IU of vitamin E per kilogram of body weight per day, which equals 1,000-2,000 IU per day for a 500-kilogram (1,100-pound) horse.
At the recommended amount, horses on less than 12 hours per day of good-quality pasture should therefore receive supplemental vitamin E.
Horses with a vitamin E deficiency can be at risk for several conditions, including equine motor neuron disease (EMND), vitamin E deficient myopathy (VEM), equine neuroaxonal dystrophy/equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (eNAD/EDM), as well as general muscle soreness and poor performance.
Equine Omega Vitamin E® supplementation should be an essential part of equine management. With proper supplementation, it is possible to avoid the negative effects of vitamin E deficiency. Horses on hay, or pasture-only diets, those with muscle injuries or neurological concerns, and those in moderate to heavy work could benefit from a consistent, high-quality natural vitamin E supplement such as Equine Omega Vitamin E®.
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