Vitamin E

[wdf]

Vit E is recommended to be fed MIN 10,000iu; I can't find ANY suppliments that administer anything like that amount so have been giving TEN 800iu capsules a day (which are costing me a fortune!) Just wondered if any of you had come across something on you travels?

[flintfootfilly]

I buy the 1,000iu Vit E capsules from Holland & Barrett. It's the "natural" form of vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) which is believed to be the most bioavailable. Although it's not the cheapest I've chosen to stick with a well known make, in the hope their quality control will be good.

All of my gang came back within normal reference range when we tested blood serum levels of vitamin E last year, and they are all currently on grass for 8 hours overnight so I don't have any reason to think they are deficient in vitamin E.

However, I've never upped the vit E to the level you suggest. The highest I've ever gone is 4,000 iu/day for Max who has the worst muscle problems of any of my gang (CK above 3,500 long term).

Although NRC's upper safe limit for vit E for horses is currently set at 1,000iu/kg DM (ie around 10,000iu/day/500kg horse) it is based on studies in other species, so I personally choose not to go anywhere near that limit.

NRC says: "Coagulopathy and impaired bone mineralization have been reported in other species consuming diets above the upper safe level".

I think Forageplus do some vitamin E attached to a silica binding (or something like that) which Dr Kellon once said should be ok. Don't know how that works out costwise though.

There was quite an interesting paper recently by Stephanie Valberg et al reviewing what's known about effect of vitamin E supplementation of different types. I'll just see if I can find it again........... Ah yes, here we go: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00994.x/abstract;jsessionid=9B1F556C305C08C327D2A8BB56A7B780.d02t04

But basically they were saying stick with D-alpha tocopherol.

Sarah

[harleydales]

I use optimuscle which gives the right amount of Vit E

[nedales]

Jul 13, 2013 17:54:11 GMT -1 wdf said:

Vit E is recommended to be fed MIN 10,000iu; I can't find ANY suppliments that administer anything like that amount so have been giving TEN 800iu capsules a day (which are costing me a fortune!) Just wondered if any of you had come across something on you travels?

My sweet quarter horse, Archie was very ill from low E levels due to poor grazing and hay prior to my meeting him. He was diagnosed and prescribed 10,000 IU natural E as necessary if a horse has had a significant illness caused by a very low level of E. The best/cheapest form of alpha-tocoperhol at those levels, at least in the U.S., is in oil that can easily be accessed via capsules (human--I take one as well)). Here it can also be purchased as an oil -based liquid form for horses (usually syringed--caution wear a smock!). Once E levels have returned to normal it is recommended that affected horses be held at 5000 ius natural E for life. I had Archie muscle biopsied but he was fortunate enough to have been caught before life-changing illness. He will be on 5000 ius for life.

I give my Dales pony 2500 natural ius E as a preventative daily (available as a powder or gel tabs in Natural E from many sources). His E levels are fine and I rest knowing he won't have to ever suffer Archie's ills and that E is easily excreted in excess. There is nothing as scary as seeing your horse gradually lose all energy and lie prone simply because he or she lacks this essential nutrient!

[harveydales]

That's interesting. Glad you have Archie under control now.

[nedales]

Not sure anyone has Archie in control but his E levels are good!