Horse not on the grass? Provide extra vitamin E.
Under natural circumstances, horses obtain their required vitamin E from fresh grass. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin. It is crucial for muscles, prevents stiffness, and supports a healthy nervous system. Sport horses have a higher need for vitamin E, but this also applies to horses sensitive to sugar and horses with PSSM. If your horse doesn't have access to fresh grass, you need to ensure a good supplementation!
Insulin resistance
Vitamin E
Feeding
Sweet itch
15 July '21 • 2 min reading time
Horses that are sensitive to sugars, such as horses that gain weight quickly, have had laminitis, or horses that suffer from sweet itch], cannot graze unlimited. Therefore, these horses are often kept in a paddock and given hay as roughage along with a mineral and vitamin pellet. This is wise and healthy for these horses. But you need to pay close attention.
Vitamin E in case of insulin resistance
There is a lot of vitamin E in fresh grass, so you don't have to worry about vitamin E for horses that spend many hours on the grass. However, horses that cannot eat grass at all often suffer from a vitamin E deficiency. Additionally, horses that are sensitive to sugars also require more vitamin E. Vitamin E contributes to better blood sugar control in people and animals suffering from insulin resistance. Moreover, it helps in combating oxidative stress in cells that occurs during exercise and training, leading to waste products and minor muscle damage. Vitamin E is considered an antioxidant.
Vitamin E for immunity
Vitamin E is crucial for the immune system. Horses that consume more vitamin E, such as sport horses or those with a higher sensitivity to sugar, will deplete their vitamin E reserves faster. They cannot produce it on their own; it must come from their diet. If there is insufficient vitamin E available, it will also impact your horse's immunity.
Conclusion: Horse not on grass? Supplement with Vitamin E!
Horses only obtain vitamin E from fresh grass. Horses not on pasture can easily develop a deficiency. This is especially true for horses with insulin resistance or those performing a lot of work. If this applies to your horse, provide a well-absorbed, suitable form of vitamin E for horses. Make sure to use the correct dosage. Vitamin E is essential for muscles, the nervous system, metabolism, and your horse's immunity.
Sources
Patrick J. Manning, Wayne H.F. Sutherland, Robert J. Walker, Sheila M. Williams, Sylvia A. de Jong, Anne R. Ryalls, Elizabeth A. Berry. Effect of High-Dose Vitamin E on Insulin Resistance and Associated Parameters in Overweight Subjects. Diabetes Care Sep 2004, 27 (9) 2166-2171; DOI: 10.2337/diacare.27.9.2166 https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/27/9/2166
Patrice Faure, Eliane Rossini, Jean Luc Lafond, Marie Jeanne Richard, Alain Favier, Serge Halimi. Vitamin E Improves the Free Radical Defense System Potential and Insulin Sensitivity of Rats Fed High Fructose Diets. The Journal of Nutrition, Volume 127, Issue 1, January 1997, Pages 103–107, https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/127.1.103 https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/127/1/103/4728767
Lewis ED, Meydani SN, Wu D. Regulatory role of vitamin E in the immune system and inflammation. IUBMB Life. 2019;71(4):487-494. doi:10.1002/iub.1976 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7011499/