Operation of Iodine (I) in horses

71% of iodine is stored in the thyroid in humans, and another major storage is the ovaries. There is no specific data available for horses, but it is expected to be similar to humans.

Scientific name:

Type:

Trace element

Operation of iodine in horses:

Regulate thyroid hormones
Important for the development of the nervous system in unborn foals

Iodine

Iodine is important for metabolic processes, as well as for the growth and renewal of tissues. In horses, the concentration of iodine is highly dependent on the breed, with warmbloods having higher levels than ponies. This is because ponies and hardy breeds have a slower metabolism than horses that are higher in the blood. Iodine falls under trace elements.

Iodine and pregnancy

The thyroid is formed early in the embryo phase and plays a crucial role in the development of the brain and spinal cord. The mare ensures that the placenta acts as an iodine store during the early phase of pregnancy. Therefore, a pregnant mare has an increased need for iodine during pregnancy, as a deficiency can have an effect on the development of the nervous system. However, an excess of iodine can cause weakness and skeletal abnormalities in the foal.

Availability of iodine

Due to nitrogen and sulfate fertilization, the amount of iodine in the soil is now lower. As a result, horses currently receive less iodine (possibly too little) through normal nutrition, and supplementation of iodine to concentrate feed is desirable. Algae and seaweed are high in iodine, and grassland near the sea is often higher in iodine.

The uptake of iodine can be limited by nitrate intake, but there is no concrete evidence of this in horses. Both a deficiency and excess of iodine intake can affect the thyroid. Horses can also develop an enlarged thyroid.