Form of Vitamin E Supplementation Affects Oxidative and Inflammatory Response in Exercising Horses

Madison M. Fagan, Patricia Harris, Amanda Adams, Robert Pazdro, Amber Krotky, Jarrod Call, Kylee J. Duberstein

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant that may benefit athletes by reducing oxidative stress and influencing cytokine expression. Supplements can be derived from natural or manufactured synthetic sources. This study aimed to determine (1) if supplemental vitamin E is beneficial to exercising horses and (2) if there is a benefit of natural versus synthetic vitamin E. After 2 weeks on the control diet (vitamin E–deficient grain and hay), 18 horses were divided into three groups and fed the control diet plus (1) 1000 IU/d synthetic α-tocopherol (SYN-L), (2) 4000 IU/d synthetic α-tocopherol (SYN-H), or (3) 4000 IU/d RRR-α-tocopherol (natural source [NAT]). On day 7, horses began a 6-week training protocol, with standard exercise tests (SETs) performed before and after the 6-week protocol. Venous blood samples were collected on days 0, 7, 29, and 49. Horses fed NAT had higher α-tocopherol (P < .05) at post-SET1 through post-SET2. Plasma thiobarbituric acid–reactive substance levels were lower in NAT versus SYN-L horses after SET2 (P = .02). Serum aspartate aminotransferase was lower after exercise in NAT horses versus SYN-L and SYN-H (P = .02), and less reduction in stride duration was seen after exercise in NAT as compared with SYN-L and SYN-H (P = .02). Gene expression of tumor necrosis factor α was lower in NAT compared with SYN-H (P = .01) but not SYN-L. In conclusion, feeding higher levels of natural vitamin E source resulted in higher serum α-tocopherol levels as well as some improvement in oxidative and inflammatory response and improved functional outcomes in response to an exercise test.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103103
JournalJournal of Equine Veterinary Science
Volume91
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier Inc.

Funding

This work was made possible through funding from the WALTHAM Buckeye Equine Nutrition Grant (Grant ID: 2016-WBG). Conflict of interest statement: No conflicts of interest are declared. Two authors, Dr. Pat Harris and Ms. Amber Krotky, are employed by the funding agency (Waltham/Buckeye Nutrition) but have no vested financial interest in the product tested nor the outcome of the study. This work was made possible through funding from the WALTHAM Buckeye Equine Nutrition Grant (Grant ID: 2016-WBG).

FundersFunder number
WALTHAM Foundation2016-WBG
WALTHAM Foundation

    Keywords

    • Equine
    • Exercise
    • Nutrition
    • Oxidative stress
    • Vitamin E

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Equine

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