Vitamin E

[Sarah Ralston <ralston@AESOP.RUTGERS.EDU>]

John and Sue Greenall wrote:

>Just got back the Spring blood workup on my horses and was 
>surprised to find all of them deficient in Vit E. (.3 to .5 when norm 
>is 1 to 4).  Most were tested at some point mid-season last year 
>and were fine.  All are on a VitE/Se suppliment (and the selinium 
>levels are fine).  All we can figure is that it must be the hay (looks 
>good, green, some alfalfa mixed in) which brings me to my 
>question.  What would cause the hay to be so low in Vit E?.  Too 
>long drying in the field?  Poor growing conditions?  Too much heat 
>when stored?  

Vitamin E is very labile-easily destroyed (oxidized)
when in contact with the air. The Vitamin E/Selenium 
supplements quickly loose their Vitamin E potency once 
opened unless the product is stabilized (selenium is a 
mineral-not destroyed during storage). Hay loses its vitamin 
E during storage too.
I suggest using the vitamin E human gel caps-they can be
put directly into the feed, or, if the horse sifts them 
out, broken open and the contents poures over the feed.
Since Fling is picky, I bite off the end of the capsule 
(hey, that way I get a little vitamin E too!) and squeeze 
the contents over her feed. I don't supplement regularly,
though I probably should in the winter. Best natural source 
of E is fresh grass-therefore if the horses are on pasture, you
should see their E levels come back up with the spring grass!

Sarah and Fling (who got a really good 3 hour workout yesterday)