title: Effects of water supplementation with selenium and vitamin E on growth performance and blood selenium and serum vitamin E concentrations in weanling pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine effects of supplementation of drinking water with selenium and vitamin E on blood selenium and serum vitamin E concentrations, growth performance, and water intake of pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  228 weanling pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  In experiments 1 and 2, pigs were given drinking water supplemented with selenium and vitamin E, and blood selenium and serum vitamin E concentrations were measured. In experiment 3, growth performance and water intake were measured in pigs that received supplemented water for 2 or 5 weeks and in control pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In experiment 1, blood selenium concentrations were significantly increased after 7 days of supplementation, and serum vitamin E concentrations were significantly increased after 1 and 7 days of supplementation, compared with baseline concentrations. In experiment 2, blood selenium concentrations were not significantly different between treated and control pigs, and serum vitamin E concentrations were significantly increased on day 7. In experiment 3, gain-to-feed ratios were significantly higher for pigs supplemented with selenium and vitamin E for 5 weeks, but other differences were not detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Supplementation of drinking water with selenium and vitamin E may improve the selenium and vitamin E status of weanling pigs by increasing selenium and vitamin E intake.
authors.affiliation: Animal Nutrition Division, Continental Grain Co, Chicago, IL 60606, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Heugten
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.forename: T T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Stumpf
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Risley
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Schell
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004326:Drinking / Q000502:physiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium