title: A comparative review of vitamin E and associated equine disorders.
abstract: Vitamin E is a primary chain-breaking antioxidant that prevents cyclic propagation of lipid peroxidation. Across species, vitamin E is essential for normal neuromuscular function by acting as a potent antioxidant, as well as by modulating the expression of certain genes, inhibiting platelet aggregation and stabilizing plasma membranes. This review focuses on vitamin E structure, absorption, metabolism, current equine dietary recommendations, the interplay between antioxidants and exercise, a discussion of the necessity of vitamin E supplementation in the horse above the Nutritional Research Council (NRC) 2007 requirements, and a review of equine diseases that are associated with a vitamin E deficiency. Particular emphasis is placed on the proteins involved in vitamin E absorption, transport, and metabolism as potential candidates for vitamin E-associated diseases across species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. cjfinno@ucdavis.edu
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Finno
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Valberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006736:Horses; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D014810:Vitamin E