Assessment of Vitamin E Concentrations in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid of Horses Following Oral Administration of Vitamin E

Objective: To determine concentrations of alpha-tocopherol in serum and CSF of healthy horses following administration of supplemental vitamin E in feed.

Animals: 10 healthy adult horses.

Procedures: Horses were allocated to receive supplemental d-alpha-tocopherol (1,000 U/d [group A; n=5] or 10,000 U/d [group B; 5]) in feed for 10 days. Blood samples were collected before (baseline), during, and at intervals for 10 days after discontinuation of vitamin E administration for assessment of serum alpha-tocopherol concentration. Cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected prior to and 24 hours after cessation of vitamin E administration. Alpha-tocopherol concentrations in serum and CSF samples were analyzed via high-performance liquid chromatography; changes in those values during the treatment period were compared between groups, and the relationship of serum and CSF alpha-tocopherol concentrations was evaluated.

Results: In both groups, serum alpha-tocopherol concentration increased significantly from baseline during vitamin E administration; values in group B were significantly greater than those in group A during and after treatment. At the end of vitamin E administration, CSF alpha-tocopherol concentration was not significantly greater than the baseline value in either group; however, the increase in CSF concentration was significant when the group data were combined and analyzed. Serum and CSF alpha-tocopherol concentrations were significantly correlated at baseline for all horses, but were not strongly correlated after 10 days of vitamin E administration.

Conclusions And Clinical Relevance: In healthy horses, daily oral administration of supplemental vitamin E in feed resulted in increases in serum and CSF alpha-tocopherol concentrations.