Effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation on the integrity of skeletal muscle in exercised horses

J Anim Sci. 1997 Jun;75(6):1553-60. doi: 10.2527/1997.7561553x.

Abstract

The effect of vitamin E intake on indicators of muscle integrity was studied in exercised horses. Nineteen horses were blocked by sex and then assigned to one of three diets: no supplemental vitamin E (BASAL), BASAL plus 80 IU of supplemental vitamin E/kg DM (80), or BASAL plus 300 IU of supplemental vitamin E/kg DM (300). The BASAL diet contained less than 44 IU of vitamin E/kg DM, but it was adequate in all other nutrients. During the 90-d treatment period, horses were exercised 5 d/wk; in addition, serum and middle gluteal muscle alpha-tocopherol concentrations were measured at 0, 30, and 90 d. All horses performed a repeated submaximal exercise test (RSET) at the end of the 90-d period. The following were measured before and after the RSET: alpha-tocopherol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), conjugated diene (CD) concentrations of the middle gluteal muscle, and serum creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations of horses receiving the BASAL and 80 diets decreased (P < .05 and P < .06, respectively) during the 90-d treatment period but did not change in horses receiving the 300 diet. Serum and muscle alpha-tocopherol concentrations were higher (P < .05) at 30 and 90 d in horses receiving the 300 diet than in horses receiving the BASAL and 80 diets. Serum CK and AST activities increased (P < .05) following RSET but were not affected by dietary vitamin E level. Muscle alpha-tocopherol level did not affect muscle CD or TBARS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Creatine Kinase / blood
  • Diet / veterinary*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Food, Fortified
  • Horses / blood
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Horses / physiology*
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / chemistry
  • Muscle, Skeletal / drug effects*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology*
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / analysis
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Vitamin E / analysis
  • Vitamin E / blood
  • Vitamin E / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Vitamin E
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Creatine Kinase