| When oxygen is
released during metabolism, the body converts it with hydrogen in a series of reactions to
produce water. However, oxygen is extremely reactive. This leads to the generation of
toxic intermediate products - free radicals. Free radicals alter tissue proteins and
lipids (fats), causing cell damage. The antioxidants convert free radicals to relatively
stable compounds and stop or prevent the chain reaction of free radical damage. High
performance equine athletes require a lot of energy. Because fats are the best source of
this ready energy, it is imperative that the diets are supplemented with a therapeutic
level of vitamin E and selenium, which acts as a powerful antioxidant to protect against
cellular damage. This cellular damage is sometimes identified as muscle soreness in
horses. Good nutrition and vitamin supplementation are key components in an equine athlete's performance. Vitamin E is available in many different forms, either natural or synthetic. Natural forms of vitamin E are designated d-, as in d-alpha-tocopheryl, while synthetic forms are dl-, as in dl-alpha-tocopheryl. The letters "d" and "l" reflect mirror images of the vitamin E molecule. The Alpha form is the most active form. Because of its outstanding stability, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate is the preferred form for horse supplementation. Recent research with horses has uncovered new information about the importance of vitamin E in controlling inflammation. |
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