When and How To Use
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Natural Vitamin E, Two Options to Choose From

The Elevate family of products was developed to meet your horse?s
individual needs. Elevate W.S. liquid can raise your horse?s vitamin E status to the desired level quickly and efficiently. Elevate
Maintenance Powder ensures in an affordable manner that vitamin E
levels remain where you need them to be.

Water-Soluble Vitamin E Is Most Effective

The vitamin E in Elevate is water soluble, which allows it to be absorbed efficiently from the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this rapid absorption, vitamin E is readily dispersed into the blood and to outlying tissues. When other forms of vitamin E are fed (e.g., oil-based or emulsified forms), the digestive system must break down the vitamin E before it can be used, thus delaying absorption.

Assessment of vitamin E status is accomplished by measuring levels in plasma. In a recent study conducted by Kentucky Equine Research, plasma levels of horses consuming three types of vitamin E were compared: synthetic vitamin E acetate, natural vitamin E acetate, and natural, water-soluble vitamin E. Dramatic increases were noted in horses fed natural, water-soluble vitamin E. From baseline values, blood levels rose an astonishing 207% when horses were given 8,000 IU. This study also showed that plasma levels fell slightly when horses were fed synthetic vitamin E.

INVEST IN SUCCESS

Why should I supplement my horse with vitamin E?

• Horses do not store vitamin E in their bodies for extended periods of time. Over the past several years, veterinarians and researchers have found that vitamin E deficiencies can lead to white muscle disease in foals, equine motor neuron disease (EMND), and decreased immunity. Deficiencies may also play a role in the development of equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) and recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (tying up).
• Most forages and commercial feeds available today contain minimal vitamin E. For this reason, many nutritionists and veterinarians recommend supplemental vitamin E be added to equine diets.

Choose vitamin E wisely

• Biological availability is a critical factor when choosing a vitamin E supplement. The most common source of vitamin E used in animal feeds is synthetic dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. An alternate natural form of stable vitamin E is d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate.
• Synthetic vitamins are, for the most part, equal in efficacy and structure to natural-source vitamins, as is the case with vitamin C. Not so for vitamin E. The vitamin E with the highest biological activity is natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) isolated from seed oils (see table).
• Synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol) is made from petrochemicals and is not as potent as natural vitamin E. The body preferentially transports and absorbs natural vitamin E. Current research in several species, including humans, shows that natural vitamin E is two to three times more potent than synthetic.

Biopotency of common sources of vitamin E

Why is natural vitamin E more expensive?

The need for vitamin E supplementation in horses has been proven, and many such supplements are marketed for equine consumption. When comparing these supplements, however, it is crucial that consumers have the knowledge necessary to make educated decisions about what vitamin E product will most benefit their horses. Consumers must remember that natural and synthetic vitamin E products should not be compared, as they are significantly different. Because of the superior bioavailability and the increased potency and efficacy of natural vitamin E, consumers may also expect to pay slightly more for it in the marketplace. This investment decision is made easy by choosing the only natural and most biologically active form of vitamin E on the equine market today—Elevate®.