Vitamin E experts... powdered supplement with fat?

[FrittSkritt]

Currently I give my guy (shivers-prone) the Emcelle liquid supplement, but am looking into switching him over to the Santa Cruz powdered Vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol, not the synthetic version) as it’s a bit expensive. According to Desert Equine, since Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin, it’s recommended that oil or some other fat be added into the feed when Vit E supplementation is given in powder form.

My question – do rice bran pellets count as a form of fat to allow for sufficient absorption? My guy gets a cup of rice bran pellets with his AM and PM feed. Would prefer not to add liquid to his feed as we currently have a horse who gets soybean oil and it is a PAIN to deal with.

TIA!

[Larbear]

I would think so. I used to give my horse powdered vit E supplement (didn’t feed oil) and he was getting Renew Gold (mix of coconut meal, flax and rice bran). I had my vet do blood work to check his Se and also vit E and she commented on his vit E levels (in the normal range but on the high end) saying she doesn’t normally see them that high. She asked if I was giving him a vit E supplement so based on that, I’d say you’re probably ok.

[FrittSkritt]

Thanks Larbear! He also gets BioFlax (biotin/ground flax supplement), so hoping that also counts a little bit. :yes:

[csaper58]

Be sure that you order that supplement at appropriate times, and weather. You don’t want it to sit in a truck in the heat over the weekend.

Be sure it is kept in a cool room at the barn, and be really sure the bag is well sealed after each use.

Otherwise the Vit E you paid so much $$$ for will degrade.

Did you look at this price comparison page? http://www.desertequinebalance.com/…ents/vitamin-e

You can get the Kirkland Signature Vit E caps at Costco and the 2000 IU dose (4 caps) is 13 cents a day.

Just toss caps in feed.

[FrittSkritt]

Will do. I’m going to try the 30 day supply first, they’re in individual packets so not the most convenient, but I want to see if it’s as effective as the Emcelle before I commit to a bigger container.

[walktrot]

@FrittSkritt

Thanks Larbear! He also gets BioFlax (biotin/ground flax supplement), so hoping that also counts a little bit. :yes:

I use HorseTech’s Selen AT which is natural vitamin E, which is also in ground flax, along with BioFlax20, for my 22 y.o Paint gelding. He seems to be doing great on that combination along with Blue Seal Sentinel LS which keeps his weight where it should be. Vet pronounced him in the best shape ever, and farrier says he’s limber and his feet are better (although they were always okay). That’s good enough for me!

[Lord_Helpus]

I read (probably on this forum) that all Vit E’s are not the same. The recommended one was the powder made by KER (Kentucky Equine Research). I cannot remember why, but I have been faithfully ordering it every month, and I have no complaints. I also feed 2 cups of vegetable oil every day. ---- Goober has PSSM, so I am looking for long term results.

[Larbear]

@Lord Helpus

I read (probably on this forum) that all Vit E’s are not the same. The recommended one was the powder made by KER (Kentucky Equine Research).

That’s the one I was using.

[Putter]

There was research that Natural sources of Vitamin E could be 2.5 x more bio-available than synthetic versions.
I had been using the Elevate WS from KER when my mare was getting 7000IU/day.
Now I have her on 5000 IU Natural Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol succinate) from MVP. Have also considered Santa Cruz, but the MVP is working for now.
She got a PSSM2 diagnosis after her first severe tying up episode, and has been recovering from pressure sores and skin grafts since December.