R. Delaruadomenech et al., ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PLASMA VITAMIN-E CONCENTRATION AND THE RISK OF EQUINE MOTOR-NEURON DISEASE, Veterinary journal, 154(3), 1997, pp. 203-213
Equine motor neuron disease (EMDN) is a neurodegenerative disorder of
the somatic lower motor neurons that results in a syndrome of diffuse
neuromuscular disease in the adult horse. The aetiology of this disord
er is unknown, although prior studies have suggested that a deficiency
in the lipid antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) contributes to
the development of EMND. This paper describes a case-control study des
igned to investigate the association between plasma vitamin E levels a
nd the risk of EMND for horses. Signalment, plasma vitamin E levels at
the time of referral, and information relative to dietary and managem
ent practices were collected from 53 horses diagnosed with EMND and 69
controls. The mean plasma vitamin E concentration in EMND cases was s
ignificantly lower than that of control horses. After controlling-for
other risk factors of EMND, there was a statistically significant asso
ciation between plasma vitamin E levels and EMND, with the likelihood
of the disease increasing as the vitamin E concentration decreased. Th
ese findings support the reported role of vitamin E deficiency as one
of the risk factors for EMND.