Association between plasma vitamin E concentration and the risk of equine motor neuron disease |
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Authors: | R de la Rúa-Domènech HO Mohammed JF Cummings TJ Divers A De Lahunta BA Summers |
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Institution: | *Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca New York 14850-6401, USA;†Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca New York 14850-6401, USA;‡Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca New York 14850-6401, USA |
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Abstract: | Equine motor neuron disease (EMND) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the somatic lower motorneurons that results in a syndrome of diffuse neuromuscular disease in the adult horse. The aetiology of this disorder is unknown, although prior studies have suggested that a deficiency in the lipid antioxidant vitamin E (α-tocopherol) contributes to the development of EMND. This paper describes a case-control study designed to investigate the association between plasma vitamin E levels and the risk of EMND for horses. Signalment, plasma vitamin E levels at the time of referral, and information relative to dietary and management practices were collected from 53 horses diagnosed with EMND and 69 controls. The mean plasma vitamin E concentration in EMND cases was significantly lower than that of control horses. After controlling for other risk factors of EMND, there was a statistically significant association between plasma vitamin E levels and EMND, with the likelihood of the disease increasing as the vitamin E concentration decreased. These findings support the reported role of vitamin E deficiency as one of the risk factors for EMND. |
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Keywords: | Vitamin E motor neuron risk factors horse |
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