Question
I have a client looking for a high-quality source of vitamin E. Her horse has pemphigus foliaceus, and the consulting dermatologist wants her on vitamin E, but then thinks additional compounds in vitamin E supplements might be causing some skin issues.
Answer
Pemphigus foliaceus is an autoimmune disorder in which an affected horse begins to manufacture antibodies against its own skin. As these antibodies attack the bonds that hold skin cells together, hair loss and hives develop, usually beginning on the face, legs, or abdomen and eventually spreading into other areas. As the disease progresses, the horse can develop swelling in the lower abdomen and legs. In some cases, blisters and pustules form and the horse can become covered with oozing, crusted areas of raw tissue.
Did the dermatologist mention what “additional compounds” he was worried about?
I assume this concern most likely stems from dry (powder/pellet) forms of supplemental vitamin E that often have carriers and other added ingredients. We would recommend a water-soluble source of natural vitamin E. All high-quality water-soluble vitamin E supplements have very limited ingredient lists and are significantly more bioavailable. Nano-E, for example, only contains vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol), water, lecithin (part of its nanotechnology), and a few preservatives to ensure the natural vitamin E remains bioactive.
Most dry (powder/pellet) vitamin E sources are synthetic or natural acetate, which are forms of tocopherol that have been chemically joined with an acid (esterification) to shield them from oxidative damage and denaturation. Once ingested, digestive enzymes (esterases) must free tocopherol for absorption.
Water-soluble liquid vitamin E sources are natural alcohols that do not require esterification. Nano-E goes one step further than other water-soluble products by nano-encapsulating the fat-soluble vitamin E in a liposome, a preferred mode of absorption by the body. As such, we do consider our product to be superior to other sources. A single 5,000 IU dose of Nano-E doubles serum vitamin E levels within 12 hours of supplementation, but it can take over a month with powdered natural vitamin E. This difference can be critical in medical cases.
You may also consider long-chain omega fatty acids for anti-inflammatory support of your mare’s condition. We have a new potent anti-inflammatory fatty acid formulation, ReSolvin EQ, that may be of benefit to your horse. While there have been no studies at this time to determine efficacy of ReSolvin EQ in managing specific autoimmune conditions in horses, the synergistic effects of these fatty acids have been supported in numerous autoimmune conditions in humans.
