Vitamin E is an important part of a horse’s diet, especially one at risk of or affected by neuromuscular disorders. | Photo: The Horse Staff

Veterinarians frequently suggest supplementing the diets of horses with certain neurologic disorders with vitamin E. But why? What disorders does it help? And which of the eight types of vitamin E supplement is most beneficial? Fortunately, it’s not quite as complicated as it might seem.

At the 2013 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum, held June 12-15 in Seattle, Wash., Carrie Finno, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, presented a review of vitamin E supplementation in horses with neurologic disorders.

Vitamin E Basics

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble biologic antioxidant believed to help horses maintain normal neuromuscular function, explained Finno, now an associate professor in Veterinary Genetics and director of the Center for Equine Health at the University of California,