Natural vs Synthetic Vitamin E for Horses
The d-alpha and dl-alpha distinction is not marketing. Which horses need supplementing, and the selenium warning that goes with it.
The short version
The distinction is real. Natural vitamin E, listed as d-alpha tocopherol, is better absorbed and better retained by horses than the synthetic dl-alpha form, and where a vet is supplementing for a neurological or muscular condition they will usually specify the natural form. For general topping up in a horse without access to fresh grass, a synthetic product is cheaper and adequate. The important caution is combination products: many vitamin E supplements also contain selenium, which has a narrow safety margin in horses, and stacking two selenium containing products is genuinely dangerous.
Horse Health Vita E and Selenium Crumbles
About $29
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| Mad Barn Equine Vitamin E, Natural d-alpha | Horse Health Vita E and Selenium Crumbles | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Natural d-alpha tocopherol | Synthetic, with added selenium |
| Absorption and retention | Better | Lower |
| Cost per unit of vitamin E | Higher | Lower |
| Contains selenium | No | Yes |
| Used for veterinary conditions | Usually the preferred form | Not usually |
| Risk of stacking | Low | Real, check other supplements |
Choose the Mad Barn Equine Vitamin E, Natural d-alpha if…
Choose the natural form if your vet is supplementing for a specific reason, such as a diagnosed deficiency or a neuromuscular condition, or if your horse has no grazing at all for long periods. Natural vitamin E raises blood levels more effectively, which is the point when you are treating rather than topping up. Ask your vet whether they want blood levels measured, since that turns the question of dose from a guess into a number.
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Choose the Horse Health Vita E and Selenium Crumbles if…
A synthetic product is a reasonable everyday top up for a horse on preserved forage with limited grass, and it costs considerably less. If it contains selenium, check every other supplement, balancer and fortified feed the horse receives, because selenium requirements and toxic levels are uncomfortably close together in horses. In parts of the world where soils are naturally selenium rich, adding more can be actively harmful, and your vet or an extension service will know your region.
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Related
Comparison based on published manufacturer specifications and the general consensus of owner reports. We have not tested these products side by side. Confirm current specifications and prices before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
For a specific product, our Mad Barn Equine Vitamin E review covers the natural D-alpha form, why hay-fed horses run short, and when to blood test rather than guess.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which horses actually need vitamin E supplementation?
Fresh green grass is rich in vitamin E and preserved hay loses it steadily in storage, so the horses most likely to be short are those with little or no grazing, particularly through winter or on a dry lot. Horses on box rest, those with certain neurological and muscular conditions, and hard working horses may also need it. Your vet can measure blood levels rather than leaving you to guess.
Can a horse have too much vitamin E?
Vitamin E itself has a wide margin of safety and excess is uncommon at normal supplementation levels. The real risk in this category is selenium, which is included in many vitamin E products and which has a narrow safe range. Signs of selenium toxicity include hair loss in the mane and tail and hoof wall problems. Add up every source before increasing anything.
My horse is weak in the hindquarters and stumbling. Is that a vitamin deficiency?
It might be, and vitamin E deficiency is on the list, but so are several other conditions including neurological disease, arthritis, muscle disease and, in some regions, infectious causes. This is a veterinary examination rather than a supplement purchase. Weakness, stumbling or incoordination in an older horse should be assessed promptly, both for the horse's sake and because a horse that is unsteady is a safety risk to handle.
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