Vitamin E

VITAMIN E

VITAMIN E (ANTI-STERILITY FACTOR)

  • α, β,α tocopherols

Sources

  • Germs of grains
  • Green plants
  • Oil seeds

Functions

  • Natural antioxidant –control oxidation of muscles, fat, liver
  • Prevents destruction of vitamin A in gastrointestinal tract- “Vitamin A SPARER”
  • Protects vital systems from oxidation by peroxidase
  • Prevents oxidation of essential fatty acids in membranes
  • Protects the integrity of cell membrane
  • Selenium enhances the transport and retension of vitamin E- “ Vitamin E SPARER”

Deficiency of vitamin E

  • Animal fed with concentrates without greens
  • Calves fed with milk deficients in vit.E
  • Rations with increased unsaturated fatty acids eg. cod liver oil which destroys α tocopherol leadind to necrosis of muscles
  • Feeding fish, meat, bone meat containing sodium sulphite

PATHOLOGY

ANIMALS - Calves & lambs commonly affected

  • Calves fed with milk deficients in vit.E "White muscle disease" or muscular dystrophy
  • Lambs – “Stiff lamb disease”
  • Horses- Azoturia
  • Rats- Males –spermotozoa destroyed ; degeneration of seminiferous tubule; Females- Death of fetus in early stages
  • Minks & pigs “ Yellow fat disease or Steatitis”
  • Feeding increased fish oil or fish meal
  • Increased oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids
  • Deposition of ceroid between cells
  • Pigs - seen in rapidly growing animals
  • Dyspnoea, diarrhoea, vomition, melena
  • Paralysis, icterus

Lesions

  • Generalised edema
  • Hepatic necrosis
  • Ulceration of stomach
  • Haemorrhagic diathesis
  • Pulmonary edema/Ascites

POULTRY

Encephalomalacia (Crazy chick disease)

  • Age- 5 wks
  • Muscular weakness, ataxia, spasms
  • Torticolis, paralysis, death
  • Cerebral oedema
  • Haemorrhages in cerebellum
  • Neuronal degeneration
  • Cerebellum mainly damaged - Increased polyunsaturated fatty acids

Exudative diathesis

  • Damage to endothelial cells in capillaries
  • Increased vascular permeability
  • Increased plasma /blood leakage
  • Haemorrhage in S/C tissue, breast, wings, intramuscular and pericardial sac
  • Microcytic anemia

Nutritinal muscular dystrophy

  • Deficiency of sulphur-containing amino-acids
  • Chicks, poults, ducklings
  • Increased feeding of cod liver oil
  • Microthrombosis of arterioles leading to degeneration & necrosis of muscles (Breast/thigh muscles)
Last modified: Thursday, 22 March 2012, 8:25 AM