Experimentally induced vitamin E-selenium deficiency in the growing dog

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Nutrition
• Toxicology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Vitamin E and selenium are essential micronutrients crucial for cellular protection and metabolic functions.
• Deficiencies in these nutrients can lead to significant health impairments in animals, impacting muscle, cardiac, and renal systems.
• Understanding the specific roles and synergistic effects of vitamin E and selenium is vital for animal health management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical and pathological effects of vitamin E and selenium deficiency in young Beagle dogs.
• To evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplementation with alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) and selenium (Se) in preventing deficiency-related syndromes.
• To determine the impact of varying selenium levels on the manifestation of deficiency symptoms and pathological changes.

Main Methods:

• Eight Beagle pups were divided into four groups, fed a basal diet deficient in vitamin E and selenium or supplemented diets.
• Supplemented diets included alpha-tocopherol, 0.5 ppm Se, or 1.0 ppm Se for 55-70 days.
• Clinical signs, plasma enzyme activities (creatine phosphokinase, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase), necropsy findings, and histopathological examinations were assessed.

Main Results:

• Dogs fed the deficient diet developed clinical signs of vitamin E-Se deficiency, including muscle weakness, edema, anorexia, and coma, within 40-60 days.
• Significant increases in plasma creatine phosphokinase and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase were observed in deficient dogs.
• Supplementation with vitamin E or selenium prevented clinical signs; however, mild myopathy and intestinal lipofuscinosis were noted in dogs supplemented with 0.5 ppm Se and all supplemented groups, respectively.

Conclusions:

• Vitamin E and selenium deficiency leads to severe, multi-systemic pathological changes in Beagle pups, including skeletal muscle degeneration and renal mineralization.
• Dietary supplementation with vitamin E or selenium effectively prevents clinical manifestations of deficiency.
• Selenium supplementation, particularly at lower doses, may not fully prevent subclinical myopathy, and both nutrients play a role in preventing intestinal lipofuscinosis.