Quantifying the Impact of Commercial Mineral Supplementation on Equine Serum Concentrations of Iron, Zinc, Copper, and Selenium

Trace minerals are essential for the survival of living organisms. This study aimed to investigate the effects of using mineral supplements on serum concentrations of copper, selenium, iron, and zinc in ۲۴ horses from a club near Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province. Serum trace element concentrations were measured using photometric methods with a Hitachi ۹۱۷ biochemical autoanalyzer (for copper, iron, and zinc) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with a Varian AA۱۴۰ atomic absorption spectrometer (for selenium). Ten horses were used as the control group, and ۱۴ horses were used as the treatment group that received supplements. There was no significant difference in serum concentrations of copper, iron, zinc, and selenium between the control and treatment groups (P > ۰.۰۵). However, a significant correlation was observed between mean serum concentrations of zinc, selenium, and copper before and after supplementation (P < ۰.۰۵), and there was no significant correlation in mean serum iron concentrations before and after supplementation (P > ۰.۰۵). The mean serum concentrations of copper, iron, zinc, and selenium in the control and treatment groups were ۸۶.۶۰ ± ۳.۳۹ and ۸۳.۶۲ ± ۳.۰۹ μg/dL, ۱۷۱.۹۶ ± ۱۰.۴۷ and ۱۹۳.۱۹ ± ۸.۸۴ μg/dL, ۶۳.۷۱ ± ۱.۵۷ and ۶۶.۷۶ ± ۱.۷۶ μg/dL, and ۱۰۶.۱۹ ± ۱.۲۹ and ۱۰۸.۸۱ ± ۱.۰۹ μg/L, respectively. The mineral supplements did not significantly affect serum iron concentrations; however, it significantly increased serum copper, zinc, and selenium concentrations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Horse ، Serum ، trace element ، Mineral Supplements