21/10/2025
Did you know
So many horses lack Protein (the full compliment of amino acids) on a hay only/mineral supplementation diet. This doctor brings up how important vitamins are and so glad he references the important role in ENZYMES.
These are not food enzymes, these are the body's regulatory enzymes and co-enzymes that control every hormonal, bodily system to function correctly. And guess what they are made of- Protein and driven by vitamins...
A horse will never receive their full compliment of required amino acids from grass or hay, simply because that foodstuff doesn't contain a complete profile in the amounts required.
Feeding a reputable Ration Balancer at the top end feed rate off the bag label- optimizes your horse's longevity in soundness and health- providing daily requirements of amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
The hay provides the fiber for the large intestine's microbes to eat, and in turn they produce energy sources and some vitamins, for the horse. Symbiosis.
We always feed Equine Choice Pre-Probiotic, B-Vitamin and Enzymes (food enzymes) to maximize nutritional absorption in the diet. It's a super high quality encapsulated patented Pre-Probiotic in Canada that actually delivers to the hind gut intact, without being denatured as it passes through the hydrochloric acid of the stomach.
This combo, keeping the gut healthy along with providing the essential protein, vit/min works wonders and saves a lot of veterinarian bills down the road from poor quality skeletal, tendon, ligament issues and poor overall health/poor performance and helps regulate metabolic-prone horses. Great little chart to explain soluble vs insoluble vitamins and how they interact, not just with body parts but importantly, with the tiny protein-based enzymes that rule the internal regulatory pathways!
How vitamins are classified and function in the body
Vitamins are organic compounds required in small amounts to regulate metabolism, enzyme activity, and cellular signaling. They are categorized by solubility—either in fat or water—which determines how they are absorbed, transported, and stored in the body.
1️⃣ Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
These dissolve in lipids, require bile for absorption, and are stored in the liver and adipose tissue. Because they accumulate, toxicity can occur with excessive supplementation.
🟢 Example: Vitamin A (retinol) supports vision and epithelial integrity; both deficiency and excess can impair eye health.
🟢 Example: Vitamin D (cholecalciferol or ergocalciferol) regulates calcium and phosphate balance, essential for bone mineralization.
🟢 Example: Vitamin E (tocopherol) acts as a membrane antioxidant, protecting lipids from oxidation.
🟢 Example: Vitamin K (phylloquinone, menaquinone) is necessary for hepatic synthesis of clotting factors and also contributes to bone matrix formation.
2️⃣ Water-soluble vitamins (B-complex and vitamin C)
These dissolve in water, circulate freely in plasma, and are not stored extensively, requiring regular dietary intake. Most act as enzyme cofactors in energy metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and red blood cell formation.
🟢 Example: B1 (thiamine) facilitates carbohydrate metabolism; deficiency causes beriberi and neurological dysfunction.
🟢 Example: B2 (riboflavin) and B3 (niacin) form coenzymes in oxidative phosphorylation, driving ATP production.
🟢 Example: B6 (pyridoxine) supports amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter synthesis.
🟢 Example: B9 (folic acid) and B12 (cobalamin) coordinate DNA synthesis and erythropoiesis; their combined deficiency leads to megaloblastic anemia.
🟢 Example: Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) functions as an antioxidant and cofactor in collagen synthesis, supporting vascular and connective tissue health.
3️⃣ Physiological implications of solubility
Fat-soluble vitamins depend on dietary lipids for absorption and can be retained for months, while water-soluble vitamins are excreted rapidly and must be replenished daily.
🟢 Example: Malabsorption syndromes or bile acid deficiency impair uptake of A, D, E, and K, while chronic diuretic use or poor diet may lower B-vitamin status.
This classification underscores the biochemical diversity of vitamins: fat-soluble forms sustain structural and regulatory functions, whereas water-soluble types drive enzymatic and metabolic reactions critical for cellular energy and tissue renewal.
