Selenium : A Vital Micronutrient for Optimal Health.
This essential trace mineral supports proper cognitive function, nerve, muscle and joint function and it enhances the antioxidant effects of vitamin E. It stimulates white blood cell activity, protects tissues from free radical damage reducing oxidative stress, and it helps prevent infections, strengthening the overall immune system. Selenium activates the antioxidant enzyme Glutathione Peroxidase, which aids the body in natural detoxification, and it's essential to thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism, reproduction / fertility, healthy metabolic function and DNA synthesis.
Selenium Yeast
Our selenium yeast is an organic form of the trace mineral selenium, as naturally occurs in some plants. The yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is grown with selenium, biochemically creating seleno-amino acids. Selenium yeast is highly bioavailable, better assimilated by the horse’s body, and has less risk of potential toxicity than the inorganic form, sodium selenite.
Testing
We recommend checking your horses levels of selenium through blood work with your veterinarian prior to supplementation to avoid selenium overload. Specifically, a "whole blood selenium" test will measure selenium in both the plasma and inside the red blood cells, giving a more accurate reflection of your horse's body's selenium levels.
"Red blood cell levels drop first. If you only test serum or plasma, results can show adequate levels when total body selenium is actually borderline or low." -Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD
Selenium needs will vary from horse to horse, according to activity level, health status, age and diet, so please don't guess - check!
Selenium Availability Across the USA
Selenium concentrations in the soil, grass, hay, forage and feeds varies across the country, and while there are areas known for being deficient, there are also areas known for having high selenium available to the horse. For the deficient horse, adding selenium yeast into his or her regimen can make an enormous difference in health, vitality, movement and energy levels, but please determine your horse's levels before adding supplemental selenium yeast into their diet to avoid potential toxicity.
"Within the US, low selenium levels tend to exist in the northeast, the Ohio valley, Florida, and the northwest. Western and eastern provinces of Canada are likely to also be low. But pockets of high-selenium soils can exist anywhere. Mining and industrial waste can contaminate soils and water supplies. Washington State, for example, typically low in selenium, has pockets along the coastline that are high. When in doubt, test. If you can’t test your hay or pasture, have your horse’s blood tested."
-Dr. Juliet Getty Ph.D., Getty Equine Nutrition
Click to see map for a general idea of selenium concentration in the soil in your location.
Signs of Selenium Deficiency
- Lethargy
- Poor performance
- Difficulty moving normally / stiff gait
- Muscle spasms / trembling
- Sore muscles
- Tying up
- Eye cataracts
- Respiratory disorders
- Asthma / Heaves / COPD
- Weak immune system / chronic infections
- Trouble chewing / swallowing
- White muscle disease
- Thyroid imbalances
- Tumors / Cancer
- Reproductive issues / infertility
Signs of Selenium Toxicity
- Hair loss along the mane or tail
- Hoof cracks around the coronary band (excess selenium can replace the naturally existing sulfur found in hoof and hair protein (keratin))
- Swelling or reddening along coronary band
- Parallel cracks below the coronary band
- Lameness
- Abdominal pain
- Respiratory failure
- Blindness
Benefits of Selenium Yeast
- Supports joint and muscle mobility
- Supports nervous system
- Supports cardiovascular system
- Supports neurological function
- Supports overall immune system
- Anti-viral support
- Fights against microbial infections
- Supports respiratory function
- Can relieve asthma / heaves / COPD symptoms
- Oxidative stress protection
- Fights off free radicals
- Anti-cancer
- Slows growth of tumors
- Supports reproductive system
- Supports fertility
- Supports normal thyroid function
- Supports balanced hormones & more
Ingredients: 100% Selenium yeast.
Serving size: 1 scoop (1 g), per every 1,000 lbs of body weight. 1 gram of our Selenium Yeast offers 2 mg of elemental selenium. (General dosing range for a 1,100 lb horse is 1-5 mg of elemental selenium, with toxicity risk at 20 mg.)