Description
Elevate was developed to provide a highly bioavailable source of natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) to horses. Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, limits the damage caused by everyday oxidative stress. It maintains healthy muscle and nerve function and supports a strong immune system in horses of all ages.
Vitamin E is an essential nutrient for horses
Vitamin E cannot be synthesized by the horse; therefore, it is considered an essential nutrient. The best source of vitamin E is fresh green grass; however, the potency of vitamin E declines very quickly once forages are harvested and dried.
Vitamin E requirements vary from situation to situation. Multiple research studies have shown that vitamin E is often deficient in the diets of horses that do not have access to continual grazing on fresh green grass, or those grazing on winter pasture. Performances horses with demanding workloads, growing horses and seniors can be exposed to increased levels of oxidative stress and therefore require higher levels of vitamin E in their diets. Studies reveal that horses challenged by neurological disease benefit from supportive natural vitamin E.
- Elevate Maintenance Powder supplies your horse with a highly absorbable and readily available source of natural vitamin E that quickly provides necessary nutrients.
- Elevate offers you an easy and affordable way to meet your horse’s essential vitamin E needs.
- Elevate Maintenance Powder does not contain other vitamins or minerals. Horse owners can safely adjust the amount fed to support horses with high vitamin E requirements without worrying about causing imbalances.
When to use Elevate Maintenance Powder
Elevate Maintenance Powder can be used to maintain adequate blood levels and is economical for long-term use. Its natural source is highly digestible and readily available to the horse.
When appropriate, Elevate Maintenance Powder can be used to support desired blood levels of vitamin E after a course of Elevate W.S. has been completed.
- Growing horses of all ages
- Horses experiencing stress during a heavy show schedule, illness/injury, relocation, short-distance trailering or long-distance shipping
- Horses in strenuous training or competition
- Horses maintained on high forage* diets, including overweight horses, laminitic horses, insulin-resistant or metabolically challenged horses
- Horses with compromised immune functions
- Horses with limited access to fresh green pasture or those grazing on winter pasture
- Horses with neurological issues
- Pregnant and lactating mares
- Senior horses
Elevate Maintenance Powder is recommended for:
*The vitamin E content of dried forages such as hay is severely diminished, with forages often losing 75% or more of their vitamin content upon harvesting and storing
Ingredients
One scoop (7 grams) of Elevate Maintenance Powder contains 1000 IU of natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate)
Vitamin E: Natural vs. Synthetic
Vitamin E is the most powerful antioxidant in the equine diet. But not all forms of the vitamin are created equally. Most supplements contain synthetic vitamin E (dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate), which is petroleum-based and not as potent as natural plant-based vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol acetate). Compared with synthetic vitamin E, the body can more efficiently transport and deliver natural vitamin E to targeted tissues. Current research in several species, including horses, shows that natural vitamin E is two to three times more potent than synthetic.
The Natural vitamin E acetate found in Elevate Maintenance Powder out-performs others sources for affordable long-term use.
Assessment of vitamin E status is accomplished by measuring tocopherol (vitamin E) levels in plasma. In a recent study, plasma levels of horses consuming three types of vitamin E were compared: synthetic vitamin E acetate powder, natural vitamin E acetate powder (Elevate Maintenance Powder), and natural, water-soluble vitamin E liquid (Elevate W.S.). Dramatic increases were noted in horses fed natural vitamin E. The water-soluble liquid vitamin E (Elevate W.S.) demonstrated the quickest effect. Blood levels of natural vitamin E acetate powder (Elevate Maintenance Powder) also increased, but at a slower pace. This study showed that plasma levels fell slightly when horses were fed synthetic vitamin E powder.
When choosing a vitamin E for long-term supplementation, horse owners need to focus on four issues: rate of absorption, persistence in the tissues, ease of administration, and cost per IU of vitamin E. While water-soluble natural vitamin E (Elevate W.S.) is quickly absorbed, it can be a little more costly and not as convenient to administer. When a slower rate of absorption is suitable, or after adequate blood levels have been established with water-soluble natural vitamin E, Elevate Maintenance Powder is the top choice. It is readily absorbed and stored in the tissues so it is available when horses need it. It is economical and easy to feed.
| Biopotency of common sources of vitamin E | |
|---|---|
| Common Sources of Vitamin E | Biopotency (IU/MG) |
| dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (synthetic) | 1.00 |
| d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (natural) | 1.36 |
| dl-alpha-tocopherol (synthetic) | 1.10 |
| d-alpha-tocopherol (natural, Elevate W.S.) | 1.49 |
| dl-alpha-tocopherul acid succinate (synthetic) | 0.89 |
| d-alpha-tocopheryl acid succinate (natural) | 1.21 |
Useful Information
Elevate Maintenance Powder serving instructions:
- Maintenance: 1-2 scoops per day (1,000-2,000 IU vitamin E per day)
- Intense training: 3-5 scoops per day (3,000-5,000 IU vitamin E per day)
- Pregnant/lactating mares: 3 scoops per day (3,000 IU vitamin E per day)
- Foals: 3 scoops per day (3,000 IU vitamin E per day)
- Stallions: 3 scoops per day (3,000 IU vitamin E per day)
- Neurological challenges: Consult your treating veterinarian
1 scoop = 1,000 IU of vitamin E. Mix in feed.
Storage and shelf life:
Store Elevate Maintenance Powder in a cool, dry place. Reseal lid during storage. Shelf life is 24 months from date of manufacture when stored under suitable conditions.
Making the transition from Elevate W.S. to Elevate Maintenance Powder.
When switching from Elevate W.S. liquid to Elevate Maintenance Powder, a transition period allows the horse to adapt to the different form of vitamin E. Transitioning over a period of 21 days (3 weeks) is recommended. Feed the desired level of Elevate Maintenance Powder along with the current level of Elevate W.S. Do this for two weeks. During the third week slowly decrease the amount of Elevate W.S. fed until it is totally withdrawn.
- Current level of Elevate WS supplementation is 5000 IU per day
- Desired level of Elevate Maintenance Powder to be supplemented – 5000 IU per day
- Day 1 though Day 14: Supplement with 5000 IU (10 cc) of Elevate WS and 5000 IU (5 scoops) of Elevate Maintenance Powder daily.
- Day 15 through Day 21: Supplement with 5000 IU of Elevate Maintenance Powder and each day reduce the amount of Elevate WS offered by 500 IU (1 cc) per day. Completely withdraw Elevate WS on day 22.
For example:
FAQs
Does Elevate Contain Sugar? How Much?
A scoop of Elevate Maintenance Powder contains 1,000 IU of natural vitamin E and 7 grams of sugar. This is a very small amount of sugar. For comparison, one medium apple contains 15 grams of sugar and one cup of chopped carrots contains 6 grams of sugar. Supplementation with Elevate Maintenance Powder does not significantly increase the level of sugar in your horse’s diet and is appropriate to feed to horses on a low sugar/starch diet.
Is it necessary to feed additional fat or oil to my horse when I supplement with a natural vitamin E powder like Elevate?
No, it is not necessary to provide additional fat or oil to your horse when supplementing with the natural vitamin E contained in Elevate Maintenance Powder. A typical horse will consume enough fat from their diet to support the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. An exception to the rule would be a horse that is severely malnourished or one that has a medical condition that interferes with fat absorption.
A little bit of fat goes a long way.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and dietary fat is necessary for its proper absorption within the small intestine. However, the amount of fat needed is small and readily provided in a normal diet of hay and/or grass pasture. The research studies conducted on the source of natural vitamin E contained in Elevate Maintenance Powder were performed on horses consuming diets considered low in fat. The data in these studies showed Elevate to be extremely well absorbed
Where does fat come from in a horse’s diet?
Most horse people don’t consider hay and pasture as sources of dietary fat, but they are. For example, mixed grass pasture contains between 2.7% and 4.8% fat, depending on the variety of grass. Alfalfa hay contains 2% to 2.8% fat, and grass hay between 1.7% and 3.2% fat. Concentrates (grains and pelleted feeds) are more often recognized as providing calories in the form of fat. Depending on the feed’s formulation, the average fat levels in a commercial concentrate range from 2% to 12%.
Equine nutritionists who are experts in the field of vitamin E nutrition do not feel it is necessary to provide additional fat (or oil) when supplementing with the natural vitamin E contained in Elevate Maintenance Powder.
How can I tell if my horse is deficient in vitamin E?
The most accurate way to determine your horse’s vitamin E status is to ask your veterinarian to run a simple blood test. He or she can review the results with you and then discuss if supplementation is necessary.
- Compromised immune response and lower resistance to illnesses
- Laziness or lack of energy
- Low fertility levels
- Poor growth rates (in young horses and foals)
- Slow to recover after a hard workout
- Sore or stiff muscles or episodes of tying-up
- Unwillingness to engage and move forward when being ridden
Horses that have sub-clinical vitamin E deficiencies may exhibit the following behaviors:
Which horses benefit from vitamin E supplementation?
Because of vitamin E’s influence on nearly all body processes, horses of all ages can benefit from supplementation, particularly if they do not have regular access to fresh pasture.
Horses at Maintenance
Vitamin E supplementation is essential for horses that are not allowed to graze. The vitamin E content of dried forages such as hay is severely diminished, with forages often losing 75% or more of their vitamin content upon harvesting and storing. Therefore, supplementation with vitamin E is most crucial during the winter when horses are fed diets almost exclusively composed of preserved forages. Inadequate fortification of textured feeds or the feeding of straight grains (oats, for example) may also contribute to vitamin E deprivation.
Supplementation may be indicated year-round for racehorses and show horses confined to stalls or those that are restricted from grazing for metabolic reasons.
Performance Horses
Vitamin E is an essential component to body-wide antioxidant defenses, with one of its most important duties being cell membrane maintenance. Cell membranes are composed largely of unsaturated lipids and are therefore vulnerable to assault by free radicals, compounds that can irreparably damage cell membranes.
As athletic effort increases, free radical production flourishes and natural stores of antioxidants have difficulty providing sufficient protection against the flood of free radicals generated. Supplementation is therefore necessary to help ward off the ill effects of mass-produced free radicals associated with intense exercise. Horses with an inadequate reserve of vitamin E may experience muscle soreness or stiffness during an exercise bout and prolonged recovery following strenuous work.
I was told that vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and is stored in the tissues. Can too much hurt my horse?
Vitamin E toxicity has not been noted in horses. Veterinarians will often feed high levels of vitamin E to compromised foals or horses challenged by neurological disease. However, it is always best to follow the recommended feeding directions when using any supplement. Do not give your horse more than the recommended amounts unless directed to do so by your veterinarian.
What is the difference between Elevate W.S. and Elevate Maintenance powder or Elevate Concentrate powder?
Elevate® natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) is provided to horses in two physical forms, powder or liquid. Both forms can be absorbed by the horse. Elevate® Maintenance powder and Elevate® Concentrate powder are classified as an acetate (powdered) form of natural vitamin E. This describes its molecular structure. Acetates are a larger, more stable compound; therefore, it takes the horse a few more steps to digest and absorb it. It takes about three weeks for vitamin E in powdered form to reach optimal levels in the horse’s body. The benefit of the powder is that it less likely to break down in the environment, so you can mix it in the feed ahead of time without worrying about it losing its potency. It is not affected by extreme temperatures, so it retains its biopotency when stored in various environmental conditions. It is both convenient and effective. Elevate Maintenance powder supplies 1000 IU of natural vitamin E per scoop and Elevate Concentrate supplies 5000 IU of natural vitamin E per scoop. The powder form is recommended when it is acceptable to raise blood levels slowly. Elevate Powder is the product of choice to maintain optimal levels of natural vitamin E over time.
Elevate W.S. is a water-soluble natural vitamin E. It goes through a patented process that changes its molecular structure so that is it easier for the horse to digest, absorb and store. Because of this change, Elevate W.S. is less stable in the environment, which is why you have to feed it immediately after removing it from the bottle. It begins to slowly break down as soon as it is exposed to light and air. It is will lose its biopotency when exposed to extreme temperatures. The benefit to this form of natural vitamin E is that it begins to increase blood levels within 24 hours and peak levels are reached in three days. Elevate W.S. also passes through the blood-brain barrier and is absorbed into the cerebral spinal fluid. Because of these benefits, Elevate W.S. is recommended for use when it is necessary to raise blood levels quickly and when neurological diseases are being treated.
The take-home message is this: Both liquid and powdered forms of Elevate natural vitamin E (d-alpha-tocopherol) are effectively absorbed and retained by horses. Elevate W.S. is fast-acting when acute situations demand quick absorption, and it is the product of choice when treating neurological issues. Elevate Maintenance and Elevate Concentrate are convenient and effective at slowly raising and then maintaining vitamin E levels necessary to support wellness and optimal performance.
