By: Dr Rosie Alcorn BVSc PG Cert VPS Cert AVP MRCVS
Whilst discussing Oste:Form with a client last week, we delved into the fascinating history of Vitamin K—how it evolved from a cure for poisoning and blood clotting disorders to being recognised for its role in improving bone density in horses.
In this week’s article, we focus on Vitamin K’s role in bone health, specifically how it influences bony changes and the research supporting its use in equine medicine.
More than 80 years ago, Vitamin K was discovered to play a crucial role in both animal and human medicine. Scientists found that Vitamin K supplementation helped treat blood clotting disorders in chickens and cattle that had consumed specific feeds. Soon, they realised it could also be used to treat people poisoned by Warfarin (whether accidentally or intentionally). This discovery earned the scientists involved a Nobel Prize and opened doors to decades of research on blood disorders in humans.
However, despite these advances, little attention was given to the role of Vitamin K in horses, particularly in relation to clotting disorders.
In recent years, there has been growing interest in the connection between Vitamin K and skeletal health, with much of the focus on osteoporosis and osteoarthritis in humans. Research has shown that Vitamin K is essential for activating proteins that play a key role in bone metabolism.
This sparked an interest in understanding how Vitamin K affects bone health in horses. Studies conducted on rats and humans indicated that Vitamin K is crucial for bone calcification, prompting researchers to explore its benefits for equine bone development.
Vitamin K in green grass: Horses get natural Vitamin K from fresh green grass, but it is destroyed when the grass is dried.
Not all Vitamin K is equal: Some forms of Vitamin K are better absorbed than others, so it’s important to choose the right supplement.
Safety of supplementation: Vitamin K is safe to supplement, even at high doses.
Bioavailability in feed: While feeds are often supplemented with Vitamin K, it is not always bioavailable to horses.
Synthesis of Vitamin K: Horses on pasture can synthesise their own Vitamin K, but those without access may be at risk of deficiency.
Impact of deficiency: Mild Vitamin K deficiency may not show clinical signs but can affect bone growth and density.
From a practical standpoint, the following horse groups may benefit the most from Vitamin K supplementation:
Young horses in winter: These horses often lack access to fresh green grass and are growing rapidly, making them prime candidates for Vitamin K supplementation.
Horses on box rest: Horses confined to stables may become deficient in Vitamin K. Additionally, horses with orthopaedic issues are likely to need extra Vitamin K to support growth and repair.
It’s important to note that Vitamin K in feed may not always be bioavailable to horses, so selecting the right supplements is key. Keyflow's Oste:Form is a scientifically formulated nutritional supplement designed to provide support for equine bone density, remodeling and formation. It's unique formulation containing essential nutrients for healthy bone metabolism supports optimal bone remodeling in young-stock as well as mature horses. It contains natural Vitamin K to support the function of osteocalcin, allowing bone with the correct density to be formed. It also includes Vitamin D for it's beneficial effects on bone health and calcified seaweed, a unique source of calcium, silicon and boron which is scientifically substantiated for its positive effects on skeletal structure and development.
Current research is focusing on the role of Vitamin K supplementation in horses with Cushing’s disease and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). As more studies are conducted, we expect to see new insights into how this important vitamin can support the long-term health and wellbeing of horses.Watch this space for more updates as we continue to explore the benefits of Vitamin K in equine care!
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