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

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

3 Specialist in Veterinary Surgery, Private Veterinarian, Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

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 24 horses from a club near Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province. Serum trace element concentrations were measured using photometric methods with a Hitachi 917 biochemical autoanalyzer (for copper, iron, and zinc) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) with a Varian AA140 atomic absorption spectrometer (for selenium). Ten horses were used as the control group, and 14 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 > 0.05). However, a significant correlation was observed between mean serum concentrations of zinc, selenium, and copper before and after supplementation (P < 0.05), and there was no significant correlation in mean serum iron concentrations before and after supplementation (P > 0.05). The mean serum concentrations of copper, iron, zinc, and selenium in the control and treatment groups were 86.60 ± 3.39 and 83.62 ± 3.09 μg/dL, 171.96 ± 10.47 and 193.19 ± 8.84 μg/dL, 63.71 ± 1.57 and 66.76 ± 1.76 μg/dL, and 106.19 ± 1.29 and 108.81 ± 1.09 μg/L, respectively. The mineral supplements did not significantly affect serum iron concentrations; however, it significantly increased serum copper, zinc, and selenium concentrations.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Veterinary and Comparative Biomedical Research
Volume 3, Issue 2
June 2026
Pages 36-44

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