RT Journal Article
T1 Reference intervals for serum macro- and microminerals in clinically healthy horses in Northwestern Spain: Influence of age, sex, breed and diet
A1 Fernández Villa, Candela
A1 Miranda Castañón, Marta Inés
A1 Rigueira Rey, Lucas
A1 Martínez Vicente, Lidia
A1 Villanueva Santamarina, Blanca Lidia
A1 Freire Lata, S.
A1 López Alonso, María Marta
K1 Horse
K1 ICP
K1 Minerals
K1 Reference intervals
K1 Serum
AB BackgroundSerum mineral concentrations are key indicators of nutritional status, metabolic function and health in horses; however, contemporary reference intervals (RI) derived from large, well-characterised populations remain scarce.ObjectivesTo establish serum RI for macro- and microminerals in clinically healthy horses in Northwestern Spain and to evaluate the influence of sex, age, breed and diet on mineral status.MethodsBlood samples were collected from clinically healthy horses (n = 211), and serum concentrations of essential macrominerals (calcium [Ca]; phosphorous [P]; magnesium [Mg]; sodium [Na], potassium [K] and sulphur [S]) and microminerals (cobalt [Co]; copper [Cu]; iron [Fe]; iodine [I]; manganese [Mn]; molybdenum [Mo]; selenium [Se] and zinc [Zn]) were determined using precise, accurate multielement techniques (Inductively Coupled Plasma: ICP-OES and ICP-MS).ResultsReference intervals were established for all minerals in accordance with the clinical and laboratory standards institute (CLSI) C28-A3 guidelines. Biological factors (age, sex, breed) contributed minimally to variability in concentrations, with extensive overlap between groups, indicating partitioning was unnecessary. Diet significantly influenced the concentrations of several elements, particularly Se; pasture-fed horses had lower levels of this element, often close to the lower limit of the RI, than horses receiving commercial concentrate diets.ConclusionsThis study provides robust serum RI for macro- and microminerals in horses, providing valuable data for clinical assessment, nutritional monitoring and research on mineral metabolism.
PB Elsevier
SN 0737-0806
YR 2026
FD 2026-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46774
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46774
LA eng
NO Fernández-Villa, C., Miranda, M., Rigueira, L., Martinez, L., Villanueva, B., Freire, S., & López-Alonso, M. (2026). Reference intervals for serum macro- and microminerals in clinically healthy horses in Northwestern Spain: Influence of age, sex, breed and diet. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 160, 105846. 10.1016/j.jevs.2026.105846
NO Marta Miranda and Marta López-Alonso belong to Grupo de Potencial Crecimiento financed by GAIN (Axencia Galega de Innovación; grant number ED431B 2023/008). Open access funding provided by the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela.
DS Minerva
RD 18 abr 2026