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Long‐term administration of α‐tocopherol in captive Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus )
Author(s) -
Kenny David E.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
zoo biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.5
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1098-2361
pISSN - 0733-3188
DOI - 10.1002/zoo.1024
Subject(s) - elephas , biology , asian elephant , body weight , zoology , tocopherol , vitamin e , vitamin , physiology , veterinary medicine , endocrinology , antioxidant , medicine , biochemistry
After the loss of an African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ) in February 1989 at the Denver Zoological Gardens (DZG) with very low circulating serum α‐tocopherol, a long‐term study was initiated with three Asian elephants ( Elephas maximus ) to evaluate the effect of an oral micellized, water‐soluble, natural source d ‐α‐tocopherol supplement. Baseline α‐tocopherol levels were evaluated and found to be approximately 3.75‐fold less than those reported for semi‐free‐ranging Asian Nepalese work camp and free‐ranging African elephants. The DZG elephants were then administered a liquid d ‐α‐tocopherol (Emcelle ® ) at 2.2 IU/kg body weight orally once daily. Serum samples were obtained and analyzed at 1, 2, 8, and 12 months and then annually for 96 months. The oral vitamin E supplement significantly elevated serum levels above baseline and were found to be comparable with levels reported for semi–free‐ranging and free‐ranging elephants. Zoo Biol 20:245–250, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.