Association between vitamin E and enhanced athletic performance in sled dogs

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the association between prerace plasma vitamin E concentration and performance in sled dogs competing in the 1998 Iditarod Race. Methods: Prerace blood samples were collected from 670 dogs. Samples were analyzed for plasma vitamin E concentration while controlling for selected hematological and biochemical variables and signalment. Starting in teams of 16, exercise consisted of running up to 1159 miles pulling a laden sled and musher via checkpoints. The records of dogs that were withdrawn from the race for health reasons, fatigue, or strategic or technical reasons, and those of dogs that finished the race were analyzed. Multiple logistic regression and Cox proportional..