Importance of antioxidant vitamins in immunity and health in animals

Natural antioxidants, including the carotenoids and vitamins A, E and C, are important to animal health. They function as natural antioxidants to remove harmful free radicals produced through normal cellular activity and from environmental stressors, thereby maintaining the structural integrity of immune cells. In addition, they may regulate cellular events. Therefore, carotenoids and vitamins A, E and C are important to animal health by enhancing immunity. A compromised immune system will result in increased morbidity and mortality rates and thereby decrease animal production efficiency.