White muscle disease is a result of which deficiency?

• A. Calcium
• B. Zinc
• C. Vitamin E
• D. Selenium

Answer: (D)

White muscle disease is driven by insufficient selenium, which is needed for the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. When selenium is low, this enzyme activity drops, allowing oxidative damage to muscle cell membranes and degeneration of muscle fibers. This leads to the characteristic pale, soft, and swollen "white" muscles seen in newborns such as lambs, kids, and calves, especially in areas with low soil selenium. Vitamin E supports the same antioxidant defense and can influence severity, but selenium deficiency is the primary cause. Calcium and zinc deficiencies don’t cause this muscle degeneration, so they’re not the underlying issue. Preventing the disease typically involves selenium (often given with vitamin E) supplementation in at-risk animals.