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Equine Omega-3 Research Studies Summary

Summary of research studies to support the beneficial effects of omega-3 to maintain:

• Joint health
• Heart health and endurance
• Growth and reproduction
• Immune system health
• Skin and coat health

 

Joint health

• Hall, J.A., Van Saun, RJ, Wander, RC. Dietary (n-3) fatty acids from menhaden fish oil alter plasma fatty acids and leukotriene B synthesis in healthy horses. J Vet Internal Med. 2004 Nov-Dec; 18(6):871-9.

In a study conducted at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA, two groups of horses were randomly assigned to diets supplemented with either 3.0% (by weight) corn oil or fish oil for a period of 14 weeks. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids in oil supplements was 68.1:1 for corn oil and 0.12:1 for fish oil. At 12 weeks, horses fed fish oil had increased plasma concentrations of eicosapentaenoic acid (27-fold; 8.5 versus 0.3 g/100 g fatty acids; P < .0001), docosahexaenoic acid (34-fold; 5.1 versus 0.1 g/100 g fatty acids; P < .0001), and arachidonic acid (8.3-fold; 4.1 versus 0.5 g/100 g fatty acids; P < .0001) compared with horses fed corn oil.

This study suggests that dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids modulate the leukotriene inflammatory response of horses. “If the ratio of LTB5 to LTB4 concentrations is important in determining how inflammatory processes are mediated, then fish oil supplementation may have value in treatment of equine inflammatory diseases.”

• Portier, K., et all, The effects of dietary N-3 and antioxidant supplementation on erythrocyte membrane fatty acid composition and fluidity in exercising horses. Equine Vet J Suppl. 2006 Aug; (36):279-84.

Twelve healthy and regularly trained [eventing] horses were divided randomly into 2 groups: group S received an oral antioxidant cocktail enriched in n-3 fatty acid (alphatocopherol, eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA]) whereas group P was placebo-treated. At the end of 4 weeks, all horses performed a standardised exercise test (ET) under field conditions.

Supplementation did not induce changes in EMF (T1 vs. TO) but significant changes in membrane composition were observed and there were increases in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid PUFA, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, and total omega-3 fatty acids. “An enriched oral antioxidant supplementation induced changes in membrane composition, which modulated the decrease in EMF induced by exercise. Long chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation might therefore be beneficial.”

 

Heart health and endurance

• O'Connor CI, Lawrence LM, Hayes SH. Dietary fish oil supplementation affects serum fatty acid concentrations in horses. J Anim Sci. 2007 Sep;85(9):2183-9.

Thirteen horses of Thoroughbred or Standardbred breeding were used to study the effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on blood lipid characteristics. Horses were assigned to either fish oil (n = 7) or corn oil (n = 6) treatment groups for 63 d. The fish oil contained 10.8% eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 8% docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The omega-6:omega-3 ratio was approximately 3.6:1 for horses receiving the corn oil diet and 1.4:1 for horses receiving the fish oil diet. Horses were exercised 5 d/wk during the study.

After 63 d, horses receiving the fish oil treatment, but not those receiving the corn oil treatment, had increased concentrations of EPA and DHA (P <0.05). Overall, horses receiving fish oil had a decreased concentration of n-6 fatty acids (P <0.05) and a greater concentration of n-3 fatty acids (P <0.01), resulting in a lower n-6:n-3 fatty acid ratio after 63 d (P <0.05). Serum cholesterol concentrations increased (P <0.05) during the supplementation period in horses receiving the corn oil but not in horses receiving the fish oil. Compared with horses receiving corn oil, horses receiving fish oil had lower serum triglycerides at d 63 (P <0.05). These results demonstrate that 63 d of fish oil supplementation at 324 mg/kg of BW was sufficient to alter the fatty acid profile and blood lipid properties of horses receiving regular exercise.

• O'Connor CI, Lawrence LM, Lawrence AC, Janicki KM, Warren LK, Hayes S. The effect of dietary fish oil supplementation on exercising horses. J Anim Sci. 2004 Oct;82(10):2978-84.

Ten horses of Thoroughbred or Standardbred breeding were used to study the effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on the metabolic response to a high-intensity incremental exercise test. Horses were assigned to either a fish oil (n = 6) or corn oil (n = 4) treatment. The fish oil contained 10.6% eicosapentaenoic acid and 8% docosahexaenoic acid.

Each horse received timothy hay and a textured concentrate at a rate necessary to meet its energy needs. The supplemental oil was top-dressed on the concentrate daily at a rate of 324 mg/kg BW. Horses received their assigned diet for 63 d, during which time they were exercised 5 d/wk in a round pen or on a treadmill. During wk 1, horses exercised for 10 min at a trot. After wk 1, exercise time and intensity were increased so that at wk 5, exercise time in the round pen increased to 30 min (10 min of cantering and 20 min of trotting) per day. Starting at wk 6, horses were exercised 3 d/wk in the round pen for 30 min and 2 d/wk on a treadmill for 20 min. After 63 d, all horses performed an exercise test consisting of a 5-min warm-up at 1.9 m/s, 0% grade, followed by a step test on a 10% grade at incremental speeds of 2 to 8 m/s. Blood samples were taken throughout exercise.

During exercise, horses receiving fish oil had a lower heart rate (treatment x time interaction; P < 0.05) and tended to have lower packed cell volume (treatment effect; P = 0.087). Plasma lactate concentrations were not affected by treatment. Plasma glucose concentrations were not different between groups during exercise but were lower (treatment x time interaction; P < 0.01) for the fish oil group during recovery. Serum insulin tended to be lower in fish oil horses throughout exercise (treatment effect; P = 0.064). There was a tendency for glucose:insulin ratios to be higher for fish oil-treated horses throughout exercise (treatment effect; P = 0.065). Plasma FFA were lower (treatment x time interaction; P < 0.01) in horses receiving fish oil than in horses receiving corn oil during the initial stages of the exercise test. Serum glycerol concentrations also were lower in fish oil-treated horses (P < 0.05). Serum cholesterol concentrations were lower in horses receiving fish oil (treatment effect; P < 0.05), but serum triglycerides were not affected by treatment (P = 0.55). These data suggest that addition of fish oil to the diet alters exercise metabolism in conditioned horses.

 

Growth and reproduction

• Brinsko, SP., Varner, DD., Love, CC., Blanchard, TL., Day, BC., Wilson, ME. Effect of feeding a DHA-enriched nutriceutical on the quality of fresh, cooled and frozen stallion semen. Theriogenology. 2005 Mar 15; 63(5):1519-27

This study was conducted at the Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA. Eight stallions were used in 2 x 2 crossover study to determine if feeding a nutriceutical rich in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) would improve semen quality. Stallions were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups (n = 4 per group). Stallions were fed their normal diet (control) or their normal diet top-dressed with 250 g of a DHA-enriched nutriceutical. Feeding trials lasted for 14 week, after which a 14-week washout period was allowed and the treatment groups were reversed for another 14 week feeding trial.

Feeding the nutriceutical resulted in a three-fold increase in semen DHA levels and 50% increase in the ratio of DHA to DPA in semen. Sperm motion characteristics in fresh semen were unaffected by treatment. After 24 h of cooled semen storage in an Equitainer, total and progressive motility did not differ between treatment groups, but sperm from stallions fed the nutriceutical exhibited higher velocity and straighter projectory (P < 0.05). After 48 h of cooled storage, increases in the percentages of sperm exhibiting total motility (P = 0.07), progressive motility (P = 0.06) and rapid motility (P = 0.04), were observed when stallions were being fed the nutriceutical.

For a subset of four stallions, whose progressive sperm motility was <40% after 24 h of cooled storage when fed the control diet, feeding the nutriceutical resulted in improvements in mean progressive motility of sperm after 24 h (P = 0.10) and 48 h (P = 0.03) of storage. Feeding the nutriceutical resulted in similar improvements in motion characteristics being observed in frozen-thawed semen. While it appears that feeding the nutriceutical may improve the motion characteristics of cool-stored stallion semen, it may be most beneficial for stallions of marginal fertility whose sperm do not tolerate the rigors of cooling and storage. The nutriceutical also appeared to improve the freezability of semen. More dramatic improvements in semen quality may be observed if modifications in the main fat content of the diet are incorporated with the DHA supplement.

• McCann, ME., Moore, JN., Carrick JB., Barton, MH. Effect of intravenous infusion of omega-3 and omega-6 lipid emulsions on equine monocyte fatty acid composition and inflammatory mediator production in vitro. Department of Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens 30602, USA.

The effect of intravenous administration of lipid emulsions enriched with omega-3 (n3) and omega-6 (n6) fatty acids on equine monocyte phospholipid fatty acid composition and the synthesis of inflammatory mediators in vitro was evaluated. In a randomized crossover design, horses were infused intravenously with 20% lipid emulsions containing n3 or n6 fatty acids.

The results of this study demonstrate that short-term infusions of n3 and n6 fatty acid-enriched lipid emulsions alter the fatty acid composition of equine monocyte phospholipids and modify the inflammatory response of these cells in vitro. These results also support further investigation into the use of parenteral n3 fatty acids as part of the supportive therapy of patients with multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).

 

Immune system health

• Hall JA, Van Saun RJ, Tornquist SJ, Gradin JL, Pearson EG, Wander RC. Effect of type of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid supplement (corn oil or fish oil) on immune responses in healthy horses. J Vet Intern Med. 2004 Nov-Dec; 18(6):880-6.

The objective of this study was to compare effects of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation (corn oil or fish oil) on selected immune responses in normal horses. Two groups of horses were randomly assigned a dietary supplement with either 3.0% corn oil or fish oil for a period of 14 weeks.
Plasma fatty acid profiles were monitored to ensure uptake of dietary fatty acids. The researchers accessed “It is possible that fish oil, because it did not increase production of PGE2, could have value in the treatment of equine recurrent airway obstruction or other equine inflammatory diseases.”

 

Skin and coat health

• Mix, L. S. 1966. The effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids and selected vitamins on the skin and coat conditions of horses. Vet. Med. Small Animal Clinic. 61:958. Mnacakanj, A. A. K.

A test was conducted to determine the efficacy of polyunsaturated fatty acids and certain vitamins in improving the skin and coat conditions of horses. Three groups of 4 horses each were fed the same quality ration for 48 days. However, the rations of two of the groups were supplemented with different levels of a test product containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins A and E and pyridoxine hydorchoride. Before and after the test, independent evaluations of the skin and coat condition of the horses were made by three judges. Their evaluations indicated that the polyunsaturated fatty acids, certain B vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins are important to the improvement and maintenance of healthy skin and coat in the horse.

 

J. Anim Sci. 2007. 85:2183-2189. doi:10.2527/jas.2006-528
© 2007 American Society of Animal Science

“It is very important to maintain a balance between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in the diet. An inappropriate balance of these essential fatty acids contributes to the development of disease while a proper balance helps maintain and even improve health. Many researchers believe an imbalance is a significant factor in the rising rate of inflammatory disorders in the United States.”

- University of Maryland Medical Center -