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Supplements,Choosing Them

Wisely

Carey Williams, PhDEquine Extension Specialist

University of Minnesota

Meet our presenter:

Dr. Carey WilliamsEquine Extension Specialist

Rutgers University

Current Use of SupplementsMulti-million dollar marketBefore 1 page in catalogues,now 20 pages~70% horses receive sometype of supplement

Why Use a Supplement?Something missing fromnormal dietImprove a problemImprove performancePrevent performance failureCover all bases

Do We Need to SupplementNot if normal horse with well-balanced dietWhat is a well-balanced diet?– Minimum feeding rate for

commercial feed– Appropriate feed– Quality forage

What is a normal horse?– Wear & tear

Balanced DietRed = forageYellow = pelletBlue = salt

Nutrients meet orExceed requirements

Dietary SupplementA product that contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients– Vitamin– Mineral– Herb or other botanical– Amino acid (protein)

NutraceuticalAny non-toxic food component that has scientifically proven health benefits, including disease treatment and prevention“nutra” = nutrient– Nourishing food or food component

“ceutical” = pharmaceutical– Nourishing food or food component

“nutraceutical” = food that acts like drug

NutraceuticalsEnzymes– Super oxide dismutase– Catalase

Fatty acids– Eicosanoids

Amino Acids– Creatine– L-Carnatine– Glutamine

Glucosamines/CS/HAMSM/HMBCoenzyme Q10DMGVitamin F(Herbs)

Herbal SupplementsNot true nutraceuticalMany have drug action– More than one active component– Possible interactions

No regulation in herbal products for horsesSome testing done in humans and lab animals– More studies done in Germany

Warn people to read as much as they can on the herb before supplementing– Consult with vet if they are on any medications

Herbal SupplementsDevil’s Claw – anti-inflammatory effectEchinecea – anti-inflam. And antioxidant effect

– In horses, found to have immune stim. effect

Garlic – anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitical

– In horses, freeze dried garlic fed at > 0.4 g/kg/d developed symptoms of Heinz body anaemia

Ginger – anti-thrombitic, antioxidant, anti-inflam., and anti-bacterial properties

– In horses, reduced cardio recovery after exercise, but increased inflam. cytokines

Herbal SupplementsGinseng – immunostimulating, anti-inflam., and antioxidant propertiesValerian Root – sedative, anti-spasmodic effects

– Found in many ‘calming aids’

Yucca – anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-spasmodic effect

– Used to reduce pain and inflam. of arthritis– Found in many joint supplements

Etc…– Flaxseed, liquorice, cranberry, horse chestnut, green and black tea, etc.

Oral Joint SupplementsTwo major goals– Unsound to Sound

– “Heal”– Prevention

– “Resistant”

Research slow to prove effectivenessExpectations fueled by testimonials and ads

Abnormal JointsTraining hard on joints– Swelling– Soreness

Inflammation– Acute vs. Chronic

Caused by:– Mechanical Stress (injury, poor conformation)– Chemical Stress (bacterial)

Result = Osteoarthritis

Chondroitin SulfateIs part of the natural body lubricants called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs)Elements of connective tissue and cartilage – Help with cartilage damage– Replace proteoglycan– Anti-inflammatory effect– Inhibit enzyme destruction

Absorption by gut – 32%– Large molecule– Broken down and reassembled?

GlucosamineMakes up ½ of the hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate moleculesHelps form proteoglycans that lubricate and protect cartilage– Precursor to GAG– Is the “rate-limiting” step in production of GAGs– Anti-inflammatory effect

Absorption documents – 2.5%Most supplements don’t have adequate amount

Hyaluronic AcidComponent of joint fluidProduced by synovial membrane– Lubricates joint– Cushions cartilage– Protects synovial membranes

Supplemental HA helps lubricatejoints with arthritisOne of the most abundant GAGs in the body

MSM“Methylsulfonylmethane”Source of elemental SULFURComponent of collagen– Protein structures (hair, nails and

connective tissues)

No research to back claimsFound in low levels in foods

ManganeseTrace mineralRequired as co-factor for synthesis of GAGAdded to make sure enough Mnavailable for synthesisNutrient requirement vs. intake– Little danger

ManganeseSupplemented as Ascorbate orAscorbic acidCo-factor for formation of collagenHorses produce their ownVitamin CMore = better?

Joint SupplementsOVERALL: Found to be only beneficial in treating an existing joint problem

Not used as a preventive measure

AntioxidantsAntioxidant supplements:

Vitamin E (most common)Vitamin CBeta-CaroteneGlutathioneLipoic AcidSeleniumCysteine

Antioxidant Action

Stable Chemical

OxidationFree Radicals

Stable Chemicals

Antioxidant

Oxidative Stress in Horses

Exercise

Reproduction

Rapid Growth

UV Rays

OtherStresses

Poor Nutrition

Inflammation

Environmental Toxins

Viral Infection

Protozoa

Vitamin APrecursor is Beta CaroteneRisk of:– Cancer– Cardiovascular disease– Macular degeneration

Deficiency– Night blindness– Sever joint lesions

Vitamin A & Vitamin ENormally supplied in fresh pasturePoor pasture may have low vitamin levels

(Greiwe-Crandell et al., 1995)

Vitamin E & CVitamin C may spare vitamin E by reducing radicals and restoring vitamin E activityPolo ponies at high exercise intensities benefited from Vitamins E + C supplementation

Vitamin E & SeSe is a cofactor for GPx, an antioxidant enzyme – Most commercial feeds have additional Se– Soil content varies throughout the country– Can be toxic!

– Blind staggers = weight loss, anorexia, excessive salivation, jaundice or necrosis of heart and liver

Required = 0.3 mg/kg diet (about 3 mg/day)– Toxic = about 18 mg/day

Se + E can potentate the antioxidant effects

Water & ElectrolytesExercise: heat productionDissipated in sweat and respiratory tract losses of electrolytesDehydration results in performance– Accompanied by coldness, fatigue, muscular tremors, colic,

thumps, appetite

ElectrolytesCarry an electrical chargeEndurance horses can lose upto 6-8% of their BW as waterLargest portion of horse sweat is Na, Cl, K– These increase 3-, 7-, 6-fold– Small amounts of Ca and P

Na, K, Mg, Ca, Cl

ElectrolytesNot all electrolytes are created equalLook for % sugar or ingredient listing– Dextrose– Sucrose

1st ingredient should be salt (sodiumchloride)If it doesn’t taste like salt it will not do much for your horse

Electrolytes for CompetitionPreloading– In feed– In water– Dose

Preloading– 1-2 oz. at every vet check

Dose supplementation– Applesauce/Yogurt– Corn syrup– Maylox

Hoof SupplementsExperiments with positive results on:– Biotin – therapeutic quantities– Zinc

May help poor feet– Dependant on problem

Won’t help good feetGood balanced diet may be moreeffective than hoof supplement

Major Nutrients for HoovesBiotin– B Vitamin activates production of keratin

Iodine– Essential for thyroid hormones that develop all tissues

Methionine– Responsible for keratin within the hoof

Zinc– Contributes to the health of the hoof & reactions

controlling metabolism

Recommended DosagesBiotin: 20 mg/dayIodine: 1 mg/dayMethionine: Not knownZinc: 175-250 mg/day

Cost comparison; checkdaily dose size!

Coat ConditionerNutrients that help hoofquality, help coatHigh fat diets– Essential fatty acids– Omega 3 & 6– Flax/linseed

Elbow grease

Calming AidsSupplements for the nervous horse

Vitamin B’s – Thiamine is the one that is commonly used to calm a nervous horse– Water soluble they will not be toxic at these supplemented levels

Tryptophan (amino acid)Magnesium– Make sure you are not overdoing the Mg– If you are on another mineral supplement I would stop feeding it with

the calming aid

Digestive AidsProbiotics– Naturally occurring live organisms– Produce digestive enzymes, B-vitamins and growth

inhibitors help break down nutrients– Used after antibiotic treatment, illness or surgery, or other stresses

Yeast fiber digestion– Normalize problem feces, including diarrhea– Stabilize gut pH– Decrease disease-causing bacteria

Other SupplementsMuscle builders– Amino acids

– Lysine and threonine are limiting– Gamma oryzanol

– Extracted from rice bran

Weight builders (fats)– Omega-3 fatty acids

– Found in fish oil and flax seed

Other SupplementsHelp with anhidrosis– Based on the theory of an imbalance of dopamine to the

nor-adrenaline/adrenaline complex

Stop a horse from chewing wood– High in fiber

Immune stimulatory– Many herbal products– Antioxidants

SummaryHerbal supplements are NOT always safeJoint supplements are NOT the magic drugElectrolytes are NOT needed as a daily supplementDigestive aids will NOT help a normal horseHoof supplements will NOT improve hooves overnightRead labels before purchasing supplements!Be an educated buyer!

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