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Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity2012; 2012; 572090; doi: 10.1155/2012/572090

Antioxidant status in elite three-day event horses during competition.

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine if competition intensity would have an effect on antioxidant status in horses before and during a three-day event. Body weight, body condition score, and blood was sampled from CCI2* (n = 19) and CCI3* (n = 23) horses before the start of dressage, 20 to 30 min following cross-country, and 18-24 h after cross-county. Data were analyzed using a PROC MIXED in SAS. There were no differences between CCI2* and CCI3* horses during competition for plasma cortisol, lactate, α-tocopherol, retinol, or erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. After cross-country, CCI3* horses had higher serum creatine kinase (P = 0.003) and aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.0001) than the CCI2* horses. Plasma β-carotene was higher in the CCI2* horses compared to the CCI3* horses (P = 0.0001). Total erythrocyte glutathione was also higher in the CCI2* horses versus CCI3* horses (P < 0.0001). These results are the first report of antioxidant status of horses competing in this level of a three-day event. The changes in antioxidant and muscle enzymes observed between divisions are likely due to the increased anaerobic and musculoskeletal demand on the upper level horses and the fitness required to compete at that level.
Publication Date: 2012-06-26 PubMed ID: 22792415PubMed Central: PMC3390134DOI: 10.1155/2012/572090Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The study evaluated the impact of competition intensity on the antioxidant status of elite horses participating in a three-day event. It was discovered that higher competition intensities increased some muscle enzymes and antioxidants due to a greater demand on musculoskeletal and anaerobic functions.

Objective

  • The purpose of this research was to ascertain whether the intensity of competition impacts the antioxidant status in horses both prior to and during a three-day event. An antioxidant is a substance that can prevent or slow down damage to cells caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules the body produces as a reaction to environmental and other pressures.

Methodology

  • The study examined body weight, body condition score, and blood samples from two groups of horses: CCI2* (19 horses) and CCI3* (23 horses). The samples were taken before the start of the dressage discipline, 20 to 30 minutes after the cross-country discipline, and 18 to 24 hours after the cross-country discipline.
  • The data collected was analyzed using a PROC MIXED in SAS, a statistical software package.

Results

  • The research revealed that there were no notable differences between the CCI2* and CCI3* horses in terms of plasma cortisol, lactate, α-tocopherol, retinol, or erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase throughout the competition.
  • However, after the cross-country discipline, CCI3* horses showed higher levels of serum creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase than the CCI2* horses. Creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase are enzymes that signal muscle damage.
  • As for plasma β-carotene and total erythrocyte glutathione, their levels were higher in the CCI2* horses compared to the CCI3* horses.

Conclusion

  • This study is the first to report on the antioxidant status of horses participating in this level of a three-day event competition.
  • The findings suggest that the noticeable differences in antioxidant and muscle enzyme levels between the horse groups can be attributed to the greater anaerobic and musculoskeletal demand on the upper level horses and the higher level of fitness required to compete at that level.

Cite This Article

APA
Williams CA, Burk AO. (2012). Antioxidant status in elite three-day event horses during competition. Oxid Med Cell Longev, 2012, 572090. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/572090

Publication

ISSN: 1942-0994
NlmUniqueID: 101479826
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2012
Pages: 572090
PII: 572090

Researcher Affiliations

Williams, Carey A
  • Department of Animal Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. cwilliams@aesop.rutgers.edu
Burk, Amy O

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Antioxidants / metabolism
    • Competitive Behavior
    • Creatine Kinase / blood
    • Diet
    • Female
    • Glutathione / blood
    • Hematocrit
    • Horses / blood
    • Male
    • Sports
    • Time Factors

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    Citations

    This article has been cited 3 times.
    1. Brkljača Bottegaro N, Gotić J, Šuran J, Brozić D, Klobučar K, Bojanić K, Vrbanac Z. Effect of prolonged submaximal exercise on serum oxidative stress biomarkers (d-ROMs, MDA, BAP) and oxidative stress index in endurance horses. BMC Vet Res 2018 Jul 6;14(1):216.
      doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1540-ypubmed: 29980209google scholar: lookup
    2. Giers J, Bartel A, Kirsch K, Müller SF, Horstmann S, Gehlen H. Blood-based assessment of oxidative stress, inflammation, endocrine and metabolic adaptations in eventing horses accounting for plasma volume shift after exercise. Vet Med Sci 2024 May;10(3):e1409.
      doi: 10.1002/vms3.1409pubmed: 38516822google scholar: lookup
    3. Giers J, Bartel A, Kirsch K, Müller SF, Horstmann S, Gehlen H. Blood-Based Markers for Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle Function in Eventing Horses before and after Cross-Country Rides and How They Are Influenced by Plasma Volume Shift. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 5;13(19).
      doi: 10.3390/ani13193110pubmed: 37835716google scholar: lookup