Calcium metabolism, body composition, and sweat losses of exercised horses.
Abstract: The effect of exercise on the pathways of metabolism of 40Ca and 47Ca was studied in 4 yearling Standardbred horses in 4 consecutive treatment periods: (1) no exercise, (2) trotting 16 km/day, (3) trotting 10 km/day, and (4) no exercise. Metabolic balance studies and studies of 47Ca kinetics were conducted during the final week of each month-long treatment period. The urinary excretion of 40Ca and 47Ca decreased 50% to 75% during the exercise periods. Retention of 47Ca increased during the exercise periods, but the retention of dietary Ca (40Ca) did not change. The efficiency of Ca absorption and the endogenous fecal excretion of Ca were unaffected by exercise.
In a 2nd experiment, the Ca and P composition of the whole body and the relative weight and specific gravity of the limb bones were measured in 15 yearling Shetland ponies which were exercised 8 to 16 km/day for 6 months and from 12 ponies which were not exercised. There were no marked differences in the measurements that could be attributed to exercise. The results of the metabolic and body composition experiments indicate that exercise, as studied in these experiments, increases the rate of turnover of bone of young horses and ponies, but does not affect skeletal mass.
In the 3rd experiment, the total excretion of Ca and P in the sweat of 5 mature polo horses was determined after 20-minute exercise periods on 40 occasions. Excretion ranged from 80 to 145 mg of Ca and 11 to 17 mg of P in a 20-minute period.
Publication Date: 1978-02-01 PubMed ID: 629457
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research studies how exercise affects calcium metabolism, body composition, and sweat losses in exercised horses and ponies. The research found that exercise increased the rate of bone turnover but did not affect the skeletal mass in young horses and ponies.
Understanding the Research Experiment
The research was done in three separate experiments focusing on:
- The effect of exercise on the metabolism of calcium.
- The impact of exercise on body composition.
- The analysis of calcium and phosphorus output in sweat after exercise.
The Impact of Exercise on Calcium Metabolism
In the first experiment, 4 yearling Standardbred horses were examined across four different treatment periods. The conditions were no exercise, trotting 16 kilometers per day, trotting 10 kilometers per day, and no exercise again. It was observed that:
- Urinary excretion of calcium decreased by 50% to 75% during the exercise periods.
- The rate of retention of calcium increased during exercise periods, but the retention of dietary calcium did not change.
- Exercise left no impact on calcium absorption efficiency and endogenous fecal excretion of calcium.
Impact of Exercise on Body Composition
In the second experiment:
- 15 yearling Shetland ponies were exercised 8 to 16 kilometers per day for 6 months.
- 12 ponies were not exercised for observation purposes.
- Despite the exercise, no significant differences were found in the measurements of whole body calcium, phosphorus or the weight and density of limb bones.
- The results conclude that the rate of bone turnover increases with exercise in young horses and ponies, but it does not impact the skeletal mass.
Analysis of Calcium and Phosphorus Output In Sweat after Exercise
In the final experiment:
- 5 mature polo horses were exercised for 20-minute periods on 40 different occasions.
- The total excretion of calcium and phosphorus in their sweat was then calculated.
- The results indicated that the excretion ranged between 80-145 mg of calcium and 11-17mg of phosphorus in a 20-minute period.
These findings give valuable scientific insight into the impacts of exercise on calcium metabolism, body composition, and sweat losses in horses and ponies, which can further be referenced in their training, nutrition, and maintenance.
Cite This Article
APA
Schryver HF, Hintz HF, Lowe JE.
(1978).
Calcium metabolism, body composition, and sweat losses of exercised horses.
Am J Vet Res, 39(2), 245-248.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Composition
- Calcium / metabolism
- Calcium / urine
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Male
- Nutritional Requirements
- Phosphorus / metabolism
- Physical Exertion
- Sweat / analysis
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Kohrt WM, Wolfe P, Sherk VD, Wherry SJ, Wellington T, Melanson EL, Swanson CM, Weaver CM, Boxer RS. Dermal Calcium Loss Is Not the Primary Determinant of Parathyroid Hormone Secretion during Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2019 Oct;51(10):2117-2124.
- Swissa-Sivan A, Azoury R, Statter M, Leichter I, Nyska A, Nyska M, Menczel J, Samueloff S. The effect of swimming on bone modeling and composition in young adult rats. Calcif Tissue Int 1990 Sep;47(3):173-7.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
