Circulating fatty acid profiles in response to three levels of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in horses.
Abstract: Fatty acids of the n-3 type confer health benefits to humans and other species. Their importance to equine physiology could include improved exercise tolerance, decreased inflammation, and improved reproductive function. The circulating fatty acid profile and the acquisition and washout of fatty acids in response to n-3 supplementation were determined for horses in the current study. A fatty acid supplement high in eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid was fed to deliver EPA plus DHA at 0 (control), 10, 20, or 40 g/d to 16 mares (n = 4/group) for 28 d. Plasma was collected at -11, 3, 7, 10, 16, 23, 30, 37, 44, 70, and 87 d relative to the beginning of supplementation. Plasma was analyzed for the presence of 35 fatty acids by gas chromatography. Plasma EPA and DHA increased (P < 0.05) in a dose-responsive manner by 3 d of feeding and reached peak concentrations by 7 d. Peak EPA and DHA concentrations of the 40 g/d supplement group were approximately 13x and 10x those of controls, respectively. Plasma EPA and DHA demonstrated a steep decline (P < 0.05) from peak values by 9 d after cessation of supplementation and were near presupplementation values by 42 d. Omega-3 supplementation also increased (P < 0.05) concentrations of fatty acids C14:0, C17:1n-7, C18:1trans-11, C18:3n-6, C18:4n-3, C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6, and C22:5n-3 and decreased (P < 0.05) concentrations of C18:1cis-9 fatty acid. Seasonal effects, apparently unrelated to supplementation and likely due to the availability of fresh forage, were also noted. Unlike ruminants, there were no detectable concentrations of CLA in equine plasma. These results indicate that the circulating fatty acid milieu in horses can be influenced through targeted supplementation. Possible implications of increased n-3 plasma and tissue concentrations on specific physiological function in the equine remain to be elucidated.
Publication Date: 2008-01-11 PubMed ID: 18192545DOI: 10.2527/jas.2007-0682Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article investigates the impact of varying levels of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation on the circulating fatty acid profile of horses. The study revealed that omega-3 supplementation impacted the presence of certain fatty acids in a horse’s system, with potential implications on their physiological function.
Research Methodology
- In this study, the researchers supplemented the diets of 16 mares with a fatty acid supplement high in eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acid. These were delivered at levels of 0 (control), 10, 20, or 40 grams per day for a period of 28 days.
- Plasma was collected at various intervals ranging from 11 days before the beginning of supplementation to 87 days after supplementation started.
- The researchers used gas chromatography to analyze plasma samples for the presence of 35 different fatty acids.
Research Findings
- They observed that plasma EPA and DHA rose in a dose-responsive manner, reaching peak concentrations by the seventh day of feeding. The concentrations were drastically higher at 40 grams per day compared to the control group.
- Notably, the levels of EPA and DHA sharply declined within 9 days following the cessation of supplementation.
- Apart from EPA and DHA, omega-3 supplementation also influenced the concentrations of several other fatty acids. Supplementation led to increased concentrations of fatty acids like C14:0, C17:1n-7, C18:1trans-11, C18:3n-6, C18:4n-3, C20:3n-6, C20:4n-6, and C22:5n-3, while it decreased concentrations of the C18:1cis-9 fatty acid.
- Interestingly, the study also identified certain seasonal effects, likely driven by the availability of fresh forage, which seemed to be unrelated to the supplementation.
- However, unlike ruminants, no detectable concentrations of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) were found in equine plasma.
Implications and Further Research
- Overall, the study confirmed that targeted supplementation can influence the circulating fatty acid profile within horses. This could potentially impact their physiological functions, including exercise tolerance, inflammation levels, and reproductive function.
- However, the specific physiological implications of increased plasma and tissue concentrations of n-3 in horses remain to be further investigated.
Cite This Article
APA
King SS, Abughazaleh AA, Webel SK, Jones KL.
(2008).
Circulating fatty acid profiles in response to three levels of dietary omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in horses.
J Anim Sci, 86(5), 1114-1123.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2007-0682 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale 62901, USA. sking@siu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Area Under Curve
- Chromatography, Gas / methods
- Chromatography, Gas / veterinary
- Dietary Supplements
- Docosahexaenoic Acids / administration & dosage
- Docosahexaenoic Acids / blood
- Docosahexaenoic Acids / metabolism
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid / administration & dosage
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid / blood
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid / metabolism
- Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / administration & dosage
- Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / blood
- Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Random Allocation
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Christmann U, Hancock CL, Poole CM, Emery AL, Poovey JR, Hagg C, Mattson EA, Scarborough JJ, Christopher JS, Dixon AT, Craney DJ, Wood PL. Dynamics of DHA and EPA supplementation: incorporation into equine plasma, synovial fluid, and surfactant glycerophosphocholines.. Metabolomics 2021 Apr 17;17(5):41.
- Rial SA, Ravaut G, Malaret TB, Bergeron KF, Mounier C. Hexanoic, Octanoic and Decanoic Acids Promote Basal and Insulin-Induced Phosphorylation of the Akt-mTOR Axis and a Balanced Lipid Metabolism in the HepG2 Hepatoma Cell Line.. Molecules 2018 Sep 11;23(9).
- Nogradi N, Couetil LL, Messick J, Stochelski MA, Burgess JR. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation provides an additional benefit to a low-dust diet in the management of horses with chronic lower airway inflammatory disease.. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):299-306.
- Wood JT, Williams JS, Pandarinathan L, Janero DR, Lammi-Keefe CJ, Makriyannis A. Dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplementation alters select physiological endocannabinoid-system metabolites in brain and plasma.. J Lipid Res 2010 Jun;51(6):1416-23.
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