Effects of dietary camelina, flaxseed, and canola oil supplementation on plasma fatty acid concentrations and health parameters in horses.
Abstract: Camelina (Camelina sativa) is a hardy, low-input oilseed crop that provides a rich source of the n-3 fatty acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA). The primary purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of dietary camelina oil (CAM) consumption on various health parameters, as compared to horses fed canola oil (OLA) or flax oil (FLX). Secondly, to determine how dietary CAM, FLX, and OLA alter circulating plasma total lipids across time. Thirty horses, from three separate herds, were used for this study [14.9 years ± 5.3 years; 544 ± 66 kg calculated BW (mean ± SD)]. After a 4-week gradual acclimation period using sunflower oil mixed with soaked hay cubes, horses were balanced by location, age, sex, weight, and breed and randomly allocated to one of three treatment oils (CAM, OLA, or FLX) at an inclusion of 370 mg of oil/kg BW/day. Horses had ad libitum access to hay and/or pasture for the duration of the study. Body condition score (BCS), BW, oil intake, complete blood counts, plasma biochemical profiles, and plasma total lipids were measured on weeks 0, 2, 4, 8, and 16 throughout the 16-week treatment period. BW, BCS, and oil intake were analyzed using an ANOVA using PROC GLIMMIX in SAS Studio. Complete blood counts and biochemical profiles were analyzed using an ANCOVA, and fatty acids were analyzed using an ANOVA in PROC MIXED in SAS Studio. No differences were observed among treatment groups for BW, BCS, oil intake, complete blood counts, and biochemical parameters. Individual fatty acids that differed among treatments and/or across time were largely reflective of the different FA profiles of the oils provided. Most notably, plasma ALA was greater for FLX than OLA, but neither differed from CAM (P = 0.01). Linoleic acid did not differ among treatments or over time (P > 0.05). The n-6:n-3 ratio decreased over time for both CAM and FLX, and ratios were lower for FLX than OLA at week 16, but not different from CAM (P = 0.02). These results suggest that dietary CAM had no adverse effects on health parameters and that daily supplementation of CAM and FLX at 370 mg of oil/kg BW/day induces positive changes (a decrease) in the n-6:n-3 status of the horse. Consequently, CAM may be considered as an alternative oil to FLX in equine diets.
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023-11-17 PubMed ID: 38070473DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101034Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Veterinary
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper evaluates the effects of oil supplements from camelina, flaxseed, and canola on the health and plasma fatty acid concentrations of horses. The study concluded that camelina and flaxseed oil supplementation had positive impacts on a horse’s health and plasma fatty acid status, with no adverse effects noted.
Introduction
- The research aimed to investigate the effect of dietary camelina oil (CAM) on various health parameters in horses compared to horses fed canola oil (OLA) or flax oil (FLX).
- Camelina sativa is a resilient oilseed crop, rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 fatty acid. The secondary aim was to identify changes in horse’s plasma total lipids over time with the consumption of CAM, FLX, and OLA.
Methodology
- Thirty horses from three different herds underwent the study. The horses were assigned a 4-week acclimation period, during which they were fed sunflower oil mixed with soaked hay cubes.
- Following acclimation, the horses were allocated randomly to one of three treatment oils (CAM, OLA, or FLX), given at an inclusion of 370mg of oil/kg of body weight/day.
- The study took place over 16 weeks, during which body weight, body condition score, oil intake, complete blood count, plasma biochemical profiles, and plasma total lipids were monitored and analysed.
Results
- No significant differences were observed among the treatment groups for body weight, body condition score, oil intake, complete blood counts, and biochemical parameters.
- Fatty acids that showed variation among the treatments reflected the different fatty acid profiles of the oils provided.
- Notably, plasma ALA was found to be greater in the FLX group than the OLA group, though neither proved different from the CAM group.
- The ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids decreased over time for both CAM and FLX groups. By week 16, this ratio was found to be lower in the FLX group than the OLA group, but not significantly different from the CAM group.
Conclusions
- Overall, the results suggest that dietary camelina oil had no adverse effects on the health parameters of horses.
- Both camelina and flaxseed oils induced positive changes in the n-6:n-3 fatty acid status of horses when supplemented daily at 370mg of oil/kg of body weight.
- The researchers concluded that camelina oil might be considered an alternative oil supplement to flaxseed oil in equine diets.
Cite This Article
APA
Burron S, Richards T, McCorkell TC, Trevizan L, Puttick D, Ma DWL, Pearson W, Shoveller AK.
(2023).
Effects of dietary camelina, flaxseed, and canola oil supplementation on plasma fatty acid concentrations and health parameters in horses.
Animal, 17(12), 101034.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2023.101034 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Smart Earth Camelina Corp, Saskatoon, SK S7M 5V1, Canada.
- Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: ashovell@uoguelph.ca.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Fatty Acids
- Flax
- Rapeseed Oil
- Plant Breeding
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Supplements
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