Effects of exercise and oral antioxidant supplementation enriched in (n-3) fatty acids on blood oxidant markers and erythrocyte membrane fluidity in horses.

This research study investigated the effects of an (n-3)-vitamin supplement on the levels of blood oxidant markers and erythrocyte membrane fluidity (EMF) in horses. In the process, the researchers discovered that while the supplement didn’t drastically improve the oxidative balance in the horses, it did delay an exercise-induced decrease in EMF and increased the omega3/omega6 fatty acid ratio (FAR).

Research Context and Methodology

• This study involved a placebo-controlled field test to study the impact of a supplement rich in (n-3) fatty acids on blood oxidant markers, EMF, and the plasmatic omega3/omega6 FAR of 12 eventing horses.
• The horses were divided into two groups: a supplement group (S) and a placebo group (P), with six horses in each group.
• Before and after a three-week treatment period, venous blood samples were taken from each horse. In addition, samples were taken 15 minutes (POST E15′) and 24 hours (POST E24h) after a standardized exercise test.
• The researchers studied several oxidant/antioxidant markers, including EMF, plasma antioxidant capacity of water and lipid-soluble components, ascorbic acid, uric acid (UA), glutathione (both reduced: GSH and oxidised: GSSG), vitamin E, beta-carotene, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, selenium, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), oxidised proteins (Protox), lipid peroxides (Pool), and FAR.

Findings

• After the treatment, no significant difference was observed between groups S and P in terms of EMF. However, GPx remained unchanged in group S, while it decreased in group P. Likewise, the plasma Cu/Zn ratio remained the same in group S, but increased in group P.
• FAR was significantly higher in group S.
• Both groups noted a significant decrease in EMF (POST vs E24h) after exercising. However, the decrease was significantly less at E15′ in group S than in group P.
• Both groups showed an increase in UA and ACW (POST vs E15′) and Protox (POST vs E24h) after exercise. A decrease in GSH and Pool (POST vs E15′) was recorded in group P, while Vit E and FAR (POST vs E24h) significantly decreased in both groups after exercising.

Conclusion

• The study confirmed that exercising leads to a drop in EMF in horses, which is linked to changes in blood oxidative balance. Although the (n-3)-vitamin supplementation used in the study had a minimal impact on improving the oxidative balance, it played a role in delaying the exercise-induced decrease of EMF and increasing the FAR.