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BMC veterinary research2024; 20(1); 404; doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-04252-z

Effects of maternal dietary supplementation with antioxidants on clinical status of mares and their foal.

Abstract: The peripartum period constitutes a delicate physiological moment in mares showing a transient state of oxidative stress. Diet supplementation with antioxidants during pregnancy in women appears to have a beneficial effect on mother and neonate health. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of diet supplementation with a commercial product containing a mix of antioxidants (Oxyliver®, Candioli) on the length of gestation, weight, and haemato-biochemical parameters in Italian Salernitano mares and their newborn foals. Eight late-term pregnant mares were randomly divided into two groups: Antiox group receiving 30 g/day of antioxidants, and Car group receiving the same amount of carrot powder, from 290 to 320 days of gestation. The following parameters were evaluated in mares: weight, colostrum composition, haemato-biochemical parameters, progesterone, and cortisol blood concentrations, along with blood oxidant/antioxidant status. Assessments were conducted at specific time points: immediately before the start of diet supplementation (T0), 15 days after (T1), at the end of diet supplementation (T2), within 8 h after parturition (T3), and 10 days post-partum (T4). Foal parameters such as weight, haemato-biochemical values, cortisol concentration, and blood oxidative stress variables were assessed within 8 h of birth (TF0) and at 10 days of age (TF1). Results: Pregnancy was shorter in the Antiox group (P < 0.05) compared with the Car group; the foals' weight increase of group Antiox (40%) was higher (P < 0.05) compared to those of the Car group (28.6%). The colostrum of the Antiox group exhibited higher levels of Brix, total solids, protein, nonfat solids, casein, urea, density, free fatty acids, and glucose, while lower levels of fat and lactose were observed compared to the Car group (P < 0.05). Mares' serum albumin at T1 and T3, creatinine, glucose, total proteins, total bilirubin, AST, and ALT at T3 were lower in Antiox than in the Car group. No significant differences were found in foals. Conclusions: While the limited sample size and the potential variability of evaluated parameters, the observed outcomes suggest that Oxyliver® supplementation in mares might safely decrease gestation length and enhance liver function, thus potentially improving colostrum quality and offspring development.
© 2024. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2024-09-11 PubMed ID: 39256763PubMed Central: PMC11389071DOI: 10.1186/s12917-024-04252-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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.

The research article explores the impact of antioxidant dietary supplements on the health and development of pregnant mares and their foals. The study indicates that the use of these supplements can potentially shorten gestation length, boost liver functionality, and enhance colostrum quality and offspring development.

Experiment Design

  • The study involved eight late-term pregnant Italian Salernitano mares, randomly split into two groups. The Antiox group received a daily intake of 30g of antioxidants, while the Car group received the same amount of carrot powder.
  • The period of supplementation was from the 290th to the 320th days of gestation.
  • The researchers evaluated various parameters in the mares at specified intervals – immediately before the start of supplementation (T0), 15 days after the start (T1), at the end of the supplementation period (T2), within 8 hours after parturition (T3), and 10 days post-parturition (T4).
  • For the newborn foals, weight, haematobiochemical values, cortisol concentration, and blood oxidative stress levels were assessed within 8 hours of birth (TF0) and at 10 days of age (TF1).

Results of the Research Study

  • The gestation period was found to be shorter in the mares in the Antiox group (P < 0.05) in comparison to the Car group.
  • The weight increase in foals from the Antiox mares (40%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared to those from the Car mares (28.6%).
  • The mares in the Antiox group showed higher levels of numerous vital nutrients in their colostrum, except for fat and lactose, which were lower compared to the Car group.
  • Values for serum albumin, creatinine, glucose, total proteins, total bilirubin, AST, and ALT were lower in the Antiox mares than in the Car mares at T1 and T3.
  • No notable differences were observed in the foals themselves.

Research Conclusions

  • Despite the limited sample size and potential variability of evaluated parameters, the results suggest that Oxyliver supplementation in pregnant mares may result in a reduction in gestation length and an improvement in liver function.
  • These improvements could potentially enhance colostrum quality, which would contribute to superior offspring development.

Cite This Article

APA
Del Prete C, Vastolo A, Pasolini MP, Cocchia N, Montano C, Cutrignelli MI. (2024). Effects of maternal dietary supplementation with antioxidants on clinical status of mares and their foal. BMC Vet Res, 20(1), 404. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-024-04252-z

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 20
Issue: 1
Pages: 404

Researcher Affiliations

Del Prete, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, Napoli, 80137, Italy.
Vastolo, Alessandro
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, Napoli, 80137, Italy.
Pasolini, Maria Pia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, Napoli, 80137, Italy. pasolini@unina.it.
Cocchia, Natascia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, Napoli, 80137, Italy.
Montano, Chiara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, Napoli, 80137, Italy.
Cutrignelli, Monica Isabella
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, University of Napoli Federico II, Via F. Delpino 1, Napoli, 80137, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Female
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Pregnancy
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Colostrum / chemistry

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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