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Effects of oral electrolyte supplementation on endurance horses competing in 80 km rides.
Abstract: There is no evidence that use of oral electrolyte pastes enhances performance in competing endurance horses. Objective: To ascertain whether oral administration of a high dose (HD) of sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) to endurance horses would differentially increase water intake, attenuate bodyweight (bwt) loss and improve performance when compared to a low dose (LD). Methods: A randomised, blinded, crossover study was conducted on 8 horses participating in two 80 km rides (same course, 28 days apart). Thirty minutes before and at 40 km of the first ride 4, horses received orally 02 g NaCl/kg bwt and 0.07 g KCl/kg bwt. The other 4 received 0.07 g NaCl/kg bwt and 0.02 g KCl/kg bwt. Horses received the alternate treatment in the second ride. Data were analysed with 2-way ANOVA for repeated measures (P<0.05). Results: Estimated water intake was significantly greater with HD both at the 40 km mark and as total water intake; however, differences in bwt loss and speed between HD and LD were not found. Treatment significantly affected serum Na+, Cl-, HCO3, pH and water intake, but not serum K+ or bwt. Serum Na+ and Cl- were significantly higher at 80 km when horses received HD, but no differences were found in early recovery. Venous HCO3- and pH were significantly lower throughout the ride and in early recovery when horses received HD. Conclusions: Other than enhancing water intake, supplementing endurance horses with high doses of NaCI and KCl did not provide any detectable competitive advantage in 80 km rides. Further, the elevated serum electrolyte concentrations induced with HD might not be appropriate for endurance horses.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17402386DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05507.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup 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
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research took place to find out if a high dose of sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) would affect the performance of endurance horses during an 80 km ride. Despite an increase in water intake, the study showed that high doses of NaCl and KCl had no noticeable impact on the horses’ weight loss or speed, and could even potentially be detrimental to the animals.
Methodology
- The study was a randomised, blinded, crossover trial. It involved 8 horses that each participated in two separate 80 km rides. These rides were 28 days apart and followed the same course.
- Half an hour before and at the midway point of the first ride, 4 horses were given a high dose of NaCl and KCl orally. This dose equated to 0.2 g NaCl and 0.07 g KCl per kg of the horse’s body weight.
- The other 4 horses received a low dose, which was 0.07 g NaCl/kg bodyweight and 0.02 g KCl/kg bodyweight.
- For the second ride, the horses were given the opposite treatment to what they received in the first ride.
- The data from this experiment was analysed using a 2-way ANOVA, for repeated measures.
Results
- The high dose of electrolytes led to a significant increase in the estimated water intake at the 40 km mark, and in total water intake throughout the ride.
- However, there was no significant difference observed in body weight loss or speed between the horses receiving high and low doses.
- While serum Na+ and Cl- were significantly higher at the end of the ride for the horses given the high dose, these levels returned to normal during recovery.
- Venous bicarbonate (HCO3-) and pH were significantly lower throughout the ride and early recovery for horses on the high dose.
Conclusion
- The high dose of NaCl and KCl did increase water intake, but had no significant effect on the horses’ weight loss or speed during the 80km ride.
- The heightened concentrations of serum electrolytes could pose potential issues for endurance horses, and therefore, the study concluded that high doses of oral electrolytes did not offer any competitive advantage.
Cite This Article
APA
Sampieri F, Schott HC, Hinchcliff KW, Geor RJ, Jose-Cunilleras E.
(2007).
Effects of oral electrolyte supplementation on endurance horses competing in 80 km rides.
Equine Vet J Suppl(36), 19-26.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05507.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Blood Chemical Analysis / veterinary
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dietary Supplements
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Drinking
- Electrolytes / administration & dosage
- Electrolytes / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Osmolar Concentration
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / drug effects
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Potassium Chloride / administration & dosage
- Potassium Chloride / metabolism
- Sodium Chloride / administration & dosage
- Sodium Chloride / metabolism
- Sports
- Water / administration & dosage
- Water / metabolism
- Water-Electrolyte Balance / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Waller AP, Lindinger MI. Tracing Acid-Base Variables in Exercising Horses: Effects of Pre-Loading Oral Electrolytes. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 24;13(1).
- Lindinger MI. Oral Electrolyte and Water Supplementation in Horses. Vet Sci 2022 Nov 10;9(11).
- Walker WT, Callan RJ, Hill AE, Tisher KB. Effects of oral powder electrolyte administration on packed cell volume, plasma chemistry parameters, and incidence of colic in horses participating in a 6-day 162-km trail ride. Can Vet J 2014 Aug;55(8):765-71.
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