Effects of substituting starch with fat on the acid-base and mineral status of female horses.
Abstract: Feeding a high-fat diet may have potential advantages by maintaining pH homeostasis during intense exercise; conversely, effects including elevated PCV and increased plasma concentration of total protein may indicate effects detrimental to performance by reducing perfusion of tissues and organs. Six horses were used to determine the effects of an replacement of starch (diet '0.00') with 0.33, 0.67, 1.00 and 1.33 g soybean oil/kg bwt/day (diets '033', '0.67', '1.00' and '1.33') on venous and renal acid-base status and fractional clearance (FC) of electrolytes in a postprandial state but prior to exercise. Venous blood and urine were sampled for 3 days at the end of the 28 day periods, in each case 3 h postprandially. Throughout the study, the horses put on weight by 35 kg (P<0.05). From diet '0.00' to '0.67', blood pH decreased (P<0.05) and carbon dioxide tension increased (P<0.05). Simultaneously, the base and net acid-base concentration in the urine rose (P<0.05) but diuresis decreased (P<0.05) and, therefore, the daily excretion of bases and net acid-bases was only unsystematically affected. From diet '0.00' to '1.33', the FC of magnesium and chloride fell (P<0.05). These results suggested that the exchange of starch with up to moderate amounts of fat affects the venous and renal acid-base status of resting horses. The decrease in urine volume is most striking. Further research is needed to investigate the importance of these effects for sporting performance.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405665DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05397.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study examined how replacing starch with fat in a horse’s diet can affect the animal’s acid-base and mineral status. It found that such diet modifications could influence the horse’s venous and renal acid-base status, and reduce urine volume, with potential implications for performance during intense exercise.
Research Design and Method
- The experiment utilized six horses to study the effects of replacing dietary starch with varying amounts of soybean oil.
- The control diet (‘0.00’) was composed entirely of starch, while the experimental diets contained increasing amounts of soybean oil to replace the starch; ranging from 0.33 g to 1.33 g per kg of the horse’s body weight per day. These diets were labeled ‘0.33’, ‘0.67’, ‘1.00’, and ‘1.33’.
- The experiment sought to understand the impact of this dietary change on both venous and renal acid-base status and the fractional clearance (FC) of electrolytes.
- Data collection occurred before exercise and in a postprandial (after a meal) state.
- Blood and urine samples were collected for three consecutive days at the end of four weeks on each diet, three hours after feeding.
Key Findings
- All horses gained weight (35 kg on average) over the course of the study (p<0.05).
- With the change from diet ‘0.00’ to ‘0.67’, blood pH decreased and carbon dioxide tension increased (both p<0.05).
- Concurrently, net acid-base and base concentrations in urine rose, yet urine volume (‘diuresis’) decreased (all p<0.05).
- There was no consistent effect on the daily excretion of bases and acid-bases.
- When comparing the ‘0.00’ diet to the ‘1.33’ regimen, the fractional clearance of magnesium and chloride declined (p<0.05).
Conclusion
- The results suggest that substituting starch with moderate amounts of fat can influence the acid-base balance in both the bloodstream and kidneys of horses.
- The decrease in urine volume was the most significant finding, possibly implicating hydration and electrolyte status.
- The researchers suggest further investigation is warranted to explore how these changes could impact a horse’s athletic performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Zeyner A, Kirbach H, Fürll M.
(2002).
Effects of substituting starch with fat on the acid-base and mineral status of female horses.
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 85-91.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05397.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutritional Diseases and Dietetics, University of Leipzig, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Acid-Base Equilibrium / physiology
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Body Weight
- Carbon Dioxide / analysis
- Chlorides / blood
- Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
- Diuresis / physiology
- Female
- Homeostasis
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / urine
- Magnesium / blood
- Minerals / blood
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Postprandial Period
- Starch / administration & dosage
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Zeyner A, Romanowski K, Vernunft A, Harris P, Müller AM, Wolf C, Kienzle E. Effects of Different Oral Doses of Sodium Chloride on the Basal Acid-Base and Mineral Status of Exercising Horses Fed Low Amounts of Hay. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0168325.
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