Effects of two different dietary sources of long chain omega-3, highly unsaturated fatty acids on incorporation into the plasma, red blood cell, and skeletal muscle in horses.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the effects of different sources of dietary omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid supplementation on plasma, red blood cell, and skeletal muscle fatty acid compositions in horses. Twenty-one mares were blocked by age, BW, and BCS and assigned to 1 of 3 dietary treatments with 7 mares per treatment. Dietary treatments were: 1) control or no fatty acid supplement (CON), 2) 38 g of n-3 long chain, highly unsaturated fatty acid (LCHUFA) supplement/d provided by algae and fish oil (MARINE) containing alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and 3) 38 g of n-3 LCHUFA supplement/d provided by a flaxseed meal (FLAX) containing ALA. Each supplement was added to a basal diet consisting of hay and barley and was fed for 90 d. Blood samples and muscle middle gluteal biopsies were taken at d 0, 30, 60 and 90 of supplementation. Plasma, red blood cell and skeletal muscle fatty acid profiles were determined via gas chromatography. Plasma linoleic acid (LA) and ALA were at least 10 and 60% less (P < 0.01), respectively, in the MARINE compared with the FLAX and CON groups. Plasma EPA and DHA were only detected in the MARINE group, and EPA increased 40% (P < 0.001) from d 30 to 60, and DHA 19% (P < 0.01) from d 30 to 90. Red blood cell LA and ALA were not different among treatments. Red blood cell EPA and DHA were only detected in the MARINE group, where EPA increased 38% (P < 0.01) from d 30 to 60, and DHA increased 56% (P < 0.001) between d 30 and 90. Skeletal muscle LA was at least 17% less (P < 0.001) in the MARINE group compared with the other treatments. Skeletal muscle ALA was 15% less (P = 0.03) in the MARINE group compared with FLAX and CON groups. Skeletal muscle EPA was at least 25% greater (P < 0.001) in MARINE group compared with other treatments and increased (P < 0.001) by 71% from d 30 to 60. Skeletal muscle DHA was at least 57% greater (P < 0.001) in the MARINE group compared with other groups and increased (P < 0.001) by 40% between d 30 and 90. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study to demonstrate that dietary fatty acid supplementation will affect muscle fatty acid composition in horses. Incorporation of n-3 LCHUFA into blood and muscle depends directly on dietary supply of specific fatty acids.
Publication Date: 2012-09-12 PubMed ID: 22966078DOI: 10.2527/jas.2011-4412Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research aims to evaluate the response of horses to different sources of omega-3 fatty acid supplementation and its effect on plasma, red blood cell, and skeletal muscle fatty acid compositions. It found that the type of dietary fatty acid supplement fed to horses influences the muscle fatty acid composition.
Research Methodology
- A total of twenty-one mares were used in the research, categorised into three groups based on their age, body weight, and body condition score. Each group consisted of seven mares and was assigned a treatment course.
- There were three treatment categories: a control group with no supplement, a group fed a supplement blend from algae and fish oil (MARINE), and a group fed flaxseed meal (FLAX).
- The supplements were added to a base diet containing hay and barley and was fed to the mares for ninety days.
- Blood samples and muscle biopsies were taken at the start of the research and then on day 30, 60 and 90 during the course of supplementation.
- Fatty acid profiles of plasma, red blood cells, and skeletal muscle were analysed via gas chromatography.
Key Findings
- Compared to the FLAX and control group, the MARINE group had at least 10% less plasma linoleic acid, and 60% less alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).
- Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were only detected in the plasma of the MARINE group.
- Levels of EPA and DHA in red blood cells were only detected in the MARINE group.
- Muscle linoleic acid was at least 17% less, and muscle ALA 15% less, in the MARINE group compared to the other groups.
- Muscle EPA and DHA were at least 25% and 57% greater, respectively, in the MARINE group compared to the other groups.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that supplementing the diet with specific fatty acids directly affects their concentration in the blood and muscles of horses. It’s the first study to establish this correlation.
- Moreover, it was found that muscle fatty acid composition is dependent on the kind of dietary fatty acid supplement given to the horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Hess TM, Rexford JK, Hansen DK, Harris M, Schauermann N, Ross T, Engle TE, Allen KG, Mulligan CM.
(2012).
Effects of two different dietary sources of long chain omega-3, highly unsaturated fatty acids on incorporation into the plasma, red blood cell, and skeletal muscle in horses.
J Anim Sci, 90(9), 3023-3031.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2011-4412 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Science, Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523, USA. tanja.hess@colostate.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Diet / veterinary
- Erythrocytes / metabolism
- Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / chemistry
- Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / metabolism
- Female
- Fish Oils / chemistry
- Fish Oils / metabolism
- Flax / chemistry
- Flax / metabolism
- Horses / metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Plasma / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Mowry KC, Thomson-Parker TL, Morales C, Fikes KK, Stutts KJ, Leatherwood JL, Anderson MJ, Smith RX, Suagee-Bedore JK. Effects of Crude Rice Bran Oil and a Flaxseed Oil Blend in Young Horses Engaged in a Training Program. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 2;12(21).
- Wood J, Jb Minter L, Tollefson TN, Bissell H, Bibus D, Ange-van Heugten K. Implications of Nutritional Management on Fatty Acid Profiles of Southern White Rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum) Housed at Two Zoological Institutions. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 27;11(11).
- Christmann U, Hancock CL, Poole CM, Emery AL, Poovey JR, Hagg C, Mattson EA, Scarborough JJ, Christopher JS, Dixon AT, Craney DJ, Wood PL. Dynamics of DHA and EPA supplementation: incorporation into equine plasma, synovial fluid, and surfactant glycerophosphocholines. Metabolomics 2021 Apr 17;17(5):41.
- Dominguez TE, Kaur K, Burri L. Enhanced omega-3 index after long- versus short-chain omega-3 fatty acid supplementation in dogs. Vet Med Sci 2021 Mar;7(2):370-377.
- Camacho F, Macedo A, Malcata F. Potential Industrial Applications and Commercialization of Microalgae in the Functional Food and Feed Industries: A Short Review. Mar Drugs 2019 May 28;17(6).
- Fappi A, Neves JC, Kawasaki KA, Bacelar L, Sanches LN, P da Silva F, Larina-Neto R, Chadi G, Zanoteli E. Omega-3 multiple effects increasing glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy: autophagic, AMPK and UPS mechanisms. Physiol Rep 2019 Jan;7(1):e13966.
- Lum KK, Kim J, Lei XG. Dual potential of microalgae as a sustainable biofuel feedstock and animal feed. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2013 Dec 21;4(1):53.
- Snyder-Peterson EA, Shost N, Thomson-Parker T, Mowry KC, Fikes KK, Smith R, Corl B, Wagner A, Girard I, Suagee-Bedore JK. Mare Milk and Foal Plasma Fatty Acid Composition in Foals Born to Mares Fed Either Flax or Fish Oil During Late Gestation. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 30;15(11).
- Hartwig S, Rankovic A, McCrae P, Gagliardi K, Burron S, Ellis J, Ma DWL, Shoveller AK. The effects of a plant-based and a plant- and marine-based n-3 oil supplement on behavioral reactivity, heart rate variability, and plasma fatty acid profile in young healthy horses. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
- Hartwig S, Burron S, Richards T, Rankovic A, Ma DWL, Pearson W, Ellis J, Trevizan L, Seymour DJ, Shoveller AK. The effect of dietary camelina, flaxseed, and canola oil supplementation on skin fatty acid profile and immune and inflammatory responses in healthy adult horses. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
- Burron S, Richards T, Krebs G, Trevizan L, Rankovic A, Hartwig S, Pearson W, Ma DWL, Shoveller AK. The balance of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids in canine, feline, and equine nutrition: exploring sources and the significance of alpha-linolenic acid. J Anim Sci 2024 Jan 3;102.
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