Efficacy of a pectin-lecithin complex for treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses.

This research paper is about a study which tested the effectiveness of a pectin-lecithin supplement in preventing and treating gastric ulcers in horses. The study found that the supplement did not significantly reduce the risk or severity of gastric ulcers.

Study Design

• The study was designed as a crossover, blinded study, involving ten mares in total. The mares were divided into two groups: a treatment group and a control group. Five mares were assigned to each group.
• The mares were exposed to an experimental ulceration model, which involved changes to their feeding routines. These changes were designed to simulate the conditions that often result in gastric ulceration in horses.
• A pectin-lecithin complex, a commercial feed supplement, was fed to the mares in the treatment group, while the control group was not given the supplement. The mares were all kept in the same conditions and fed the same diet except for the supplement.

Procedures and Evaluation

• The mares were stabled and fed for four weeks. After this, they underwent a week of alternating feed deprivation.
• Gastroscopy, a procedure that allows for a visual examination of the horse’s stomach, was performed on three occasions during the study: at the beginning, after four weeks, and after a week of alternating feed deprivation. These gastroscopies were digitally recorded.
• The recordings were independently evaluated by three experienced gastroscopists. They used the Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) scoring system to assess the presence and severity of squamous ulcers in the horses.

Study Findings

• The prevalence and severity of squamous ulcers significantly increased after intermittent feed deprivation, indicating that changing the feeding routine could contribute to a higher risk of gastric ulcers in horses.
• However, there was no significant effect observed from the treatment with the pectin-lecithin complex.
• Thus, according to this study, the addition of a pectin-lecithin complex to the horse’s feed does not seem to prevent or minimize the risk of gastric ulceration.