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Translational animal science2020; 4(3); txaa150; doi: 10.1093/tas/txaa150

Evaluation of an oral joint supplement on gait kinematics and biomarkers of cartilage metabolism and inflammation in mature riding horses.

Abstract: Twenty stock-type horses (589 ± 126 kg BW; 13 ± 8 yr) were used in a completely randomized design for 28-d to evaluate the impact of a joint supplement on gait kinematics, inflammation, and cartilage metabolism. Horses were stratified by age, sex, body weight (BW), and initial lameness scores and were randomly assigned to one of two dietary treatments consisting of either a 100-g placebo top-dressed daily to 0.6% BW (as-fed) commercial concentrate (CON; n = 10; SafeChoice Original, Cargill, Inc.), or an oral joint supplement (SmartPak Equine LLC) containing glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, methylsulfonylmethane, turmeric, resveratrol, collagen, silica, and boron (TRT; n = 10). Horses were group-housed with ad libitum access to coastal bermudagrass hay (Cynodon dactylon) and allowed to graze pasture 2 h/d. Horses were exercised progressively 4 d/wk at 45 min each. On days 13 and 27, blood was harvested followed by a 19.3-km exercise stressor on concrete. Horses traveled at the walk, with no more than 15 min at the trot. Every 14 d, BW and BCS were recorded, and blood was collected for plasma prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), serum collagenase cleavage neopeptide (C2C), carboxypropeptide of type II collagen (CPII), and chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope (CS846) analysis. Kinematic gait analysis was performed every 14 d (Kinovea v.0.8.15) to determine stride length (SL) and range of motion (ROM) of the knee and hock at the walk and trot. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. All horses increased BW and BCS over time (P ≤ 0.01). Hock ROM increased in TRT horses (P ≤ 0.02) at the walk and tended to increase at the trot compared to CON (P = 0.09). At the walk, SL and knee ROM increased over time, independent of dietary treatment (P ≤ 0.01); no time effect was observed at the trot (P > 0.15). Regardless of treatment, C2C and CPII increased over time (P ≤ 0.05) and no effect was observed for CS846 or PGE2 (P > 0.12). In response to the exercise stressor, CPII and PGE2 decreased (P ≤ 0.05) from day 13 to 14, and CS846 and PGE2 tended to decrease (P ≤ 0.10) from day 27 to 28, independent of dietary treatment. In conclusion, hock ROM at the walk and trot was most sensitive to dietary treatment. Supplementation did not alter biomarker concentration of collagen metabolites or systemic inflammation in the 28-d period, but a future study utilizing arthrocentesis may be warranted to specifically evaluate intra-articular response to dietary treatment.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
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Publication Date: 2020-08-24 PubMed ID: 32968713PubMed Central: PMC7497898DOI: 10.1093/tas/txaa150Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study evaluates the effects of an oral joint supplement on the gait and cartilage metabolism of mature riding horses. The researchers found that the supplement increased the range of motion in the hock of the horses but did not change the biomarker concentration related to collagen metabolism or systemic inflammation within a 28-day period.

Study Design

  • The study was conducted on twenty stock-type horses with an average body weight of around 589kg and aged around 13 years. The horses were divided into two groups – a control group and a treatment group.
  • The control group was given a daily dietary treatment of a 100g placebo mixed with a commercial concentrate.
  • The treatment group was given a daily dose of the joint supplement that contained a mixture of glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, methylsulfonylmethane, turmeric, resveratrol, collagen, silica, and boron.
  • All horses were given access to coastal bermudagrass hay and had 2 hours per day grazing time in the pasture.
  • Horses from both groups were exercised four times a week, for about 45 minutes each session, and were put through an exercise stressor on concrete on days 13 and 27 of the study.

Data Collection and Analysis

  • Data regarding the horses’ body weight and body condition scores were recorded every 14 days, and blood samples were collected for biomarker analysis.
  • Biomarkers such as plasma prostaglandin E, serum collagenase cleavage neopeptide, carboxypropeptide of type II collagen, and chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope were analysed in the blood samples.
  • Stride length and range of motion (ROM) of the knee and hock of the horses were measured at both the walk and trot paces, with data analyzed using the SAS (Statistical Analysis System) software.

Findings

  • It was found that all horses, in both the control and treatment groups, gained weight over the course of the study.
  • The ROM of the hock in the treatment group increased at the walk, and there was a trend of increase at the trot, compared to the control group.
  • Stride length, and knee ROM at the walk, increased over the course of the study, independent of dietary treatment. No such changes were observed at the trot.
  • Blood biomarkers indicated that serum collagenase cleavage neopeptide and carboxypropeptide of type II collagen increased over time, regardless of treatment, while no significant change was observed for chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope or plasma prostaglandin E.
  • In response to the exercise stressor, levels of carboxypropeptide of type II collagen and plasma prostaglandin E dropped, while chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope and plasma prostaglandin E showed a trend of decrease, irrespective of the dietary treatment.
  • The study concludes that the dietary supplement affected the ROM of the walk and trot, while other markers remained unaffected within the 28-day period.

Implications

  • While the joint supplement showed some improvement in horses’ hock ROM, the study suggests further research may be needed to evaluate the specific response to dietary treatment within the joint, possibly using arthrocentesis.
  • The research also highlights that such dietary treatment does not alter systemic inflammation or collagen metabolite concentration within a short time frame, which could be of importance for those using joint supplements in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Much ML, Leatherwood JL, Martinez RE, Silvers BL, Basta CF, Gray LF, Bradbery AN. (2020). Evaluation of an oral joint supplement on gait kinematics and biomarkers of cartilage metabolism and inflammation in mature riding horses. Transl Anim Sci, 4(3), txaa150. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa150

Publication

Translational animal science
ISSN: 2573-2102
NlmUniqueID: 101738705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 3
Pages: txaa150

Researcher Affiliations

Much, Mattea L
  • Texas A&M University, Department of Animal Science, College Station, TX.
Leatherwood, Jessica L
  • Texas A&M University, Department of Animal Science, College Station, TX.
Martinez, Rafael E
  • Texas A&M University, Department of Animal Science, College Station, TX.
Silvers, Brittany L
  • Texas A&M University, Department of Animal Science, College Station, TX.
Basta, Casey F
  • SmartPak Equine LLC, Plymouth, MA.
Gray, Lydia F
  • SmartPak Equine LLC, Plymouth, MA.
Bradbery, Amanda N
  • Texas A&M University, Department of Animal Science, College Station, TX.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Riley JW, Chance LM, Barshick MR, Johnson SE. Administration of sodium hyaluronate to adult horses prior to and immediately after exercise does not alter the range of motion in either the tarsus or metacarpophalangeal joints. Transl Anim Sci 2024;8:txae153.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txae153pubmed: 39554613google scholar: lookup
  2. Leise JM, Leatherwood JL, Paris BL, Walter KW, George JM, Martinez RE, Glass KP, Lo CP, Mays TP, Wickersham TA. Evaluation of an Oral Supplemental Cannabidiol Product for Acceptability and Performance in Mature Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jan 10;13(2).
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  3. Clarke EJ, Gillen A, Turlo A, Peffers MJ. An Evaluation of Current Preventative Measures Used in Equine Practice to Maintain Distal Forelimb Functionality: A Mini Review. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:758970.
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