FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2021; 10(12); 2013; doi: 10.3390/antiox10122013

Innovative Blood Antioxidant Test in Standardbred Trotter Horses.

Abstract: In athletic horses, prolonged and intense training gives rise to an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant molecules, leading to oxidative stress. Considering the relation between exercise and oxidative stress in horses, the present work aims to validate the Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test as a tool to verify the influence of taming, training and racing on the total blood antioxidant activity and some haematochemical parameters. Five Italian Standardbred racehorses (two males and three females, aged 12 ± 1 months) from the same training center were selected and monitored upon arrival and during the following year until the racing season. Blood samples were obtained at different timepoints, corresponding to different steps of training. The data showed that KRL values were higher ( < 0.001) before the beginning of the taming period and at 60 days of taming, compared with the training and racing periods; additionally, the total protein value was affected by the training program, whereas no effects of training on muscle enzymes were detected. These results confirm that exercise plays a role in the production of free radicals and show that the KRL test may represent a valid method to determine oxidative stress in athletic horses.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-12-18 PubMed ID: 34943116PubMed Central: PMC8698842DOI: 10.3390/antiox10122013Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

This research aims to validate a test called Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) in monitoring blood antioxidant activity and certain blood chemical parameters in athletic horses. The study indicates that intense training affects these horses’ antioxidant levels and production of free radicals, elements associated with oxidative stress.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • This study aimed to validate the use of the Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test to evaluate the impact of taming, training, and racing on horses’ total blood antioxidant activity and specific haematochemical parameters.
  • Five Italian Standardbred racehorses of roughly the same age and from the same training center were the subjects of this study.
  • The researchers collected blood samples at various points corresponding to different training stages over a year, beginning upon their arrival at the training center and continuing through the racing season.

Key Findings and Their Implications

  • The study found clear links between exercise and the production of free radicals, molecules associated with oxidative stress in horses.
  • Specifically, KRL values were higher before taming and at 60 days of taming compared to the training and racing periods. This result implies that the horses’ level of antioxidants was higher during early taming stages, and subsequently decreased as their training and racing intensity increased.
  • In addition, the research found that the horses’ total protein value was affected by the training program, indicating a possible connection between physical exertion and biochemical changes in the horses’ bodies.
  • Notably, the study found no effects of training intensity on muscle enzymes, suggesting that the antioxidant imbalance city attributed to exercise is not due to direct muscle damage.
  • The results confirm the Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) test’s validity in determining oxidative stress in athletic horses. Hence, this tool could help guide training programs to minimize harm and optimize performance in equine athletes.

Cite This Article

APA
Rossi R, Lo Feudo CM, Zucca E, Vizzarri F, Corino C, Ferrucci F. (2021). Innovative Blood Antioxidant Test in Standardbred Trotter Horses. Antioxidants (Basel), 10(12), 2013. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox10122013

Publication

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-3921
NlmUniqueID: 101668981
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 12
PII: 2013

Researcher Affiliations

Rossi, Raffaella
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Lo Feudo, Chiara Maria
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Zucca, Enrica
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Vizzarri, Francesco
  • Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via G. Amendola 165/A, 70126 Bari, Italy.
Corino, Carlo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.
Ferrucci, Francesco
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Dell'Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 26 references
  1. Uttara B, Singh AV, Zamboni P, Mahajan RT. Oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases: a review of upstream and downstream antioxidant therapeutic options.. Curr Neuropharmacol 2009 Mar;7(1):65-74.
    doi: 10.2174/157015909787602823pmc: PMC2724665pubmed: 19721819google scholar: lookup
  2. Maiese K, Chong ZZ, Hou J, Shang YC. Erythropoietin and oxidative stress.. Curr Neurovasc Res 2008 May;5(2):125-42.
    doi: 10.2174/156720208784310231pmc: PMC2570710pubmed: 18473829google scholar: lookup
  3. De Moffarts B, Kirschvink N, Art T, Pincemail J, Michaux C, Cayeux K, Defraigne JO, Lekeux P. Impact of training and exercise intensity on blood antioxidant markers in healthy Standardbred horses. Equine Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2004;1:211–220.
    doi: 10.1079/ECP200426google scholar: lookup
  4. Petibois C, Déléris G. Erythrocyte adaptation to oxidative stress in endurance training.. Arch Med Res 2005 Sep-Oct;36(5):524-31.
    doi: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2005.03.047pubmed: 16099333google scholar: lookup
  5. Cimen MY. Free radical metabolism in human erythrocytes.. Clin Chim Acta 2008 Apr;390(1-2):1-11.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2007.12.025pubmed: 18243141google scholar: lookup
  6. Kirschvink N, de Moffarts B, Lekeux P. The oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium in horses.. Vet J 2008 Aug;177(2):178-91.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.07.033pubmed: 17897849google scholar: lookup
  7. de Moffarts B, Kirschvink N, Art T, Pincemail J, Lekeux P. Effect of oral antioxidant supplementation on blood antioxidant status in trained thoroughbred horses.. Vet J 2005 Jan;169(1):65-74.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2003.12.012pubmed: 15683765google scholar: lookup
  8. Urso ML, Clarkson PM. Oxidative stress, exercise, and antioxidant supplementation.. Toxicology 2003 Jul 15;189(1-2):41-54.
    doi: 10.1016/S0300-483X(03)00151-3pubmed: 12821281google scholar: lookup
  9. Bergero D, Assenza A, Caola G. Contribution to our knowledge of the physiology and metabolism of endurance horses. Livest. Prod. Sci. 2005;92:167–176.
    doi: 10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.11.019google scholar: lookup
  10. Andriichuck A, Tkachenko H, Kurhaluk N. Gender Differences of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers and Erythrocyte Damage in Well-Trained Horses During Exercise. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2014;34:978–985.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.05.005google scholar: lookup
  11. Rossi R, Corino C, Pastorelli G, Durand P, Prost M. Assessment of antioxidant activity of natural extracts. Ital. J. Anim. Sci. 2009;8:655–657.
    doi: 10.4081/ijas.2009.s2.655google scholar: lookup
  12. Rossi R, Pastorelli G, Corino C. Application of KRL test to assess total antioxidant activity in pigs: sensitivity to dietary antioxidants.. Res Vet Sci 2013 Apr;94(2):372-7.
    doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2012.08.005pubmed: 22954789google scholar: lookup
  13. Pastorelli G, Faustini M, Corino C, Rossi R. Kit Radicaux Libres, a biological application for monitoring oxidative stress in pigs. Ital. J. Anim. Sci. 2013;12:432–435.
    doi: 10.4081/ijas.2013.e70google scholar: lookup
  14. National Research Council. Nutrient Requirements of Horses. 6th ed. National Academies Press; Washington DC, USA: 2007.
  15. Pieri C, Moroni F, Marra M. Food restriction increases the protection of erythrocytes against the hemolysis induced by peroxyl radicals.. Mech Ageing Dev 1996 May 24;87(1):15-23.
    doi: 10.1016/0047-6374(95)01694-5pubmed: 8735903google scholar: lookup
  16. Girodon F, Blache D, Monget AL, Lombart M, Brunet-Lecompte P, Arnaud J, Richard MJ, Galan P. Effect of a two-year supplementation with low doses of antioxidant vitamins and/or minerals in elderly subjects on levels of nutrients and antioxidant defense parameters.. J Am Coll Nutr 1997 Aug;16(4):357-65.
    doi: 10.1080/07315724.1997.10718698pubmed: 9263186google scholar: lookup
  17. Stocker P, Lesgards JF, Vidal N, Chalier F, Prost M. ESR study of a biological assay on whole blood: antioxidant efficiency of various vitamins.. Biochim Biophys Acta 2003 Apr 7;1621(1):1-8.
    doi: 10.1016/S0304-4165(03)00008-4pubmed: 12667604google scholar: lookup
  18. Chiaradia E, Avellini L, Rueca F, Spaterna A, Porciello F, Antonioni MT, Gaiti A. Physical exercise, oxidative stress and muscle damage in racehorses.. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 1998 Apr;119(4):833-6.
    doi: 10.1016/S0305-0491(98)10001-9pubmed: 9787774google scholar: lookup
  19. White A, Estrada M, Walker K, Wisnia P, Filgueira G, Valdés F, Araneda O, Behn C, Martínez R. Role of exercise and ascorbate on plasma antioxidant capacity in thoroughbred race horses.. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2001 Jan;128(1):99-104.
    doi: 10.1016/S1095-6433(00)00286-5pubmed: 11137442google scholar: lookup
  20. Williams CA. The effect of oxidative stress during exercise in the horse.. J Anim Sci 2016 Oct;94(10):4067-4075.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2015-9988pubmed: 27898872google scholar: lookup
  21. Powers SK, Talbert EE, Adhihetty PJ. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as intracellular signals in skeletal muscle.. J Physiol 2011 May 1;589(Pt 9):2129-38.
    doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2010.201327pmc: PMC3098692pubmed: 21224240google scholar: lookup
  22. Deaton CM, Marlin DJ. Exercise-associated oxidative stress. Clin. Tech. Equine Pract. 2003;2:278–291.
    doi: 10.1053/S1534-7516(03)00070-2google scholar: lookup
  23. Avellini L, Chiaradia E, Gaiti A. Effect of exercise training, selenium and vitamin E on some free radical scavengers in horses (Equus caballus).. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 1999 Jun;123(2):147-54.
    doi: 10.1016/S0305-0491(99)00045-0pubmed: 10425718google scholar: lookup
  24. Smarsh DN, Liburt N, Streltsova J, McKeever K, Williams CA. Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in intensely exercising horses administered nutraceutical extracts.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):317-22.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00182.xpubmed: 21059024google scholar: lookup
  25. Balogh N, Gaál T, Ribiczeyné PS, Petri A. Biochemical and antioxidant changes in plasma and erythrocytes of pentathlon horses before and after exercise.. Vet Clin Pathol 2001;30(4):214-218.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-165X.2001.tb00434.xpubmed: 12024305google scholar: lookup
  26. Ostaszewski P, Kowalska A, Szarska E, Szpotanski P, Cywinska AP, Bałasinska B, Sadkowski T. Effects of ß- hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate and oryzanol on blood biochemical markers in exercising Thoroughbred race horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2012;32:542–551.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2012.01.002google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Ferrucci F. Impact of Lower Airway Inflammation on Fitness Parameters in Standardbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 21;12(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12223228pubmed: 36428455google scholar: lookup
  2. Nefzi K, BenSouf I, Saidani M, Darej C, Bejaoui B, Ben Larbi M, M'Hamdi N, Lequart V, Joly N, Martin P. Green-synthesized natural antioxidants in poultry and livestock feed: enhancing oxidative stability and animal welfare. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1720052.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1720052pubmed: 41659960google scholar: lookup
  3. Wang J, Ren W, Li Z, Ma S, Li L, Wang R, Zeng Y, Meng J, Yao X. Blood-Based Whole-Genome Methylation Analysis of Yili Horses Pre- and Post-Racing. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 24;15(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15030326pubmed: 39943096google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,151 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.