FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Translational animal science2024; 8; txae124; doi: 10.1093/tas/txae124

Oral probiotic administration attenuates postexercise inflammation in horses.

Abstract: Probiotics are commonly incorporated into equine diets to impart health and performance benefits; however, peer-reviewed evidence supporting their efficacy in horses is limited. Interestingly, bacteria from the Bacillus genus are gaining interest for their unique ability to impact metabolic, immune, and inflammatory pathways. The objective of this trial was to evaluate a selection of Bacilli for their role in altering the inflammatory response in horses to exercise. Eighteen horses were utilized in a randomized cross-over trial. Horses were randomly assigned to one of 6 starting treatments including a negative and positive control, and groups that received one of 4 probiotics (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086, Bacillus subtilis-1, Bacillus subtilis-2, or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) top dressed to their daily ration at a rate of 8 billion CFU/d mixed into dried whey powder. All horses received a similar base diet of grass hay offered at 2.0% of bodyweight daily along with 4.54 kg of a commercially available textured horse feed. Each 3-wk phase of the trial consisted of a 2-wk dietary acclimation followed by a 1-wk exercise challenge and sample collection. Between phases, horses were offered only their base diet. On the day of exercise, horses were offered their 0700 ration and then subjected to a 2-h standardized exercise test. Blood samples were obtained prior to starting exercise and then again at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48, and 72-h postexercise. Horses in the positive control group were administered 0.23 mg/kg BW flunixin meglumine immediately following the 0-h sampling. Samples were analyzed for serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) concentrations. Data were evaluated via ANOVA using the MIXED procedure in SAS 9.4. Exercise-induced inflammation as evidenced by SAA, IL-6, and PGE2 increases postexercise. Horses consuming B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 had reduced production of SAA, IL-6, and PGE2 compared to all other probiotic-fed groups and the negative control (P < 0.001). The positive control successfully ameliorated the postexercise inflammatory response. These data highlight the potential for B. coagulans GBI-30, 6086 to be incorporated into equine rations as a method to support optimal response to exercise or other inflammation-inducing challenges. Additional research is ongoing to elucidate the methodology by which these results occur.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-08-13 PubMed ID: 39281311PubMed Central: PMC11401344DOI: 10.1093/tas/txae124Google 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.

The study tests the impact of giving horses a particular type of probiotic, and suggests that it reduces inflammation after exercise.

Objective and Experiment Design

  • The research aimed to examine the role of selected bacteria from the genus in altering the inflammatory response in horses after exercise.
  • The researchers used 18 horses in a randomized cross-over trial. The horses were randomly divided into six groups, including a negative and positive control, as well as four groups that received different probiotics top dressed to their daily meals. The probiotic dosage was mixed into dried whey powder at a rate of 8 billion colony-forming units (CFU) per day.
  • Each three-week phase of the experiment consisted of a two-week diet change period followed by a one-week exercise challenge and sample collection. Between phases, horses were only given their base diet.
  • On the day of exercise, horses were given their morning feed and then subjected to a two-hour standardized exercise test. Blood samples were taken before starting exercise and then again at various points up to 72 hours after exercise.
  • The positive control group was administered with flunixin meglumine, an anti-inflammatory drug, immediately following the first sampling.

Results

  • Exercise caused inflammation, shown by rises in serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and prostaglandin E (PGE).
  • Horses receiving a specific probiotic strain (GBI-30, 6086) produced less SAA, IL-6, and PGE after exercise than all other probiotic-fed groups and the negative control.
  • The positive control group which received an anti-inflammatory drug successfully reduced the post-exercise inflammatory response.

Conclusion

  • The results showed potential for the specific probiotic strain, GBI-30 6086, to be used in horse diets to assist in managing post-exercise inflammation.
  • Additional research is in progress to understand how these probiotics achieve this effect.

Cite This Article

APA
Jacobs RD, Grum D, Trible B, Ayala DI, Karnezos TP, Gordon ME. (2024). Oral probiotic administration attenuates postexercise inflammation in horses. Transl Anim Sci, 8, txae124. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txae124

Publication

Translational animal science
ISSN: 2573-2102
NlmUniqueID: 101738705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: txae124

Researcher Affiliations

Jacobs, Robert D
  • Land O Lakes, Purina Animal Nutrition, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA.
Grum, Daniel
  • Land O Lakes, Purina Animal Nutrition, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA.
Trible, Benjamin
  • Land O Lakes, Purina Animal Nutrition, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA.
Ayala, Diana I
  • Land O Lakes, Purina Animal Nutrition, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA.
Karnezos, Theodore P
  • Land O Lakes, Purina Animal Nutrition, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA.
Gordon, Mary E
  • Land O Lakes, Purina Animal Nutrition, Gray Summit, MO 63039, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

All authors were employed by Land O Lakes (Purina Animal Nutrition) at the time of this study. All appropriate declarations have been made.

References

This article includes 48 references
  1. Allaart JG, van Asten AJ, Vernooij JC, Grone A. Effect of lactobacillus fermentum on beta2 toxin production by clostridium perfringens. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 77:4406–4411.
    doi: 10.1128/AEM.03002-10pmc: PMC3127699pubmed: 21602389google scholar: lookup
  2. Ayala DI, Grum DS, Evans NP, Russo KN, Kimminau EA, Trible BR, Lahoti MM, Novak CL, Karnezos TP. Identification and characterization of the causative agents of Focal Ulcerative Dermatitis in commercial laying hens. Front. Vet. Sci. 10:1110573.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1110573pmc: PMC9945107pubmed: 36846268google scholar: lookup
  3. Azad MAK, Sarker M, Wan D. Immunomodulatory effects of probiotics on cytokine profiles. Biomed. Res. Int. 2018:8063647.
    doi: 10.1155/2018/8063647pmc: PMC6218795pubmed: 30426014google scholar: lookup
  4. Baron M. A patented strain of Bacillus coagulans increased immune response to viral challenge. Postgrad. Med. 121:114–118.
    doi: 10.3810/pgm.2009.03.1971pubmed: 19332969google scholar: lookup
  5. Bernardeau M, Lehtinen MJ, Forssten SD, Nurminen P. Importance of the gastrointestinal life cycle of Bacillus for probiotic functionality. J. Food Sci. Technol. 54:2570–2584.
    doi: 10.1007/s13197-017-2688-3pmc: PMC5502041pubmed: 28740315google scholar: lookup
  6. Brunner TJ, Lescun TB, Moore GE, Grady SE, Davern AJ, Taylor SD. Induction of noninflammatory pain in an experimental foot lameness model in horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 87:102925.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102925pubmed: 32172915google scholar: lookup
  7. Busk P, Jacobsen S, Martinussen T. Administration of perioperative penicillin reduces postoperative serum amyloid A response in horses being castrated standing. Vet. Surg. 39:638–643.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2010.00704.xpubmed: 20459482google scholar: lookup
  8. Chen X, Kokkotou EG, Mustafa N, Bhaskar KR, Sougioultzis S, O’Brien M, Pothoulakis C, Kelly CP. Saccharomyces boulardii inhibits ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation both in vitro and in vivo and protects against Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced enteritis. J. Biol. Chem. 281:24449–24454.
    doi: 10.1074/jbc.M605200200pubmed: 16816386google scholar: lookup
  9. Collado MC, Grzeskowiak L, Salminen S. Probiotic strains and their combination inhibit in vitro adhesion of pathogens to pig intestinal mucosa. Curr. Microbiol. 55:260–265.
    doi: 10.1007/s00284-007-0144-8pubmed: 17657533google scholar: lookup
  10. Cooke CG, Gibb Z, Harnett JE. The safety, tolerability and efficacy of probiotic bacteria for equine use. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 99:103407.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103407pubmed: 33781424google scholar: lookup
  11. Costa MC, Arroyo LG, Allen-Vercoe E, Stampfli HR, Kim PT, Sturgeon A, Weese JS. Comparison of the fecal microbiota of healthy horses and horses with colitis by high throughput sequencing of the V3-V5 region of the 16S rRNA gene. PLoS One 7:e41484.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041484pmc: PMC3409227pubmed: 22859989google scholar: lookup
  12. Costa MC, Weese JS. The equine intestinal microbiome. Anim. Health Res. Rev. 13:121–128.
    doi: 10.1017/S1466252312000035pubmed: 22626511google scholar: lookup
  13. Crisman MV, Scarratt WK, Zimmerman KL. Blood proteins and inflammation in the horse. Vet. Clin. North Am. Equine Pract. 24:285–297, vi.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2008.03.004pubmed: 18652956google scholar: lookup
  14. Cywinska A, Gorecka R, Szarska E, Witkowski L, Dziekan P, Schollenberger A. Serum amyloid A level as a potential indicator of the status of endurance horses. Equine Vet. J. Suppl 38:23–27.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00280.xpubmed: 21058978google scholar: lookup
  15. Cywinska A, Witkowski L, Szarska E, Schollenberger A, Winnicka A. Serum amyloid A (SAA) concentration after training sessions in Arabian race and endurance horses. BMC Vet. Res. 9:91.
    doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-9-91pmc: PMC3655847pubmed: 23634727google scholar: lookup
  16. Dominguez-Bello MG, Blaser MJ. Do you have a probiotic in your future?. Microbes Infect. 10:1072–1076.
    doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2008.07.036pmc: PMC2613679pubmed: 18762263google scholar: lookup
  17. Donovan DC, Jackson CA, Colahan PT, Norton N, Hurley DJ. Exercise-induced alterations in pro-inflammatory cytokines and prostaglandin F2alpha in horses. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 118:263–269.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2007.05.015pubmed: 17617470google scholar: lookup
  18. Donovan DC, Jackson CA, Colahan PT, Norton NN, Clapper JL, Moore JN, Hurley DJ. Assessment of exercise-induced alterations in neutrophil function in horses. Am. J. Vet. Res. 68:1198–1204.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.68.11.1198pubmed: 17975974google scholar: lookup
  19. Dougal K, Fuente G de la, Harris PA, Girdwood SE, Pinloche E, Newbold CJ. Identification of a core bacterial community within the large intestine of the horse. PLoS One 8:e77660.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077660pmc: PMC3812009pubmed: 24204908google scholar: lookup
  20. Eckersall PD, Bell R. Acute phase proteins: Biomarkers of infection and inflammation in veterinary medicine. Vet. J. 185:23–27.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.04.009pubmed: 20621712google scholar: lookup
  21. Guarner F, Malagelada JR. Gut flora in health and disease. Lancet 361:512–519.
    doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12489-0pubmed: 12583961google scholar: lookup
  22. Hun L. Bacillus coagulans significantly improved abdominal pain and bloating in patients with IBS. Postgrad. Med. 121:119–124.
    doi: 10.3810/pgm.2009.03.1984pubmed: 19332970google scholar: lookup
  23. Jager R, Shields KA, Lowery RP, De Souza EO, Partl JM, Hollmer C, Purpura M, Wilson JM. Probiotic Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 reduces exercise-induced muscle damage and increases recovery. PeerJ 4:e2276.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.2276pmc: PMC4963221pubmed: 27547577google scholar: lookup
  24. Jensen GS, Benson KF, Carter SG, Endres JR. GanedenBC30 cell wall and metabolites: anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects in vitro. BMC Immunol. 11:15.
    doi: 10.1186/1471-2172-11-15pmc: PMC2858026pubmed: 20331905google scholar: lookup
  25. Jeon HL, Lee NK, Yang SJ, Kim WS, Paik HD. Probiotic characterization of Bacillus subtilis P223 isolated from kimchi. Food Sci. Biotechnol. 26:1641–1648.
    doi: 10.1007/s10068-017-0148-5pmc: PMC6049726pubmed: 30263701google scholar: lookup
  26. Jones SE, Versalovic J. Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri biofilms produce antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory factors. BMC Microbiol. 9:35.
    doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-9-35pmc: PMC2653509pubmed: 19210794google scholar: lookup
  27. Jouany JP, Gobert J, Medina B, Bertin G, Julliand V. Effect of live yeast culture supplementation on apparent digestibility and rate of passage in horses fed a high-fiber or high-starch diet. J. Anim. Sci. 86:339–347.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2006-796pubmed: 17911241google scholar: lookup
  28. Jouany JP, Medina B, Bertin G, Julliand V. Effect of live yeast culture supplementation on hindgut microbial communities and their polysaccharidase and glycoside hydrolase activities in horses fed a high-fiber or high-starch diet. J. Anim. Sci. 87:2844–2852.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2008-1602pubmed: 19465499google scholar: lookup
  29. Kauter A, Epping L, Semmler T, Antao EM, Kannapin D, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H, Lubke-Becker A, Gunther S, Wieler LH. The gut microbiome of horses: current research on equine enteral microbiota and future perspectives. Anim. Microbiome 1:14.
    doi: 10.1186/s42523-019-0013-3pmc: PMC7807895pubmed: 33499951google scholar: lookup
  30. Kechagia M, Basoulis D, Konstantopoulou S, Dimitriadi D, Gyftopoulou K, Skarmoutsou N, Fakiri EM. Health benefits of probiotics: a review. ISRN Nutr. 2013:481651.
    doi: 10.5402/2013/481651pmc: PMC4045285pubmed: 24959545google scholar: lookup
  31. Majeed M, Nagabhushanam K, Natarajan S, Sivakumar A, Ali F, Pande A, Majeed S, Karri SK. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 supplementation in the management of diarrhea predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a double blind randomized placebo controlled pilot clinical study. Nutr. J. 15:21.
    doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0140-6pmc: PMC4769834pubmed: 26922379google scholar: lookup
  32. Ng SC, Hart AL, Kamm MA, Stagg AJ, Knight SC. Mechanisms of action of probiotics: recent advances. Inflamm. Bowel Dis. 15:300–310.
    doi: 10.1002/ibd.20602pubmed: 18626975google scholar: lookup
  33. Nicholson WL, Munakata N, Horneck G, Melosh HJ, Setlow P. Resistance of Bacillus endospores to extreme terrestrial and extraterrestrial environments. Microbiol. Mol. Biol. Rev. 64:548–572.
    doi: 10.1128/MMBR.64.3.548-572.2000pmc: PMC99004pubmed: 10974126google scholar: lookup
  34. Paik HD, Park JS, Park E. Effects of Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD on lipid and antioxidant metabolisms in rats fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 28:1270–1274.
    doi: 10.1248/bpb.28.1270pubmed: 15997112google scholar: lookup
  35. Ruemmele FM, Bier D, Marteau P, Rechkemmer G, Bourdet-Sicard R, Walker WA, Goulet O. Clinical evidence for immunomodulatory effects of probiotic bacteria. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 48:126–141.
    doi: 10.1097/MPG.0b013e31817d80capubmed: 19179874google scholar: lookup
  36. Saarela M, Mogensen G, Fonden R, Matto J, Mattila-Sandholm T. Probiotic bacteria: safety, functional and technological properties. J. Biotechnol. 84:197–215.
    doi: 10.1016/s0168-1656(00)00375-8pubmed: 11164262google scholar: lookup
  37. Sarkar A, Lehto SM, Harty S, Dinan TG, Cryan JF, Burnet PWJ. Psychobiotics and the manipulation of bacteria-gut-brain signals. Trends Neurosci. 39:763–781.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2016.09.002pmc: PMC5102282pubmed: 27793434google scholar: lookup
  38. Schmid-Schonbein GW. Analysis of inflammation. Annu. Rev. Biomed. Eng. 8:93–131.
    doi: 10.1146/annurev.bioeng.8.061505.095708pubmed: 16834553google scholar: lookup
  39. Schoster A. Probiotic use in equine gastrointestinal disease. Vet. Clin. North Am. Equine Pract. 34:13–24.
    doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2017.11.004pubmed: 29402478google scholar: lookup
  40. Schoster A, Weese JS, Guardabassi L. Probiotic use in horses – what is the evidence for their clinical efficacy?. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 28:1640–1652.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.12451pmc: PMC4895607pubmed: 25231539google scholar: lookup
  41. Sorokulova IB, Pinchuk IV, Denayrolles M, Osipova IG, Huang JM, Cutting SM, Urdaci MC. The safety of two Bacillus probiotic strains for human use. Dig. Dis. Sci. 53:954–963.
    doi: 10.1007/s10620-007-9959-1pubmed: 17934835google scholar: lookup
  42. Stewart AS, Pratt-Phillips S, Gonzalez LM. Alterations in intestinal permeability: the role of the “leaky gut” in health and disease. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 52:10–22.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.02.009pmc: PMC6467570pubmed: 31000910google scholar: lookup
  43. Sudha MR, Jayanthi N, Aasin M, Dhanashri RD, Anirudh T. Efficacy of Bacillus coagulans Unique IS2 in treatment of irritable bowel syndrome in children: a double blind, randomised placebo controlled study. Benef. Microbes 9:563–572.
    doi: 10.3920/BM2017.0129pubmed: 29695183google scholar: lookup
  44. Tanabe S, Suzuki T, Wasano Y, Nakajima F, Kawasaki H, Tsuda T, Nagamine N, Tsurumachi T, Sugaya K, Akita H. Anti-inflammatory and intestinal barrier-protective activities of commensal lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in thoroughbreds: role of probiotics in diarrhea prevention in neonatal thoroughbreds. J. Equine Sci. 25:37–43.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.25.37pmc: PMC4090357pubmed: 25013357google scholar: lookup
  45. Vick MM, Murphy BA, Sessions DR, Reedy SE, Kennedy EL, Horohov DW, Cook RF, Fitzgerald BP. Effects of systemic inflammation on insulin sensitivity in horses and inflammatory cytokine expression in adipose tissue. Am. J. Vet. Res. 69:130–139.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.69.1.130pubmed: 18167098google scholar: lookup
  46. Weese JS, Anderson ME, Lowe A, Monteith GJ. Preliminary investigation of the probiotic potential of Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain GG in horses: fecal recovery following oral administration and safety. Can. Vet. J. 44:299–302.
    pmc: PMC372248pubmed: 12715981
  47. Weese JS, Martin H. Assessment of commercial probiotic bacterial contents and label accuracy. Can. Vet. J. 52:43–46.
    pmc: PMC3003573pubmed: 21461205
  48. Yang HJ, Kwon DY, Kim HJ, Kim MJ, Jung DY, Kang HJ, Kim DS, Kang S, Moon NR, Shin BK. Fermenting soybeans with Bacillus licheniformis potentiates their capacity to improve cognitive function and glucose homeostasis in diabetic rats with experimental Alzheimer’s type dementia. Eur. J. Nutr. 54:77–88.
    doi: 10.1007/s00394-014-0687-ypubmed: 24700374google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Mojsym W, Kowalik S, Chałabis-Mazurek A, Janczarek I, Kędzierski W. Does the Relationship Between Microelements (Copper, Zinc and Selenium) and Proinflammatory Proteins (IL-6, IL-8 and Tissue Factor) Have Diagnostic Value in Equine Medicine?. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Oct 27;26(21).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms262110429pubmed: 41226467google scholar: lookup
  2. Ibeagha-Awemu EM, Omonijo FA, Piché LC, Vincent AT. Alternatives to antibiotics for sustainable livestock production in the context of the One Health approach: tackling a common foe. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1605215.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1605215pubmed: 40881639google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,970 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.