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Orally supplemented L-arginine impairs amino acid absorption depending on dose in horses.
Abstract: The beneficial effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation, on the physiology of several species, has generated an interest in the use of L-Arg as a nutraceutical in horses, but dosage and absorption of orally supplemented L-Arg must be inferred from other species. The study objective was to determine the effect of 2 oral L-Arg doses on plasma arginine concentrations and the effect on absorption of other amino acids in mares. In Experiment 1, mares were blocked by age and breed and were fed L-Arg supplemented (supplemented with 0.025% BW L-Arg; n=6) or control (no supplement; n=6) concentrate on a single day with blood samples taken at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h relative to feeding. In Experiment 2, mares (n=6) were used in a 3×3 Latin square design with L-Arg (0.0125% of BW), urea (0.0087% of BW), and control (no supplement) fed mixed into a grain concentrate as single meal with blood samples taken at 0, 1,2, 4, 6, 8,10, and 12 h relative to feeding. In Experiment 1, L-Arg supplementation increased (P<0.05) plasma L-Arg and ornthine concentrations and decreased (P<0.05) lysine and methionine concentrations compared with the control group. At 1 h post feeding, L-Arg mares had lower (P<0.05) plasma concentrations of histidine, glutamic acid, proline, isoleucine, threonine, phenylalanine, leucine, valine, alanine, and taurine. In Experiment 2, L-Arg supplementation increased (P<0.05) arginine and ornithine concentrations compared with urea and control; there was no difference among other amino acids. These experiments indicate that L-Argis absorbed and, dependent on the dose, alters the absorption of other amino acids in mares.
Publication Date: 2014-11-17 PubMed ID: 25403187DOI: 10.2527/jas.2014-7690Google 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.
- Clinical Trial
- 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 investigates the effect of supplementing L-arginine, an amino acid, on horses. It finds that supplementing varying doses of L-arginine orally will change the absorption of other amino acids in the horse’s system, including arginine.
Research Objective and Design
- The study aimed to determine the effect of two orally supplemented doses of L-arginine on plasma arginine concentrations and the impact on the absorption of other amino acids in mares (female horses).
- It was composed of two experiments. In the first experiment, mares were split into two groups: one group received a 0.025% body weight dose of L-arginine supplement, while the control group received no supplement. Blood samples were taken at various time intervals after feeding.
- In the second experiment, three groups of mares were given a different supplement – L-arginine, urea, or no supplement (control) – mixed into a grain concentrate. Again, blood samples were taken at scheduled intervals post feeding.
Research Findings
- The first experiment saw an increase in plasma L-arginine and ornithine (another amino acid) concentrations, but a decrease in lysine and methionine (two other types of amino acids) concentrations, in mares supplemented with L-arginine compared to those without the supplement. It also noticed lower plasma concentrations of several other amino acids in the L-arginine group one hour after feeding.
- The second experiment found increased arginine and ornithine concentrations in horses supplemented with L-arginine compared to those in the urea group and the control group. It didn’t notice any difference in other amino acids among the groups.
Research Implications
- The research indicates that orally supplemented L-arginine is absorbed in mares, altering the absorption of other amino acids dependent on its dose.
- This has implications for using L-arginine as a supplement in horses, as it appears to affect the absorption and concentration of other necessary amino acids.
Cite This Article
APA
Kelley DE, Warren LK, Mortensen CJ.
(2014).
Orally supplemented L-arginine impairs amino acid absorption depending on dose in horses.
J Anim Sci, 92(12), 5560-5566.
https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2014-7690 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville 32608 dekelle@ufl.edu.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville 32608.
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville 32608.
MeSH Terms
- Absorption, Physiological / drug effects
- Administration, Oral
- Amino Acids / blood
- Amino Acids / metabolism
- Animals
- Arginine / administration & dosage
- Arginine / blood
- Arginine / pharmacology
- Dietary Supplements
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Least-Squares Analysis
- Time Factors
- Urea / blood
Citations
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