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Journal of equine science2009; 19(4); 83-89; doi: 10.1294/jes.19.83

Response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in thoroughbred horses.

Abstract: We studied the response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in horses. Four horses were walked on a mechanical walker for one week (pre-exercise). Then they performed low-speed exercise on a high-speed treadmill in the first week and medium-speed exercise in the second week and high-speed exercise in the third week of training. We measured two indices of bone resorption, serum hydroxyproline concentration and the urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, and serum osteocalcin (OC) concentration as an index of bone formation. Both indices of bone resorption gradually decreased during the experiment. Serum OC concentration did not change in the first week but was significantly lower in the second and the third weeks compared to in the pre-exercise period and in the first week. These results suggest that the low-speed exercise decreased bone resorption but did not affect bone formation, which possibly results in increasing bone mineral content and strengthening of bones. The high-speed exercise decreased bone formation and bone resorption, i.e., bone turnover was suppressed. The low-speed exercise may be preferable for increasing bone mineral content.
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Publication Date: 2009-01-09 PubMed ID: 24833958PubMed Central: PMC4013950DOI: 10.1294/jes.19.83Google 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 study investigates how various exercise intensities influence biochemical markers of bone metabolism in horses. Findings suggest that low-speed exercise decreases bone resorption but does not affect bone formation, potentially leading to increased bone mineral contents and stronger bones. High-speed exercise, on the other hand, was found to suppress bone turnover.

Understanding the Study

This study looks at how exercise intensity impacts the bone metabolism of thoroughbred horses. The experiment involved four horses that were initially walked on a mechanical walker for a week to establish a baseline. The horses were exercised on a high-speed treadmill for the following three weeks, each week increasing the exercise intensity – starting with low-speed, then medium-speed, and finally high-speed exercises.

During the experiment, researchers measured specific indicators for biochemical bone metabolism:

  • Two indices were used to measure bone resorption: serum hydroxyproline concentration and the urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio.
  • Serum osteocalcin (OC) concentration was measured as an index of bone formation.

Findings of the Study

The study found that both indices of bone resorption gradually decreased during the experiment, indicating a decrease in the breakdown of bone tissue. Specifically:

  • Low-speed exercise resulted in lower bone resorption levels but did not alter bone formation.
  • High-speed exercise led to suppressed levels of both bone formation and bone resorption. This indicates a reduction in overall bone turnover.

This suggests that low-speed exercises may be beneficial for increasing the bone mineral content in horses and strengthening their bones. On the other hand, high-speed exercises could suppress bone turnover, which may not be as beneficial for bone health.

Implications of the Results

The results of this study provide new insights into how exercise regimen, specifically speed and intensity, can affect horse bone metabolism. Understanding these dynamics can help trainers and handlers in devising appropriate exercise routines for thoroughbred horses, ensuring optimal bone health and preventing injuries related to bone weaknesses. The findings also indicate that low-intensity exercise may be more beneficial for the long-term bone health in horses as compared to high-intensity exercise.

Cite This Article

APA
Inoue Y, Matsui A, Asai Y, Aoki F, Yoshimoto K, Matsui T, Yano H. (2009). Response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in thoroughbred horses. J Equine Sci, 19(4), 83-89. https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.19.83

Publication

Journal of equine science
ISSN: 1340-3516
NlmUniqueID: 9503751
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Pages: 83-89

Researcher Affiliations

Inoue, Yoshinobu
  • Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, 535-13 Aza-Nishicha, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Matsui, Akira
  • Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, 535-13 Aza-Nishicha, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Asai, Yo
  • Equine Science Division, Hidaka Training and Research Center, Japan Racing Association, 535-13 Aza-Nishicha, Urakawa-cho, Urakawa-gun, Hokkaido 057-0171, Japan.
Aoki, Fumiki
  • Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
Yoshimoto, Kenji
  • Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
Matsui, Tohru
  • Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.
Yano, Hideo
  • Division of Applied Biosciences, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Turlo AJ, Cywinska A, Frisbie DD. Revisiting predictive biomarkers of musculoskeletal injury in thoroughbred racehorses: longitudinal study in polish population. BMC Vet Res 2019 Feb 26;15(1):66.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1799-7pubmed: 30808359google scholar: lookup
  2. Maeda Y, Hanada M, Oikawa MA. Epidemiology of racing injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses with special reference to bone fractures: Japanese experience from the 1980s to 2000s. J Equine Sci 2016;27(3):81-97.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.27.81pubmed: 27703403google scholar: lookup
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