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Veterinary sciences2022; 10(1); 27; doi: 10.3390/vetsci10010027

Results of a Clinical Trial Showing Changes to the Faecal Microbiome in Racing Thoroughbreds after Feeding a Nutritional Supplement.

Abstract: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used to evaluate the effect of various interventions on the equine microbiome. The aim of this randomised blinded clinical trial was to determine if a prebiotic nutritional supplement would result in a change from baseline in the faecal microbiome composition of racing Thoroughbred horses in training being fed a high concentrate/grain-based diet to be more similar to that found in forage fed/pasture grazed horses. Thirty-two horses on one training yard were randomised to either receive the supplement or not. Faecal samples were collected at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks for NGS of the 16S ribosomal subunit gene. Twenty-two horses completed the trial, met the inclusion criteria and were included in the intention to treat analysis; 20 horses were included in the per protocol analysis. The mean and median percent decreases in , increases in and the ratio were significantly greater than zero for the treated horses only. Supplemented horses (8/10) were more likely than control horses (2/10) to show an increase in of a ≥9% with ≥24% increase in , ≥5% decrease in , ≥16% increase in the F:B ratio and ≥2% increase in (RR = 4, 95% CI: 1.1-14.4, = 0.01). This provides useful information for further investigations on long-term effects on the microbiome and on health and racing-related outcomes.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-30 PubMed ID: 36669028PubMed Central: PMC9861731DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10010027Google 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.

This research study utilized next-generation sequencing to observe the effects of a prebiotic supplement on the gut microbiome of thoroughbred racehorses with a high grain diet, revealing significant improvements in certain microbial compositions more comparable to horses fed on forage or pasture.

Research Context and Methodology

  • The study focused on how prebiotic nutritional supplements affect the composition of the faecal microbiome in Thoroughbred racehorses. The horses included in the study were primarily consuming a high concentrate/grain-based diet, which is different from their natural grazing diet and could potentially affect the diversity of their gut microbiome.
  • In an attempt to improve the microbiome composition and bring it closer to that of horses with a forage or pasture diet, the research team introduced a prebiotic supplement into some of the horses’ diets.
  • The study was randomised and blind, meaning the participants were randomly assigned to either the control group or the treatment group, and the researchers did not know which group a participant was in during the trial. This helped eliminate bias.
  • Faecal samples were collected from the horses at the start of the trial, and then again at 6 and 12 weeks. Subsequently, they were analysed using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), a method that enables rapid sequencing of the DNA within the faecal samples.

Results and Significance

  • Of the 32 horses that were part of the trial, 22 completed it and met the inclusion criteria. The changes in the faecal microbiome were evaluated in these horses based on their ‘intention to treat’ – assessing the effect of assigning treatment, rather than the effect of the treatment itself.
  • Significant shifts in the balance of certain microbes were observed in the treated horses. Key indicators of improved microbiome balance showed increases in supplemented horses – for instance, the mean and median percent decreases in , and increases in , as well as the ratio. Eight out of ten supplemented horses showed these improvements, compared to only two out of ten in the control group.
  • A significant result was that the treated horses displayed a microbiota more similar to horses that are typically grazing, hinting at the potential of dietary supplements in promoting a healthier microbiome in grain-fed horses.
  • The findings from this clinical trial are particularly notable for future studies looking to understand the long-term effects of dietary modification on the microbiome, as well as potential health and performance-related outcomes in Thoroughbred racehorses.

Cite This Article

APA
Adams VJ, LeBlanc N, Penell J. (2022). Results of a Clinical Trial Showing Changes to the Faecal Microbiome in Racing Thoroughbreds after Feeding a Nutritional Supplement. Vet Sci, 10(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10010027

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 1
PII: 27

Researcher Affiliations

Adams, Vicki J
  • Vet Epi, Abbey Farm Cottage, Ixworth, Suffolk IP31 2JP, UK.
LeBlanc, Neil
  • Consultant Norrlandsgatan 36D, 75229 Uppsala, Sweden.
Penell, Johanna
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden.

Grant Funding

  • 1 / CSRD VA

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results. V.A. was paid for her time to conduct the study by the funders.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Schank N, Cottone A, Wulf M, Seiter K, Thomas B, Miller LMJ, Anderson SL, Sahyoun A, Abidi AH, Kassan M, Verma A. The Role of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) in Colic and Anti-Inflammatory Pathways in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Dec 3;15(23).
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  2. Qin X, Xi L, Zhao L, Han J, Qu H, Xu Y, Weng W. Exploring the distinctive characteristics of gut microbiota across different horse breeds and ages using metataxonomics. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2025;15:1590839.
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  3. Boucher L, Leduc L, Leclère M, Costa MC. Current Understanding of Equine Gut Dysbiosis and Microbiota Manipulation Techniques: Comparison with Current Knowledge in Other Species. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 28;14(5).
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