Ribose supplementation in maximally exercising Thoroughbreds.
Abstract: A diverse group of studies, which are equine exclusive, indicate that ribose administered to myocardial and skeletal muscle tissue stimulates ATP production and recovery. This study investigated the effects of ribose supplementation on blood and muscle metabolites and performance in Thoroughbred geldings performing a maximal treadmill standardised exercise test (SET). In Experiment 1, 6 conditioned Thoroughbred geldings performed a baseline SET and horses were assigned to one of 2 experimental treatment groups, placebo or ribose, based on VO2max. The placebo treatment group received 0.07 g glucose/kg bodyweight (bwt) and ribose treatment group received 0.07 g ribose/kg bwt top dressed on the feed twice daily. Following a 2 week treatment period, a second SET was performed. After a one-week washout period, the horses switched treatment groups. Following another 2 week treatment period, a third SET was performed. Blood ammonia-N was lower in the ribose treatment group at 15 min (P = 0.06) and 30 min (P = 0.02) postexercise. Plasma lactic acid was lower in the ribose treatment group at 30 min postexercise (P = 0.07). In Experiment 2, 1 h before a SET, 2 horses received 3 l water (control) and 3 horses 250 g of ribose dissolved in 3 l water (single ribose dose) via a nasogastric tube. Following a 2 week washout period, the horses switched treatment groups and another SET was performed. There were no differences in blood ammonia-N, plasma lactic acid or glucose between treatment groups. No differences in performance were detected between treatment groups in either experiment. In conclusion, the results from Experiment 1 show a trend that daily ribose supplementation may be beneficial during recovery from exercise. However, a single dose of ribose 1 h before exercise revealed no effect on the variables measured. Because moderate to intense daily exercise can cause a decrease in total adenine nucleotide (TAN) pool with no meaningful recovery even after 72 h rest, future experiments should be designed to futher elucidate the effects of ribose supplementation on TAN metabolism in horses exercising at high intensity.
Publication Date: 2002-10-31 PubMed ID: 12405685DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05417.xGoogle 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
- Controlled 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.
This study examines the potential benefits of ribose, a sugar molecule, in boosting the energy levels and recovery rate of competition horses during high intensity exercises. Despite some indications of potential benefits in recovery, a single pre-exercise dose of ribose showed no discernible effects.
Study Design and Experiments
- The study was designed to test the effects of ribose supplementation on Thoroughbred geldings, a type of racing horse. The study was conducted in two different experiments using a standardised exercise test (SET), designed to push the horses to their maximal levels of exertion.
- In the first experiment, horses were divided into two groups, a control group given glucose and a trial group given ribose. The horses underwent a baseline SET, received their treatments for two weeks and then did another SET. There was a one-week washout period where treatments were ceased, then the groups swapped treatments, undertook another two weeks of treatment, and performed a final SET.
- The second experiment tested the immediate effects of ribose by administering a single ribose dose to half the horses an hour before an SET, while the other half received just water as a control. Treatment groups were switched after a two-week washout.
Results and Findings
- The results from the first experiment showed that the ribose-treated group had lower blood ammonia-N levels than the placebo group 15 and 30 minutes after exercise. This suggests ribose might help with recovery from intense exercise. They also had slightly lower plasma lactic acid levels at 30 minutes post-exercise, indicating potential for ribose as a high-intensity performance supplement for horses.
- However, in the second experiment, a single dose of ribose an hour before exercise showed no differences in blood ammonia-N, plasma lactic acid or glucose between treatment groups. Similarly, no significant differences in performance were observed between treatment groups in either experiment.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- Conclusive evidence about the impact of ribose on the physical performance of horses was not found. However, there’s a trend showing that daily ribose supplementation could aid in recovery following exercise.
- Based on the findings, the researchers recommended that future experiments should focus on the effects of ribose on total adenine nucleotide (TAN) metabolism in horses exercising at high intensity. This is because intense daily exercise can decrease TAN, which plays a critical role in energy supply and may not recover even after 72 hours rest.
Cite This Article
APA
Kavazis AN, Sobota JS, Kivipelto J, Porter MB, Colahan PT, Ott EA.
(2002).
Ribose supplementation in maximally exercising Thoroughbreds.
Equine Vet J Suppl(34), 191-196.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2002.tb05417.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
- Dietary Supplements
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Nitrogen / blood
- Oxygen Consumption
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Exertion / physiology
- Ribose / administration & dosage
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
