Safety and efficacy of oral edible bird’s nest supplementation: Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory benefits for Arabian race stallions during exercise.
Abstract: Exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation adversely affect the health and performance of athletic horses. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of edible bird's nest (EBN) supplementation and its potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in Arabian race stallions during exercise. Key objectives included assessing EBN's impact on hepatic and renal function, hematological profiles, and sialic acid (SA) levels. Unassigned: Two experiments were conducted on 18 Arabian stallions. In Experiment 1, six healthy stallions were divided into control (n = 2) and EBN-supplemented groups (n = 4) to assess safety. The treatment group received 10 g of EBN daily for 12 days. Vital signs, hematological parameters, and organ function markers were monitored. In Experiment 2, 12 stallions were divided into three groups: EBN (n = 3), Premier E (n = 3), and control (n = 6). The exercise regimen included a daily 10-min walk, 10-min canter (30 km/h), and 10-min walk for 30 days. Blood samples were analyzed for hematological indices and SA levels pre- and post-exercise. Unassigned: In Experiment 1, EBN supplementation demonstrated no adverse effects, maintaining normal hematological and vital parameters. Kidney and liver function tests revealed significantly reduced creatine kinase, total bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the EBN group. Experiment 2 showed higher SA levels post-exercise in the EBN group (p < 0.05) compared to Premier E and control groups, suggesting enhanced anti-inflammatory response. Hematological indices, including mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, and platelet counts, were significantly improved in the EBN group, indicating potential immunomodulatory benefits. Unassigned: EBN supplementation is safe and offers anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in Arabian race stallions, reducing exercise-induced hepatic and muscular stress markers while enhancing recovery. These findings support EBN as a valuable dietary supplement for performance horses. Further studies should explore long-term effects and molecular mechanisms to optimize its use in equine sports.
Copyright: © AL-Khaldi, et al.
Publication Date: 2025-01-27 PubMed ID: 40041508PubMed Central: PMC11873384DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.178-188Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article investigates the effects of edible bird’s nest (EBN) supplementation on Arabian race stallions, highlighting its potential safety, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory benefits. The supplementation appears to have a positive impact on the horses’ liver, kidney functions, and blood parameters, particularly during exercise.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The primary objective of this study was to assess the safety of using EBN as a dietary supplement in Arabian race stallions while also observing its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects.
- The researchers also sought to evaluate EBN’s impact on liver, kidney functions, blood profiles, and the levels of Sialic Acid (SA), a key immune response marker.
- The study was divided into two experiments involving 18 Arabian stallions.
- In the first experiment, the stallions were divided into a control group and an EBN-supplemented group. The group receiving EBN was monitored for indicators such as vital signs, blood parameters, and markers of organ function.
- In the second experiment, the stallions were divided into three groups: EBN, Premier E (horse supplement, used as a comparison), and a non-supplemented control group. Their exercise routine and blood parameters were closely monitored and compared.
Research Outcomes
- Findings from the first experiment suggested that EBN supplementation caused no adverse effects on the stallions, maintaining normal blood and vital parameters.
- The liver and kidney function tests showed a reduction in creatine kinase, total bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the EBN group, indicating reduced stress on these organs.
- In the second experiment, the EBN group showed higher SA levels post-exercise, compared to the Premier E and control groups. This hints at an enhanced anti-inflammatory response due to EBN supplementation.
- The blood profile of the EBN group also showed significant improvement in characteristics such as mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, and platelet counts, indicating potential immune benefits.
Conclusions and Implications
- The study concluded that supplementing Arabian race horses with EBN is safe and provides anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory advantages.
- This could potentially reduce exercise-induced stress on organs like the liver and kidneys, aiding in faster recovery.
- The results provide a basis for considering EBN as a valuable dietary supplement for performance horses. However, the study recommends further research to understand the long-term effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of EBN supplementation in equine sports.
Cite This Article
APA
Al-Khaldi KO, Al-Ruzaiqi KH, Babji AS, Lim SJ, Sadiq MB, Yimer N.
(2025).
Safety and efficacy of oral edible bird’s nest supplementation: Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory benefits for Arabian race stallions during exercise.
Vet World, 18(1), 178-188.
https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2025.178-188 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Services Administration, Mounted Police Headquarter, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
- Veterinary Services Administration, Mounted Police Headquarter, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
- Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Farm and Exotic Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43300, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Medicine, IMU University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Veterinary Reproduction Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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