Sweat composition in Arabian horses performing endurance exercise on forage-based, low Na rations.
Abstract: Excessive sweat loss during endurance exercise may lead to electrolyte disturbances and previous research suggests dietary factors may affect hydration status. While investigating the effect of dietary fibre type on hydration status, sweat samples were collected which allowed for the evaluation of sweat composition in horses consuming forage-based, low sodium (Na) rations. Objective: To investigate sweat composition in Arabian horses performing endurance type exercise while fed forage-based, rations low in Na. Methods: Six 2-year-old Arabian horses were fed, according to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square, either grass hay (G), 50:50 grass hay:alfalfa hay (GA), or 50:50 grass hay: chopped fibres (GM) without any additional electrolyte supplementation. After 14 days on each diet, horses performed a 60 km treadmill exercise test. Sweat was collected from sealed pouches on the dorsal thorax after each of four 15 km exercise bouts. Results: Intake (g/day) of Na (2.5 ± 0.4), Cl (72 ± 16), and Mg (18 ± 3) were not different between diets but K and Ca intakes (g/day) were greater (P < 0.05) on GA (246 ± 35; 101 ± 14) than G (176 ± 38; 59 ± 14) or GM (168 ± 33; 62 ± 15). There was no effect of diet on sweat pH (7.65 ± 0.04) or concentrations (mmol/l) of K (46 ± 3), Cl (133 ± 7), Ca (8.5 ± 1.1), or Mg (2.3 ± 0.3); yet diet did influence sweat Na concentration (P < 0.05, G 88 ± 5 mmol/l, GA 104 ± 5, GM 96 ± 6). Na and Cl concentrations were lower than those previously reported. Conclusions: Differences in sweat constituents due to diet were observed, but more importantly both Na and Cl concentration are lower than those previously reported perhaps due to low dietary Na intake or breed of animal.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21059034DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00208.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the composition of sweat in Arabian horses performing endurance exercises while being fed low-sodium, forage-based diets. The research found variations in sweat constituents due to diet, including lower sodium and chloride levels than previously reported.
Objective and Methodology
- The research aimed to explore how a low-sodium, forage-based diet influences where the Am seat com composition in Arabian horses performing endurance exercises.
- Six 2-year-old Arabian horses were used for the study, which was conducted using a replicated 3×3 Latin square design. The horses were fed different rations without any additional electrolyte supplements: grass hay alone (G), a 50:50 mix of grass hay and alfalfa hay (GA), and a 50:50 mix of grass hay and chopped fibres (GM).
- The horses underwent a 60 km treadmill exercise test after consuming each diet for 14 days, and sweat samples were collected from sealed pouches on their dorsal thorax after every 15 km exercise bout.
Results
- Intake rates of sodium, chloride, and magnesium were consistent across all diets.
- The GA diet led to higher intakes of potassium and calcium compared to the other diets.
- Diet did not affect sweat pH or the concentrations of potassium, chloride, calcium, or magnesium. However, it did impact the sodium concentration in the horse’s sweat.
- The sodium and chloride concentrations in sweat were lower than those found in previous studies.
Conclusions
- The research found variations in the sweat composition of Arabian horses performing endurance exercises, influenced by their low-sodium, forage-based diets. Specifically, the sodium and chloride concentrations in the horses’ sweat were lower than those previously reported.
- The study’s results could be due to the low sodium content of the diets or variances between different horse breeds.
Cite This Article
APA
Spooner HS, Nielsen BD, Schott HC, Harris PA.
(2011).
Sweat composition in Arabian horses performing endurance exercise on forage-based, low Na rations.
Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 382-386.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00208.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- West Virginia University, USA; and ‡Mars HorseCare UK, Leics, UK. holly.spooner@mail.wvu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Diet / veterinary
- Electrolytes / chemistry
- Electrolytes / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Medicago sativa / chemistry
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance
- Poaceae / chemistry
- Sodium / chemistry
- Sodium / pharmacology
- Sports
- Sweat / chemistry
- Sweat / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Maier I, Kienzle E. A Meta-Analysis on Quantitative Sodium, Potassium and Chloride Metabolism in Horses and Ponies. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 13;15(2).
- Zeyner A, Romanowski K, Vernunft A, Harris P, Müller AM, Wolf C, Kienzle E. Effects of Different Oral Doses of Sodium Chloride on the Basal Acid-Base and Mineral Status of Exercising Horses Fed Low Amounts of Hay. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0168325.
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