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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / The effect of long term astaxanthin supplementation on the a...
Scientific reports2024; 14(1); 27991; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77732-9

The effect of long term astaxanthin supplementation on the antioxidant status of racing Arabian horses – preliminary study.

Abstract: Astaxanthin due to its strong antioxidant activity is believed to reduce oxidative stress and therefore is considered as feed additive in pathological conditions and also for the athletes. It is promoted by several equine web portals, however, data supporting that concept in horses is limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of astaxanthin supplementation on the parameters of oxidative status in 3 years old, racing Arabian horses during long term observation and the changes related to a single training session of high intensity. Six horses were supplemented with astaxanthin at a dose of 0.52-0.58 mg/kg BW and 7 received no supplementation. Astaxanthin supplementation resulted in the increase in total antioxidant status by 31.5%, accompanied by decreases in the amount of total thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances -TBARS and glutathione reductases - GR values by 34.5% and 45.4%, respectively, after 1 month and this effect persisted until the end of the observation. After individual training session the activities of glutathione peroxidases and GR were lower by 69% and 46%, respectively, and TBARS lower by 38% in supplemented horses. These results directly confirmed the beneficial effects of astaxanthin supplementation on the antioxidant status of race horses. Astaxanthin partially counterbalance the training-related oxidative stress, save the horse natural antioxidant defense, and shift the redox status towards a more reducing environment. At the same time, exercise-induced reactive oxygen species production at certain level was maintained and so that contributed to training progress.
© 2024. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2024-11-14 PubMed ID: 39543175PubMed Central: PMC11564757DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77732-9Google 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 examined the effects of long term astaxanthin supplementation on the antioxidant status in racing Arabian horses, and found that it improved antioxidant levels, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced the horse’s natural antioxidant defenses.

Research Objective

  • The aim of the study was to explore the impact of astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant, on the oxidative status of three-year-old Arabian race horses.
  • The researchers sought to determine if this supplement could reduce oxidative stress, enhance the antioxidant status and contribute to training progress in these horses.

Methodology

  • The study involved a total of 13 horses, six of which were given astaxanthin at a dose of 0.52-0.58 mg/kg body weight, while the remaining seven received no supplementation.
  • The research measured various parameters related to oxidative status, including levels of total antioxidants, total thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and glutathione reductases (GR).
  • The study also examined changes associated with a single high-intensity training session.

Key Findings

  • The researchers found that supplementation with astaxanthin led to a 31.5% increase in total antioxidant status, and decreases in the levels of TBARS and GR by 34.5% and 45.4%, respectively, after one month. These effects continued until the end of the observation period.
  • After individual high-intensity training sessions, activities of glutathione peroxidases and GR were lower by 69% and 46%, respectively, and TBARS were lower by 38% in the horses receiving astaxanthin supplementation.
  • The results of the study confirmed the positive effects of astaxanthin supplementation on the antioxidant status of racing horses. The supplement appeared to mitigate training-related oxidative stress, boost the horse’s natural antioxidant defenses, and create a more reducing (antioxidative) environment.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that astaxanthin supplementation played a significant role in modulating the antioxidant status of racing Arabian horses, contributing to improved performance.
  • While the supplement helped to reduce oxidative stress associated with training, it maintained a certain level of exercise-induced reactive oxygen species production, which contributed to training progress.
  • Despite the encouraging preliminary results, more research is needed to reinforce these findings and determine the optimal dosage and duration for astaxanthin supplementation in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Giercuszkiewicz-Hecold B, Kulka M, Czopowicz M, Wilczak J, Szarska E, Strzelec K, Grzeczka A, Graczyk S, Hryniszyn A, Mularczyk M, Marycz K, Cywińska A. (2024). The effect of long term astaxanthin supplementation on the antioxidant status of racing Arabian horses – preliminary study. Sci Rep, 14(1), 27991. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-77732-9

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 1
Pages: 27991
PII: 27991

Researcher Affiliations

Giercuszkiewicz-Hecold, Beata
  • Doctoral School, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
Kulka, Marek
  • Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
Czopowicz, Michał
  • Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
Wilczak, Jacek
  • Department of Physiology, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776, Warsaw, Poland.
Szarska, Ewa
  • Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Kozielska 4, 01-001, Warsaw, Poland.
Strzelec, Katarzyna
  • Department of Horse Breeding and Use, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950, Lublin, Poland.
Grzeczka, Arkadiusz
  • Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland.
Graczyk, Szymon
  • Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland.
Hryniszyn, Adrian
  • Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland.
Mularczyk, Malwina
  • International Institute of Translational Medicine, Jesionowa 11, 55-114, Malin, Wisznia Mała, Poland.
Marycz, Krzysztof
  • International Institute of Translational Medicine, Jesionowa 11, 55-114, Malin, Wisznia Mała, Poland.
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, Veterinary Institute for Regenerative Cures, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95516, USA.
Cywińska, Anna
  • Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Lwowska 1, 87-100, Torun, Poland. anna_cywinska@weterynaria.pl.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Xanthophylls / pharmacology
  • Xanthophylls / administration & dosage
  • Horses
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / metabolism
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Male
  • Female
  • Glutathione Reductase / metabolism
  • Glutathione Peroxidase / metabolism
  • Animal Feed / analysis

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests. All the procedures of blood sampling were performed as part of routine health examination and exercise test and thus, according to the European directive EU/2010/63 and Polish regulations regarding experiments in animal there was no need for the approval of Ethics Committee for the described procedures, qualified as non-experimental clinical veterinary practices, excluded from the directive. The trainer granted a written informed consent for the use of blood for scientific analyses. The authors complied with the ARRIVE guidelines (https://arriveguidelines.org).

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Giercuszkiewicz-Hecold B, Pajuelo D, Steczkiewicz Z, Cywinska A, Marycz K. Astaxanthin supplementation in Arabian racing horses mitigates oxidative stress and inflammation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells through enhanced mitophagy. Sci Rep 2025 Apr 26;15(1):14633.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-93661-7pubmed: 40287452google scholar: lookup
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