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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2023; 37(6); 2552-2561; doi: 10.1111/jvim.16851

The effects of feeding sodium chloride pellets on the gastric mucosa, acid-base, and mineral status in exercising horses.

Abstract: Electrolyte supplementation may be a risk factor for gastric mucosal lesions, but relevant evidence is limited in horses. Objective: Investigate the effects of PO sodium chloride (NaCl) supplementation on the gastric mucosa of exercising horses. We hypothesized that NaCl supplementation would neither cause nor exacerbate existing gastric mucosal damage. Methods: Fifteen 3-year-old healthy Warmblood stallions from a stud farm. Methods: Placebo-controlled study with a crossover design. Horses were fed either a NaCl pellet at a dosage adequate to replace the electrolyte losses in 10 L sweat or a placebo for 19 days with a washout period of 14 days between treatments. The gastric mucosa was evaluated by gastroscopy before and after treatment. Blood samples were collected for evaluation of acid-base status, packed cell volume (PCV), and total protein, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen concentrations. Urine was collected, and urine specific gravity, electrolyte, creatinine, and urea concentrations were measured. Results: The initial prevalence of gastric mucosal lesions was 85%. Sodium chloride pellets did not adversely affect the gastric mucosa and treatment did not significantly alter the hematologic and serum biochemical variables. Urine creatinine concentrations significantly decreased and urinary sodium concentrations significantly increased after supplementation with NaCl pellets. Water intake did not significantly differ between treatments. Conclusions: Daily NaCl pellet supplementation is a palatable and safe way to replace electrolyte losses from sweating in exercising horses and has no negative effects on the gastric mucosa.
© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2023-09-30 PubMed ID: 37776109PubMed Central: PMC10658481DOI: 10.1111/jvim.16851Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary
  • 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 research article investigates the effects of feeding sodium chloride pellets (NaCl, commonly known as table salt) to exercising horses and its potential impacts on their stomach lining and fluid and mineral balance. The study suggests that such supplementation is safe, doesn’t harm the horse’s stomach lining, and effectively replaces electrolyte loss from sweat during exercise.

Research Method

  • The research was conducted on fifteen healthy, 3-year-old Warmblood stallions acquired from a stud farm.
  • The study was placebo-controlled and used a crossover design, which allows for a comparison of different treatments within the same subjects.
  • The horses were divided into two groups, where they received either a sodium chloride pellet to supplement their electrolyte loss due to sweating or a placebo for 19 days.
  • There was a washout period of 14 days in-between the treatments. This washout period allows for the effects of the first treatment to wear off before the second treatment begins, ensuring that results from the second phase are not influenced by the first treatment.
  • The researchers carried out gastroscopy procedures before and after each treatment to evaluate the state of the gastric mucosa or stomach lining.
  • They also collected blood samples to measure various parameters including acid-base status, packed cell volume, total protein, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen concentrations.
  • The team also collected urine samples and measured parameters such as specific gravity, electrolyte, creatinine, and urea concentrations.

Results

  • Initially, 85% of the horses showed signs of gastric mucosal lesions. However, the study found that sodium chloride pellets did not harm the gastric mucosa of the horses.
  • Moreover, the blood parameters did not display any significant changes upon treatment with sodium chloride pellets or a placebo.
  • The only significant alterations were found in the urine samples. After sodium chloride supplementation, urine creatinine concentrations decreased, and urinary sodium concentrations increased.
  • There was no observed difference in water consumption between the two treatments.

Conclusions

  • The findings from this study indicate that daily supplementation with sodium chloride pellets is a safe way to offset electrolyte losses from sweating in exercising horses.
  • The research shows no negative impact on the gastric mucosa of the horses, meaning it doesn’t contribute to gastric ulcers or other types of stomach lining damage.
  • This makes sodium chloride pellets a palatable and effective treatment for maintaining the mineral and fluid balance in exercising horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Alshut F, Venner M, Martinsson G, Vervuert I. (2023). The effects of feeding sodium chloride pellets on the gastric mucosa, acid-base, and mineral status in exercising horses. J Vet Intern Med, 37(6), 2552-2561. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16851

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 6
Pages: 2552-2561

Researcher Affiliations

Alshut, Farina
  • Equine Veterinary Clinic Destedt GmbH, Destedt, Germany.
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Venner, Monica
  • Equine Veterinary Clinic Destedt GmbH, Destedt, Germany.
Martinsson, Gunilla
  • Niedersächsisches Landgestüt Celle, Celle, Germany.
Vervuert, Ingrid
  • Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology
  • Creatinine
  • Minerals
  • Gastric Mucosa
  • Electrolytes

Grant Funding

  • Gesellschaft für Pferdemedizin (GPM)

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Irving J, Pineau V, Shultz S, Ter Woort F, Julien F, Lambey S, van Erck-Westergren E. Impact of Low-Starch Dietary Modifications on Faecal Microbiota Composition and Gastric Disease Scores in Performance Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 28;15(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15131908pubmed: 40646806google scholar: lookup
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