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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Thoroughbred Racehorses in Hong Kong Require Vitamin D Suppl...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(13); doi: 10.3390/ani13132145

Thoroughbred Racehorses in Hong Kong Require Vitamin D Supplementation to Mitigate the Risk of Low Vitamin D Status.

Abstract: There is a paucity of data relating to the vitamin D status of racehorses. We hypothesised that the management of racehorses in Hong Kong (HK) predisposes to low vitamin D status unless they receive dietary supplementation. Serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 (25OHD2), 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25OHD3) and total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (total 25OHD) for 79 non-grazing HK racehorses were compared with those for 22 racehorses training in the United Kingdom (UK) that grazed for ≥1 h/d, and for which published data exists. A nested group of 41 HK horses was sampled twice to determine the effect of the duration in HK on vitamin D status. The HK horses had significantly lower serum concentrations of total 25OHD and 25OHD2 than the UK horses; 25OHD2 was undetectable in 15/79 HK sera and serum concentrations of 25OHD2 declined with the duration in HK. The main determinants of vitamin D status were assessed using linear regression; the retained variables were the 25OHD3 concentration and the duration in HK. The inverse relationship between the serum concentrations of 25OHD2 and 25OHD3, previously identified in humans, was observed for the first time in horses. In conclusion, HK racehorses have low serum 25OHD2 and total 25OHD concentrations and rely on D3 supplementation to maintain adequate vitamin D status. Further study is required to determine the optimal form of dietary vitamin D supplementation for Thoroughbred racehorses.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-29 PubMed ID: 37443942PubMed Central: PMC10339896DOI: 10.3390/ani13132145Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 studies the vitamin D levels in Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong and suggests the need for vitamin D supplementation to maintain adequate levels. The study reveals that these horses have significantly lower vitamin D levels compared to those in the UK, due to factors like geographical location and management practices.

Research Background

  • This research was borne out of the lack of existing data relating to the vitamin D status of racehorses, particularly those managed in Hong Kong.
  • The study proposed that the management strategies employed for racehorses in Hong Kong do not support an optimal vitamin D status unless dietary supplemented.
  • The research explored the serum concentrations of different forms of vitamin D, comparing horses that do not graze (non-grazing) in Hong Kong with those trained in the UK who graze for at least one hour per day.

Key Findings

  • The study found that racehorses in Hong Kong had significantly lower serum concentrations of total vitamin D, and one of its forms, vitamin D2 (25OHD2).
  • Interestingly, the research found that in 15 out of the 79 Hong Kong horses studied, vitamin D2 was undetectable in their serum.
  • Furthermore, the study found an observable decrease in serum vitamin D2 concentrations with increased duration spent in Hong Kong.

Analytical Insights

  • The researchers employed statistical methods, like linear regression, to uncover the main determinants affecting vitamin D status in these horses. The results showed that the vitamin D3 concentration and duration spent in Hong Kong were considerable factors.
  • For the first time in horses, the research discovered an inverse relationship between the serum concentrations of vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. This phenomenon has previously been identified in human studies.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that Thoroughbred racehorses in Hong Kong generally have low levels of vitamin D2 and total vitamin D.
  • Such a situation necessitates the supplementation of vitamin D, specifically vitamin D3, to maintain an adequate vitamin D status in these horses.
  • Nonetheless, the research indicates the need for further studies to determine the optimal form and proportion of dietary vitamin D supplementation for Thoroughbred racehorses, especially those managed in regions like Hong Kong.

Cite This Article

APA
Dosi MCM, Riggs CM, May J, Lee A, Cillan-Garcia E, Pagan J, McGorum BC. (2023). Thoroughbred Racehorses in Hong Kong Require Vitamin D Supplementation to Mitigate the Risk of Low Vitamin D Status. Animals (Basel), 13(13). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132145

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 13

Researcher Affiliations

Dosi, Miranda C M
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK.
Riggs, Chris M
  • The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation, Sha Tin Racecourse, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
May, Jessica
  • The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation, Sha Tin Racecourse, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Lee, Adele
  • The Hong Kong Jockey Club Equine Welfare Research Foundation, Sha Tin Racecourse, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Cillan-Garcia, Eugenio
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK.
Pagan, Joe
  • Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, KY 40383, USA.
McGorum, Bruce C
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK.

Grant Funding

  • not applicable / Hong Kong Jockey Club
  • not applicable / Fiona and Ian Russell Seed Corn Fund for Companion Animal Research

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Kamr AM, Bartish C, Summers J, Horton J, Hostnik LD, Orr K, Browne N, Dembek KA, Saliba C, Gomez DE, Toribio RE. Longitudinal Evaluation of Vitamin D, Parathyroid Hormone, Antimicrobial Peptides, and Immunomodulatory Genes in Hospitalized Foals. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e70012.
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