Effect of dietary krill oil supplementation on horse red blood cell membrane fatty acid composition and blood parameters

Abstract

Supplementation with marine‐derived n−3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAs), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 n−3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n−3) is linked to beneficial health effects in both humans and horses. Krill oil (KO), which is extracted from the Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), is well documented as a safe and biologically available dietary supplement in humans and several animal species, but there is a lack of documentation regarding its effect as a dietary ingredient for horses. The objective of this study was to test whether KO as a dietary supplement had the ability to raise horse red blood cell (RBC) membrane EPA and DHA, expressed as the n−3 index. Five nonworking Norwegian cold‐blooded trotter horse geldings (body weight [BW]: 567 ± 38 kg) were supplemented with KO (10 mL/100 kg BW) for 35 days in a longitudinal study. Blood samples were analysed for RBC membrane fatty acid (FA) profile, haematology and serum biochemistry every 7th day. KO was well accepted by all horses, and no adverse health effects were observed during the 35‐day trial period. KO supplementation affected the RBC membrane FA profile by increasing the n−3 index from Day 0 to 35 (Day 0: 0.53% vs. Day 35: 4.05% of total RBC FAs). The observed increase in the sum of EPA and DHA (p < 0.001), total n−3 FAs (p < 0.001) and the reduction of n−6 FAs (p < 0.044) resulted in a lower n–6:n−3 ratio (p < 0.001) by Day 35 of KO supplementation. In conclusion, the RBC n−3 index was increased and the general n−6:n−3 ratio was decreased in horses receiving 35‐day dietary KO supplementation.