Oxidative stress and antioxidant status in intensely exercising horses administered nutraceutical extracts

Abstract

SummaryReasons for performing study: Many nutraceuticals are used as equine supplements without their efficacy having been scientifically tested. Black tea, cranberries, orange peel and ginger are a few of those nutraceuticals that warrant further study. Objective: To test the effects of single doses of black tea, cranberry, orange peel and ginger extract on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status following exercise in horses. Methods: In Study 1, 9 mature, healthy but unfit Standardbred mares were administered 2 l of a control (water), orange peel extract (30 g extract) or decaffeinated black tea extract (28 g extract). In Study 2 the same mares were administered 2 l of a control (water), cranberry extract (30 g extract) or ginger extract (30 g extract). In each study, mares were given the extracts via nasogastric tube 1 h before performing a graded exercise test (GXT), in a randomised crossover design with at least 7 days between GXTs. Blood samples were collected at rest, at fatigue, and 1 and 24 h post exercise and analysed for lipid hydroperoxides (LPO), total glutathione (GSH-T), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), a-tocopherol (TOC), b-carotene (BC) and retinol. Data were statistically analysed using a repeated measures ANOVA. Results: In Study 1 there was no effect of treatment for LPO, GSH-T, GPx, TOC or BC. Retinol was higher for both tea (P = 0.0006) and water (P = 0.004) than for orange peel. In Study 2 there was no treatment effect for LPO, GPx, GSH-T, RET, BC or TOC. Conclusions:The results show that a single dose of various nutraceuticals in exercising horses do not produce an effect on either oxidative stress or antioxidant status and further investigation is needed as to whether long-term supplementation would enhance these effects.

Ameliorative Effects of Resveratrol on Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Horses

“…Lipid peroxidation generates a variety of relatively stable decomposition end-products, mainly α, β-unsaturated reactive aldehydes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and isoprostanes [11][12][13], which can then be measured as an indirect index of oxidative stress. Reported results on oxidative stress in horses in the literature were mainly based on the exercise physiology [14][15][16]. Anti-oxidant therapies are now designed to prevent oxidative stress which could potentially have significant impact on age-related diseases [17].…”

Diurnal Rhythm of Antioxidant Biomarkers in Equines

“…Smarsh et al (2010) [16] tested various nutraceuticals in exercising horses and concluded that a single dose did not produce an effect on either oxidative stress or antioxidant status. Selenium supplementation affected mare and foal plasma, muscle and colostrum Se concentrations, but not GPx activity [17].…”

Antioxidant Potential of the Polyherbal Formulation “ImmuPlus”: A Nutritional Supplement for Horses

“…On the contrary, single doses of extracts from black tea, orange peel, cranberry, and ginger do not seem able to influence the oxidative stress and the antioxidant status in intensely exercising horses, even if, according to the authors in [28], long-term supplementation would be necessary to investigate whether these extracts may reduce the oxidative stress.…”