Potassium-free electrolytes and calcium supplementation in an endurance race

Abstract

Some of the clinical signs seen in horses during endurance races may result from increases in neuromuscular excitability and are related to plasma [K þ ] and [Ca þ þ ]. The present study aimed to test the following hypotheses:(1) Potassium supplementation will affect plasma [K þ ] and may result in clinical signs related to neuromuscular hyperexcitability during an 80 km endurance ride.(2) Plasma [Ca þ þ ] will reflect dietary cation-anion balance (DCAB) and calcium intake. Feeding with a high DCAB and high dietary calcium content (1.5% total calcium of daily ration) diets would lead to higher plasma [Ca þ þ ] during an endurance race than on feeding high DCAB diets with a moderate dietary calcium content (1% of total calcium of daily ration). The current study was undertaken during the 80 km endurance research ride in 2002 in Virginia, USA. Forty volunteer rider-horse pairs participated in the race. During the race, electrolyte mixtures with (EM þ K) and without (EM 2 K) potassium were supplied to 18 and 22 horses, respectively. After the race, the horses receiving EM 2 K during the race were supplied with a recovery formula containing potassium (EM-REC). The horses were fed in addition to their own forage (hay and pasture) either their own commercial concentrate (CC; 1% calcium, n ¼ 11) or one of two research-supplied concentrates during 3 months preceding the research ride, one concentrate rich in sugar and starch (SS; 2% calcium, n ¼ 15) and the other rich in fat and fibre (FF; 2% calcium, n ¼ 14). Peripheral blood samples were taken the day before, within 3 min of the arrival at the vet checks at 27, 48 and 80 km, and after 3 h of recovery. Plasma samples were analysed for pH, haematocrit (Hct), [Na þ ], [K þ ], [Cl 2 ], [Ca þ þ ], [Mg þ þ ], total protein (TP) and albumin [alb]. Effects of sampling times, treatments and interactions were evaluated by ANOVA in a mixed model with repeated measures and applied to the 25 horses that completed 80 km. Eliminated horses had their blood sampled before entering the elimination vet check and 3 h after elimination, and were compared with finishing horses by t-test. As the ride progressed, significant increases were found in plasma pH, [Na þ ], ½PO 2 4 , [TP], [alb], Hct and osmolality; and decreases in [K þ ], [Mg þ þ ], PCO 2 , [Ca þ þ ] and [Cl 2 ]. Horses supplied with potassium-free, sodium-rich electrolyte formulae (EM 2 K) had 12.5% lower (P ¼ 0.001) mean plasma [K þ ], 7.8% lower (P ¼ 0.024) TP and 8.4% lower (P ¼ 0.004) albumin at 80 km, and at 3 h after the race they had 6.8% lower (P ¼ 0.045) TP, when compared with EM þ K supplemented horses. Horses fed with SS and FF had higher [Ca þ þ ] at 27 (P ¼ 0.027), 56 (P ¼ 0.006) and 80 km (P ¼ 0.022) when compared with horses fed with CC. The lower [K þ ] in the EM 2 K group, and the higher [Ca þ þ ] in the SS-and FF-supplemented horses may help prevent increases in neuromuscular excitability and related clinical signs. The lower TP and albumin indicate less dehydration in the EM 2 K group and could help prevent re...

Does usefulness of potassium supplementation depend on speed?

“…Electrolyte mixtures intended to replete sweat losses contain abundant potassium (Flaminio and Rush 1998), which may be contraindicated for higher speeds. This proposition has been supported by studies of endurance races (Hess et al 2003(Hess et al , 2005 and is further tested in the present study on the treadmill.…”

“…Data from a previous review indicated that plasma [K+] increases in speeds of 4 misec on flat races and, therefore, K should not be added to the electrolyte formulas during exercise (Kronfeld 200 1 ). In previous studies (Hess et al 2003(Hess et al , 2005 K supplementation also yielded higher plasma [K+]. Plasma [K+] are comparable to levels found during repeated sprints in Arabian horses (Taylor et al 1995), but lower than Thoroughbred horses during high intensity exercise (Harris and Snow 1992).…”

“…Plasma [K+] was lower in EM-K group during recovery, where no further exercise occurs, which is the ideal time for supplementation of K to replace sweat losses as shown in a previous study (Hess et al 2003) without increasing the risk of neuromuscular hyperexcitability.…”

Blood and urinary variables in horses supplemented with electrolytes

“…Robert et al (2010) presented a reference for plasma sodium concentration among 130 and 147 mmol/l which is close to that observed in this study. Schott II et al (2002) observed a sodium concentration of 138 mmol/l in horses before exercise, while Nyman et al (1996) and Hess et al (2008) observed values of 136 141 mmol/l, respectively. Robert et al (2010) defined a reference range of plasma chloride concentration from 92 to 100 mmol/l.…”

Žemaitukų veislės žirgų kraujo rodiklių kitimas ištvermės sporto varžybų metu

“…Medžiagų apykaitos pasikeitimai per ištvermės rungtis siejasi su organizmo dehidratacija, elektro litų ir kraujo dujų parametrų pasikeitimu, stipriu prakaitavimu (Foreman et al, 1996;Hess et al, 2008;Fieldieng, 2009;Trigo, 2010;Lawrie, 2012). Vieni iš startavusių žirgų baigia distanciją, kiti yra diskvalifikuojami dėl medžiagų apykaitos sutri kimų, miopatijų, širdies ir kraujagyslių sistemos miopatijos arba sutrikimų, atsiradusio šlubavimo, pasireiškusių dieglių (Fielding, Dechant, 2012) ar kitų priežasčių (Schott et al, 2006;Hess et al, 2008;Fielding et al, 2009;Alexander, Haines, 2012). Todėl labai svarbu kontroliuoti visus fizio loginius organizmo procesus, vystyti geras orga nizmo adaptacines funkcijas ir tinkamai paruošti žirgą fiziniam krūviui (Whiting, 2009).…”