Effect of prolonged submaximal exercise on serum oxidative stress biomarkers (d-ROMs, MDA, BAP) and oxidative stress index in endurance horses.
Authors: Brkljača Bottegaro Nika, Gotić Jelena, Šuran Jelena, Brozić Diana, Klobučar Karla, Bojanić Krunoslav, Vrbanac Zoran
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Endurance racing imposes substantial metabolic demands on horses, and understanding how prolonged exercise affects oxidative stress is critical for managing post-race recovery and long-term health. Researchers collected blood samples from 28 horses across 53 race starts at 40 km and 80 km endurance competitions of varying terrain difficulty, measuring serum d-ROMs (derived reactive oxygen metabolites), MDA (malondialdehyde), BAP (biological antioxidant potential) and OSI (oxidative stress index) before and after competition. All oxidative stress markers increased significantly post-race, with d-ROMs and MDA rising substantially whilst antioxidant capacity (BAP) was depleted, resulting in elevated OSI values that reflected the horses' oxidative burden. These findings suggest that prolonged submaximal exercise consistently generates oxidative stress regardless of distance or difficulty, which warrants attention to post-race nutritional and recovery protocols. Equine professionals should consider implementing targeted antioxidant strategies—whether through targeted supplementation, controlled exercise progression or dietary optimisation—to mitigate excessive oxidative stress and support tissue repair in endurance athletes, particularly following demanding competitions.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Endurance horses experience measurable oxidative stress during competition; consider antioxidant supplementation protocols for endurance athletes
- •Recovery management and nutritional support (including antioxidants) may be particularly important after longer/more demanding endurance events to mitigate oxidative damage
- •Monitor individual horses' responses to endurance work as oxidative stress responses vary; some horses may benefit more from targeted antioxidant strategies than others
Key Findings
- •Endurance racing significantly increased d-ROMs, MDA, and oxidative stress index (OSI) in serum, indicating elevated oxidative stress post-exercise
- •Biological antioxidant potential (BAP) showed variable responses depending on race distance and difficulty
- •Horses competing in 80 km races demonstrated greater oxidative stress markers compared to 40 km races
- •Individual variation in oxidative stress response was observed among the 28 horses across multiple race starts