Antioxidant capacity and athletic condition of endurance horses undergoing nutraceutical supplementation.
Authors: Stucchi L, Rossi R, Mainardi E, Ferrucci F
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Endurance competition demands sustained aerobic metabolism, which inevitably generates reactive oxygen species and creates oxidative stress that can compromise performance and recovery. Stucchi and colleagues investigated whether a 21-day course of natural antioxidant and omega-3 supplementation could mitigate this effect in twelve Arabian endurance horses, measuring resting and post-exercise blood lactate, whole blood and red blood cell (RBC) antioxidant capacity, and serum creatine kinase (CK) before and after a standardised exercise test with heart rate monitoring. The supplemented group demonstrated significantly lower serum CK levels compared to controls at follow-up (p = 0.006)—an indicator of reduced muscle damage—whilst RBC antioxidant capacity increased both at rest and post-exercise (p = 0.037 and p = 0.006 respectively), suggesting enhanced cellular defence mechanisms. For practitioners supporting endurance athletes, these findings suggest that targeted antioxidant supplementation may offer a practical means of supporting muscle recovery and oxidative resilience during intensive training and competition, though individual response and the specific formulation used merit consideration. Future work establishing optimal dosing, duration, and breed-specific responses would strengthen the clinical application of such interventions in endurance programmes.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Nutraceutical supplementation with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids may reduce exercise-induced muscle damage (lower CK) in endurance horses, potentially supporting recovery and performance
- •RBC antioxidant capacity improvements suggest enhanced cellular protection against oxidative stress during intense aerobic work, which could translate to better stamina and reduced fatigue
- •Consider recommending this type of supplement to endurance horse owners 3 weeks prior to competition or intensive training phases to optimize antioxidant status
Key Findings
- •Dietary supplement containing natural antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids significantly increased RBC antioxidant capacity at rest (p = 0.037) and post-exercise (p = 0.006) after 21 days of supplementation
- •Serum creatine kinase (CK) was significantly lower in the treatment group compared to controls at T1 (p = 0.006), indicating reduced muscle damage
- •Significant time*group interaction effects were observed for serum CK (p = 0.026) and RBC antioxidant capacity measurements, demonstrating supplement efficacy
- •The supplement appears beneficial for endurance horses undergoing intense aerobic exercise by enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms