Efficacy of the oral supplement, Equine Omega Complete, for the prevention of gastric ulcers and alpha-tocopherol supplementation in horses.
Authors: Williams Louie Elizabeth, Nieto Jorge, Wensley Fiona, Morgan Jessica M, Finno Carrie J, Berryhill Emily H
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E show promise for gastric ulcer prevention in humans and laboratory animals, yet their effectiveness in horses remained untested until this 2023 investigation. Researchers administered nine thoroughbred geldings either Equine Omega Complete (EOC), omeprazole, or water for 28 days, deliberately inducing gastric ulcers through intermittent feed deprivation during days 21–28, with gastroscopic examination on days 0, 21, and 28 to grade ulcer severity and serum alpha-tocopherol measurement on days 0 and 28. EOC supplementation failed to prevent ulcer development; ulcer grades escalated from a median of 1 to 2.5 during induction (comparable to untreated controls, P = 0.54), whereas omeprazole remained protective (P = 0.02). Although serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations did increase significantly in EOC-treated horses (2.2 to 2.96 μg/mL; P < 0.001), this rise showed considerable individual variation and did not differ meaningfully from either control or omeprazole groups. For equine professionals advising on ulcer prevention strategies, EOC cannot currently be recommended as a substitute for established pharmaceutical interventions, and practitioners should continue prioritising management modifications (regular feeding, turnout) and evidence-based treatments such as proton pump inhibitors when ulcer prevention is the clinical goal.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Equine Omega Complete cannot be relied upon as a preventive measure for gastric ulcers in horses; omeprazole remains the evidence-supported option for ulcer prevention in at-risk animals
- •While EOC does raise serum alpha-tocopherol levels, the variable individual response and lack of ulcer prevention benefit suggests it may not be justified as a standalone supplement for horses with ulcer risk factors
- •This study provides important negative evidence that may help practitioners counsel clients on supplement efficacy and guide treatment decisions toward evidence-based options
Key Findings
- •Equine Omega Complete supplementation for 28 days did not prevent gastric ulcer formation during induced ulcer protocol (ulcer grades increased from median 1 to 2.5, P=0.54 vs control)
- •Omeprazole effectively prevented ulcer formation during the same induction protocol, with no grade increase (P=0.02 vs control and EOC)
- •EOC supplementation did increase serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations from 2.2 to 2.96 μg/mL (P<0.001), but this increase was not significantly different from control or omeprazole groups
- •High individual variation in serum alpha-tocopherol response to EOC supplementation was observed among treated horses