Effect of Feeding Fructooligosaccharides and Enterococcus faecium and Their Interaction on Digestibility, Blood, and Immune Parameters of Adult Horses.
Authors: Saeidi Edris, Mansoori Yarahmadi Hossein, Fakhraei Jafar, Mojahedi Somayeh
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers investigating the potential synergy between prebiotics and probiotics fed 12 adult horses (mean weight 416 kg) a prebiotic (10 g inulin-derived fructooligosaccharides), probiotic (2.5 × 10¹¹ CFU *Enterococcus faecium*), both, or neither in a Latin Square design over four 28-day periods to assess impacts on nutrient digestibility, faecal pH, blood lipids, and immune markers. Both individual and combined supplementation reduced faecal pH compared to unsupplemented controls, whilst the prebiotic alone and probiotic alone each lowered triglycerides and cholesterol; crucially, the combination treatment produced the most favourable HDL profile (highest HDL, lowest LDL) through apparent synergistic interaction (P < 0.01). IgM antibody concentrations increased with either the prebiotic or probiotic supplementation, though neither treatment affected digestibility of nutrients, IgA, IgG, or liver enzyme activities. The lack of effect on digestibility despite metabolic improvements suggests these supplements may offer immunomodulatory and metabolic benefits independent of improving apparent nutrient absorption—a distinction worth exploring further with higher doses, particularly given the lipid-modifying effects which could have implications for metabolic health and systemic inflammation in performance and aged horses.
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Practical Takeaways
- •FOS and Enterococcus faecium supplementation may improve intestinal pH and reduce circulating triglycerides and cholesterol in adult horses, supporting metabolic health
- •Combined prebiotic and probiotic supplementation shows synergistic effects on blood lipid profiles and immune markers (HDL/LDL, IgM) compared to single agents
- •These supplements did not improve overall nutrient digestibility at the tested doses (10g each), so their primary benefit appears to be metabolic/immune rather than digestive efficiency
Key Findings
- •Fecal pH decreased significantly in horses receiving FOS or Enterococcus faecium supplementation compared to control (P < 0.05)
- •Triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations decreased with FOS supplementation alone and with combined FOS plus Enterococcus faecium (P < 0.05)
- •Combined FOS and Enterococcus faecium supplementation produced greatest HDL concentration and lowest LDL concentration (P < 0.01)
- •IgM immune response was significantly greater with FOS or Enterococcus faecium supplementation, but nutrient digestibility was not affected