Effects of oral and intravenous dimethylglycine treatment on hematobiochemical profiles and total oxidant/antioxidant status in low-intensity exercised horses.
Authors: Ergin Hacer Kofalı, Bekdik İlknur Karaca, van den Hoven René, Onmaz Ali Cesur
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Dimethylglycine (DMG) has gained interest as a potential ergogenic aid in equine exercise physiology, with theoretical benefits for delaying fatigue and limiting muscle damage, yet clinical evidence remains sparse. Turkish Arab saddle horses (n=30) were assigned to receive either intravenous DMG (1500 mg twice daily), oral DMG powder (1500 mg twice daily), or saline control for three days before performing moderate aerobic exercise (30 minutes cantering with warm-up and cool-down); blood samples were collected at rest, immediately post-exercise, and at 2, 4, and 6 hours recovery to assess haematological markers, oxidative stress indices, and muscle damage indicators. Both DMG treatments significantly reduced total oxidative status (TOS) compared to controls (p<0.05), with the intravenous route showing the most pronounced effect immediately post-exercise, whilst post-exercise lactate stabilisation was evident in treatment groups at 0, 2, and 4 hours; however, oxidative stress index values showed no significant between-group differences, and total antioxidant status was paradoxically lower in DMG-treated horses, likely reflecting increased antioxidant consumption during exercise. For practitioners managing athletic horses, these findings suggest IV DMG administration may modulate oxidative stress during recovery without adverse physiological effects, though the clinical relevance of reduced TOS without changes to the TOS-to-TAS ratio warrants cautious interpretation. Further research examining longer dosing protocols, performance metrics, and repeat-exercise protocols is needed before recommending DMG as standard practice in equine conditioning and recovery programmes.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Intravenous DMG administration may help reduce oxidative stress markers in exercising horses during low-intensity work, with effects most pronounced immediately after exercise
- •DMG stabilization of post-exercise lactate levels could indicate reduced muscle fatigue, though clinical significance requires further investigation in higher-intensity exercise protocols
- •Current evidence suggests DMG is safe for exercising horses without compromising physiological homeostasis, but benefits appear modest and long-term efficacy remains unclear
Key Findings
- •Total oxidative status (TOS) was significantly decreased in both IV and oral DMG treatment groups compared to controls (p < 0.05), with IV administration showing the greatest effect immediately post-exercise
- •DMG treatment, particularly IV administration, appeared to stabilize post-exercise lactate levels at 0, 2, and 4 hours compared to controls
- •Total antioxidant status (TAS) was lower in DMG-treated horses, likely reflecting greater antioxidant utilization during exercise
- •No significant differences in oxidative stress index (OSI) between treatment and control groups, and no evidence of exercise-induced heat stress or subclinical disease in any group