Effects of mixed polyphenol supplementation on lower airway inflammation in horses with Equine Asthma Syndrome.
Authors: Andrews K M, Berghaus L J, Hart K A
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Mixed Polyphenol Supplementation in Equine Asthma Syndrome Equine Asthma Syndrome represents a significant chronic inflammatory challenge in adult horses, yet despite polyphenols demonstrating clear anti-inflammatory benefits in human asthma research, their therapeutic potential in equine respiratory disease remained unexplored until this investigation. Andrews and colleagues conducted a two-part study involving 18 horses in Part One (8 healthy, 10 asthmatic) receiving daily mixed polyphenol supplementation for 6–8 weeks, with assessment of bronchoalveolar lavage cytology, serum and BAL fluid cytokine concentrations, and clinical signs, followed by a randomised controlled trial in Part Two where 10 asthmatic horses received either supplementation or placebo whilst managing environmental dust exposure. Asthmatic horses supplemented in Part One showed significantly reduced BAL neutrophil percentages and IL-6 concentrations (P = 0.02), whilst asthmatic horses demonstrated greater reductions in BAL IL-10 compared to healthy controls (P = 0.02); in the controlled challenge phase, supplemented horses exhibited markedly fewer abnormal rebreathing exam findings (P = 0.002) and significantly lower respiratory rates even during dust exposure (P = 0.008, difference of 4–18 breaths per minute). These findings suggest that polyphenol supplementation can meaningfully modulate the pulmonary inflammatory response in mildly asthmatic horses, particularly when integrated with rigorous dust control—warranting consideration as an adjunctive therapy alongside environmental management rather than as a standalone intervention for horses with respiratory disease.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Mixed polyphenol supplementation combined with low-dust environmental management may help reduce clinical respiratory signs and airway inflammation in mildly asthmatic horses
- •Consider polyphenol supplementation as an adjunctive therapy alongside dust control strategies, rather than as a standalone treatment
- •Supplemented horses showed objective improvements in respiratory rate and rebreathing exam findings during inflammatory challenges, suggesting clinical utility in managing mild EAS
Key Findings
- •BAL neutrophil percentage and IL-6 concentrations significantly decreased in asthmatic horses post-supplementation (P = 0.02)
- •Greater decrease in BAL IL-10 observed in asthmatic compared to healthy horses (P = 0.02)
- •Supplemented asthmatic horses had significantly lower respiratory rates during dusty hay challenge (P = 0.008; CI: -18.0 to -4.0 breaths/min)
- •Proportion of horses with abnormal rebreathing exams differed significantly between supplemented and control groups (P = 0.002)