Effect of Dietary Flaxseed Oil Supplementation on the Redox Status, Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Horses' Blood.
Authors: Sembratowicz Iwona, Zięba Grzegorz, Cholewinska Ewelina, Czech Anna
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Dietary Flaxseed Oil and Equine Blood Health Over 60 days, researchers supplemented 40 Malopolski horses (530 kg average) with either soybean oil or flaxseed oil at 25 mL per 100 kg bodyweight daily, then analysed plasma biochemistry, haematological markers, and oxidative stress indicators in blood samples. Horses receiving flaxseed oil demonstrated a notably improved lipid profile—with significantly lower glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triacylglycerols compared to the soybean oil group—alongside reduced liver enzyme activity (ALT and alkaline phosphatase), suggesting less hepatic stress. More significantly, the flaxseed oil group showed substantially enhanced antioxidant defence mechanisms, evidenced by elevated superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, higher vitamin C and mineral status (copper and zinc), and crucially, lower malondialdehyde levels, a key marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage. Secondary benefits included improved red blood cell parameters, higher lymphocyte counts, and elevated lysozyme levels, indicating potential immunological advantages. For practitioners managing working horses or those prone to metabolic or inflammatory conditions, these findings suggest flaxseed oil supplementation may offer tangible benefits for metabolic health and oxidative stress management—particularly relevant when considering dietary interventions for performance, recovery, or age-related decline.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Replacing soybean oil with flaxseed oil in horse diets can improve metabolic and antioxidant health, potentially benefiting performance and recovery in riding horses
- •FO supplementation at 25 mL per 100 kg body weight daily supports immune function through elevated lysozyme levels and lymphocyte counts
- •The improved lipid profile and reduced oxidative stress markers suggest FO may help prevent age-related decline and support long-term health in working horses
Key Findings
- •Horses fed flaxseed oil (FO) had significantly lower plasma glucose, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol/HDL ratio, and triacylglycerols compared to soybean oil (SO) group
- •FO supplementation increased antioxidant indices including superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, vitamin C, copper, and zinc, while decreasing malonyl dialdehyde (lipid peroxidation marker)
- •FO elevated red blood cell indicators, lymphocyte count, and lysozymes compared to SO control group
- •Alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly lower in FO group, indicating improved hepatic function