Supplementation with Nutraceuticals Produces Changes in Working Horses Blood Parameters but Not in Their Body Composition
Manso Filho, Hélio CordeiroAbreu, José Mário GirãoManso, Helena Emília Cavalcanti da Costa CordeiroSantiago, Tito AlvesMagalhães, Fernando Jorge Rodrigues
Background: There is little scientific data about the effects of continuous supplementation with nutraceuticals over horses health and performance. Horse owners and veterinarians are still using supplements for horses without any kind of evaluations. At the Brazilian market is possible to buy hundreds of different products, but there is not private or state regulation over production and quality of these products. The absence of information about quality and efficacy of these products may contribute to mistakes in horses nutrition program. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of supplementation with a combination of nutraceuticals over some blood parameters (red cell count, total plasma proteins, free plasma glutamine and glutamate) and components of body composition in working horses. Materials, Methods & Results: There were 19 gelding horses, divided in two groups: nutraceutical (NUTR; n=10) and placebo (PLAC; n=9). Both groups received equivalent feeding regimens in regard to concentrate and grass, and did similar exercise program. NUTR group received their pellets with nutraceuticals, and PLAC group received a placebo during the morning meal. There is no visual difference between nutraceutical and placebo pellets. Body composition determination and blood collection were taken in three periods: pre-test, after 4 and 12 weeks of supplementation. Body composition was determined after evaluation of horses body mass by electronic scale associated with measurement of rump fat by ultrasound. Results showed that there were no significant changes in body composition during 12 weeks of supplementation in both groups, which had percentage of body fat around 13%. However, supplementation with nutraceutical produced significant changes (P <0.05) in some blood parameters in NUTR group. This group had large red cell count, hematocrit and blood glutamine concentration when compared with PLAC group after 12 weeks of supplementation.(...)(AU)
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