206 Beyond NRC Requirements: The Role of Non-nutritives in Equine Health and Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 108-109
Author(s):  
Lori K Warren

Abstract Billions of dollars are spent annually on dietary supplements, with similarities between products consumed by humans and those offered to horses and other animals. Dietary supplements encompass a variety of substances, some non-nutritive and others recognized as essential nutrients, but all are fed with the intent of providing a health or performance benefit beyond that supported by the normal diet. Though many of these products are sold without sufficient evidence of efficacy, their increasing popularity has driven horse owner curiosity and researcher interest. Over the past two decades, funding for research on dietary supplements in horses has exceeded that spent addressing knowledge gaps in the nutrient requirements of horses. Many of these substances are difficult to study (e.g., herbs, botanical extracts), due to their complex composition, unidentifiable active compounds, or broad biological effects that are difficult to characterize. Others have shown promise for reducing inflammation and improving immunocompetence, including various fatty acids, probiotics, prebiotic fibers, and antioxidants. Among these are well-known nutrients that are either being fed above current requirements (e.g., vitamins, minerals), or are presumed to be essential but requirements have not been established for the horse (e.g., essential fatty acids, amino acids, vitamins). In most cases, the benefits are not realized in an already healthy horse but are instead demonstrable in animals under high stress conditions (e.g., intense exercise, transport) or states of immunocompromise (e.g., inflammatory disease, senior horses, foals). Should dietary supplements be included in discussions of nutrient requirements and a future revision of the horse NRC publication? When does a compound become a nutrient – or a drug? Could there be a situational requirement for a dietary supplement if it returns the animal to homeostasis when the regular diet does not? This presentation will provide fodder for a group discussion on future directions of equine nutrition.

2013 ◽  
Vol 634-638 ◽  
pp. 1294-1301
Author(s):  
Jian Xia Guo ◽  
Chang Lu Wang ◽  
Zhi Jian Wu

Pinus armandi franch is a unique specialty plant in China and its seed oil contains high levels of essential fatty acids (EFA), particularly linoleic acid (LA), which has several pharmaceutical properties. Pinus armandi franch seed oil is a nice resource of linoleic acid with a content of 63% of the total fatty acids. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid, whose absence in a normal diet is responsible for the development of various abnormal disorders. This work reported purified LA from Pinus armandi franch seed oil could lower MDA content of lipid peroxidation on rats with hyperlipidemia significantly. TAC activity of liver, heart and serum was enhanced significantly, as well as SOD activity was increased. It demonstrated purified LA from Pinus armandi franch seed oil could improve antioxidant levels of hyperlipidemia rats effectively, enhance the activity of antioxidant enzyme and reduce the content of lipid peroxide, thereby improving lipid metabolism.


2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. 107-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
BS Rangel ◽  
NE Hussey ◽  
Y Niella ◽  
LA Martinelli ◽  
AD Gomes ◽  
...  

Throughout evolutionary history, elasmobranchs have developed diverse reproductive strategies. Little focused work, however, has addressed how neonatal nutritional state is affected by differing degrees of maternal investment associated with these markedly different reproductive strategies. To investigate the effect of maternal investment on the nutritional quality of pups during the early life history of an extremely viviparous elasmobranch, quantitative biomarker analysis including lipids, fatty acids and stable isotopes was conducted. Using the cownose ray Rhinoptera bonasus (histotrophic viviparous) as a model, we found that pups were initially born in a positive nutritional state, enriched in physiologically important essential fatty acids and nitrogen and carbon stable isotope values (δ15N and δ13C), a result of maternal intrauterine transfer. A systematic decrease in some fatty acids and δ15N values, as well as a decrease in cholesterol with growth, confirmed that these substrates were derived from maternal resources and used in initial metabolic processes following birth. An observed increase in condition factor, plasma essential fatty acids and triglyceride:cholesterol ratio with increasing body size identified a progression towards successful independent foraging with pups not displaying marked nutritional deficiency or fasting phases. Our multi-tracer approach allowed the identification of 2 size classes of young rays (<50 and <70 cm disc width) that displayed distinct physiological states. Since prenatal maternal investment is critical for offspring condition and to promote successful foraging post birth, understanding the trophic ecology and physiological state of pups during their first year is critical to guide management and conservation within nursery grounds.


Author(s):  
Sula M. V. Feleti ◽  
Renê L. Aleluia ◽  
Suiany V. Gervásio ◽  
Jean Carlos V. Dutra ◽  
Jessica R. P. Oliveira ◽  
...  

The study was designed to investigate the chemical composition and the biological effects of G. parviflora and V. polyanthes ethanolic extracts in vitro. Total content of phenols, flavonoids and tannins was quantified by spectrophotometry; chemical characterization was permed by mass spectrometry (ESI (-) FT-ICR MS and APCI (+) FT-ICR MS analysis). Antioxidant activities were determined by FRAP and Fe2+ chelating methods. Extracts cytotoxicity was evaluated in human lymphocytes, sarcoma-180 (S-180) and human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells, by MTT assay. V. polyanthes presented higher total content of tannins and G. parviflora presented higher amount of phenols and flavonoids. Chemical characterization showed the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids and sesquiterpene lactones in V. polyanthes extract, and steroids, phenolic acids and fatty acids (Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids - PUFA) in G. parviflora extract. V. polyanthes extract stood out in the Fe2+ chelation test. G. parviflora extract did not present outstanding antioxidant results in the tested protocols. Both species showed a tendency to promote cytotoxicity in human lymphocyte cells. Regarding the antiproliferative effect, both species were able to reduce S-180 cell viability and G. parviflora extract showed high antiproliferative potential in the assay with AGS cells. These findings reinforce the medicinal use of these plants, as well as suggest their potential use for the development of new drugs and for the treatment of cancers.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 1219-1225
Author(s):  
Filip Jovanovski ◽  
Toni Mitrovski ◽  
Viktorija Bezhovska

Food is not just a pleasure in life, it is also an important factor for our health. Human nutrition is a mixture of nutrients, which are the only source of energy needed for survival. Energy-poor diet endangers many life functions, and above all the working ability. In the world, the meaning of the diet is very serious, and hence the demands for a –rational, healthy and safe diet are growing. Human nutrition contains saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Essential fatty acids (EFAs) must be ingested in everyday diet because the body does not produce it. They are very important for human health. They are present in each cell of the human body and are an important factor for the normal growth, development and functioning of cells, muscles, nerves and organs. They are also used in the production of certain hormones - such as prostaglandins, which are crucial for the performance of certain important processes. The deficit from EFAs is due to a number of health problems, including more serious diseases.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hércules Rezende Freitas

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) comprise about 35-40% of the total lipid content from green algaeChlorella, reaching up to 24% linoleic acid and 27% α-linolenic acid inC. vulgaris. Also, microalgae nutrient composition may be modulated by changes in the culture medium, increasing fatty acid and microelement concentrations in the algae biomass. PUFAs, such as α-linolenic (n-3) and linoleic (n-6) acids, as well as its derivatives, are considered essential for dietary consumption, and their ability to regulate body chemistry has been recently explored in depth. A balanced fatty acid consumption is shown to counteract the negative effects of western diets, such as chronic inflammation and glucose intolerance. In this brief commentary, technological and practical uses ofC. vulgarisare explored as means to improve dietary quality and, ultimately, human health.


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