New EO-3 Research
Posted by Eileen Phethean on
EO-3, a potent marine-derived oil, is a rich source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EO-3 can be fed to horses of all classes and working levels to improve the critical ratio of omega-3s to omega-6s in their diets.
Direct sources of DHA and EPA, such as EO-3, are the most useful to horses in conferring health benefits. Plant-based sources, such as flaxseed, contain the short-chain omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that must be converted to DHA and EPA for optimal usage. Conversion of ALA to EPA is low, and conversion of ALA to DHA negligible, according to some research, indicating ALA cannot meet the horse’s need for DHA.
Equine athletes benefit from the inflammatory response provided by EO-3, including reduction in clinical signs associated with joint inflammation and inflammatory airway disease. In addition, EO-3 has also demonstrated advantages to cardiovascular health, reproductive performance, and bone development in multiple studies using several species.