EO•3® Research

Introduction

Horses require both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in their diets. The omega-3 family stems from alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), while the omega-6 family originates from linoleic acid (LA). Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are intermediates in the formation of eicosanoids that have been shown to reduce inflammatory responses, support immune function, and enhance fertility (Curtis et a~ 2000; Hall et aI., 2004; Stelzleni et aI., 2006; Vineyard et al. 2006). This study was conducted to compare the effect of supplementation with oil high in EPA and DHA (fish oil) or low in EPA and DHA (com oil) on red blood cell (RBC) and serum EPA and DHA.

Materials and Methods

Twelve Thoroughbred geldings were supplemented for 127 d with 60 ml of either fish oil (EO·3)^a or com oil. They also received a basal diet of 8 kg of timothy hay and an unfortified sweet feed, soybean meal, sodium chloride, and calcium carbonate to meet NRC requirements. The horses were exercised three times weekly on a mechanical walker and turned out into small paddocks daily for 4-6 hours with muzzles to prevent grazing and housed overnight in 12 x 12 box stalls. Blood samples were taken at d 0, 29,57,92, and 127 in EDTA collection tubes before the morning feeding, placed immediately on ice, and analyzed for EPA and DHA.

Results and Discussion

By d 29, horses receiving fish oil had an average increase in serum EPA and DHA of 3.7-fold (P < 0.05) and 17.9-fold (P < 0.01), respectively (Figure I and 2). In horses receiving com oil, serum EPA decreased 1.5-fold from baseline at d 57 (P < 0.05) and fourfold by d 92 (P < 0.05). By d 127, RBC DHA concentrations in the fish oil supplemented horses was over 1.9-fold greater (P < 0.05) than baseline (Figure 3), while there was no difference observed in RBC DHA from horses receiving com oil. In the fish oil supplemented group, RBC EPA increased 11.5-fold (P < 0.05) by d 127 (Figure 4). Com oil supplemented horses had lower than baseline RBC EPA at 57 d (P < 0.05), 92 d, and 127 d (P < 0.01).