Copper, Zinc-Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Exercising Horses Fed Two Forms of Trace Mineral Supplements

Relationship Between Selenium, Copper, Zinc and Their Biomarkers in Blood and Skeletal Muscle Tissue in Adult Horses From Southern Chile

Microminerals are necessary for all bodily functions. In animal species, selenium (Se), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) all form part of antioxidant enzymes. Micromineral deficiencies, particularly Se, are well recognized in large animal species in Chile. Glutathion peroxidase (GPx) is a widely used biomarker for Se nutritional status and to diagnose Se deficiency in horses. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a Cu and Zn-dependant antioxidant enzyme, although it is not commonly used as a proxy for the nutritional status of these minerals. Ceruloplasmin (CP) is used as a biomarker of Cu nutritional status. This study´s objective was to explore correlation between said minerals and biomarkers in adult horses from southern Chile. Se, Cu, Zn, GPx, SOD, and CP were measured in whole blood of a group of 32 adult horses (5-15 years old). Further, a second group of 14 adult horses (5-15 years old) underwent gluteal muscle biopsies to determine Cu, Zn, GPx, and SOD. Correlations were determined by means of Pearson´s r coefficient. Significant correlations were found for blood GPx and Se (r = 0.79), blood GPx and SOD (r = -0.6), muscular GPx and SOD (r = 0.78), and Cu and CP (r = 0.48). These results confirm previously described strong association between blood GPx and Se in horses, validating the former´s use as a diagnostic proxy of Se deficiency in Chilean horses, and suggest significant interactions between GPx and SOD in blood and muscle tissue.

Complexed trace mineral supplementation alters antioxidant activities and expression in response to trailer stress in yearling horses in training

To test the hypothesis that complexed trace mineral supplementation would increase antioxidant capacity and decrease muscle oxidative stress and damage in young horses entering an exercise training program, Quarter Horses (mean \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\pm$$\end{document}± SD; 9.7 ± 0.7 mo) balanced by age, sex, and BW were assigned to receive complexed (CTM; n = 8) or inorganic (INORG; n = 8) trace minerals at -12 week relative to this study. Blood and muscle samples were collected before (week 0) and after 12 week of light exercise training surrounding a 1.5-h trailer stressor. Muscle glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity was higher for CTM than INORG horses (P ≤ 0.0003) throughout the study. Following both trailer stressors, serum creatine kinase increased (P < 0.0001) and remained elevated through 24 h post-trailering (P < 0.0001). At week 0, muscle malondialdehyde, expression of superoxide dismutase 2, and whole blood GPx activity increased (P\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\le$$\end{document}≤ 0.003) following trailering but trailering did not affect these measures at week 12. Young horses supplemented with CTM had higher muscle GPx activity than horses receiving INORG, but CTM did not affect damage markers following a stressor. Dietary CTM may be useful for improving antioxidant capacity during exercise training in young equine athletes.

The Effect of Feed Additive Containing Vitamins and Trace Elements on the Elements Profile and Growth of Skin Derivatives in Horses

An important role of nutritional supplements in the quality and growth of skin derivatives is not sufficiently explored. The aim of our experiment was to recognize how the application of selected vitamins and an organic source of zinc and copper affects the growth and elemental content of hooves and hairs. Sixteen warm-blooded horses were divided into two groups. Both groups received the same basic feeding ration, which was enriched with a feed additive for the experimental group. The contents of individual elements in hoof and hair samples were established using the atomic absorption spectrometry method. Samples from the experimental group of horses showed a significantly increased amount of zinc (P<0.01), copper and manganese (P<0.05) deposited in the hoof and a significantly decreased (P<0.05) amount of manganese, iron, and calcium deposited in the hair after nine months of monitoring. Differences between initial and final samples of hooves and hair were insignificant in the control group. The growth rate of hair and hoof wall was significantly higher (P<0.01) in horses from the experimental group than from the control one. Horses receiving the feed additive achieved a faster growth of the hoof horn with an adequate quality of hooves in our experiment. The experiment shows that the hair is not a reliable indicator of nutritional status of horses. However, assessing the impact of individual vitamins and trace elements, or the impact of various sources of trace elements on the elements profile and growth rate of skin derivatives of horses should be subject to further observation.