Antioxidants and Free Radicals In Horses
In nature a horse is supplied with all the antioxidants it needs to be protected from the destructive effects of environmental free radicals. But as we all know our domesticated horsed are not living exactly as nature intended and are asked to do an increased amount and wider variety of activities than their wild counterparts.
First of all what are these free radical things?
Free radicals occur naturally as byproducts of normal metabolism, and the body does use these substances for its own benefit. So, free radicals can be useful, when produced in controlled amounts and in the ‘right place at the right time.’ But, free radicals are also caused by allergens, ultra-violet rays from the sun, x-rays, exposure to pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, and injury, just to name a few.
Excess free radicals cause damage and speeds up the aging process of the body’s cells, which can accumulate with age as well. This continuous damage to tissue can result in an increased risk of infection, inflammation and fatigue. As a horse ages these problems become more apparent as the free radicals increase in numbers. There are also a number of diseases where markers of oxidative stress have been identified in the horse. Some of these are exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, muscle myopathy, joint disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Okay, so what exactly do antioxidants do?
Using antioxidants helps slow down and prevent free radical damage to the body’s cells, they also reduce damage to the liver from certain drugs or toxins. There is also research that suggests that antioxidants may slow the progression of some of the behavioral changes we see in older animals.
Antioxidants may be in the form of vitamins, minerals, plant extracts, and other substances. Some of the most commonly known antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc, and selenium. Each one works in a slightly different way, so it is best to administer a product that has several antioxidants rather than just one.
Under which situations will my horse benefit from supplemental antioxidants?
- Horses under stress
- Horses in training or competition (racing, performance horses, and endurance horses)
- Breeding horses
- Growing horses
- Older horses
- Horses with inflammatory diseases such as arthritis
- Horses with chronic illness
- Horses who’s diet is supplemented with vegetable oil might also have an increased need of supplemental vitamin E
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