NUTRITION
NATURE’S BASKET
Neutraceuticals for horses Nature’s basket offers a rich source of beneficial nutrients, including phytonutrients. Horse owners and trainers have always been interested in what these sometimes relatively un-researched ingredients can offer for the health and performance of horses in training. In this article, I explore three ingredients that have become popular components of supplements and also as stand-alone products. In the last issue, I touched on the actions of resveratrol in relation to metabolic disease, but I wanted to explore this interesting ingredient in the context of racing. Interest has also grown in the Far Eastern spice turmeric and its constituent curcuminoids, as well as the so-called ‘super protein’ Spirulina. WORDS: DR CATHERINE DUNNETT BSC, PHD, R.NUTR PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK, CAROLINE NORRIS
Resveratrol may act at the gene level to reduce inflammation
Interest in resveratrol has grown in recent years, and it has become a significant active ingredient in many supplements for a wide range of human sports. There are also a small number of companies marketing products with a focus on resveratrol. These supplements target the inflammatory processes in joint disease and in conditions such as equine metabolic syndrome. In terms of racing, they seek to maintain health and sustain performance by helping to offset the inflammation-driven micro damage that occurs within tissues in response to training. Resveratrol is what’s known as a polyphenol antioxidant and it is a natural component of most notably red wine, as some varieties of grapes are a rich source. It is also found in eucalyptus, mulberries, and peanuts. The resveratrol is found particularly in the grape skin but the content can be quite variable, as it is formed as a 20
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plant’s defence mechanism against disease and therefore levels will depend on species, environment, and growing conditions. A horse’s natural diet would not provide any significant quantities of resveratrol. In humans, the interest in resveratrol from red wine was initiated by what’s known as the ‘French Paradox,’ which in general terms means that the French as a nation consume a higher fat diet than other countries yet have a generally lower incidence of heart disease. Animal studies (mostly in rodents) have suggested that resveratrol is a potent antioxidant and also has anti-inflammatory and vasodilator effects. Conventional non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs like Phenylbutazone or Banamine inhibit the enzymes (Cox 1
and/or Cox 2) that promote the formation of inflammatory mediators. Resveratrol in contrast is reputed to act a stage farther back at the gene level to decrease the expression of genes that produce these enzymes and other substances that promote inflammation. Unpublished data from the University of Kentucky Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center in the USA showed, in response to resveratrol supplementation over four weeks, a reduction in the circulating level of two key cell signalling molecules: tumour necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma. These substances are intricately involved in the initiation of the inflammation process. A recent 2015 published trial reported a reduction in malondialdyhide (MDA),