ReSolvin EQ™: Support Gastric Health with Revolutionary Oil

Kentucky Equine Research recently unveiled ReSolvin EQ, a revolutionary oil designed to support gastric health through strategic supplementation of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs).

Gastric ulcers remain a menace among horses of all ages, breeds, and uses. Because of their prevalence, preventing and treating gastric ulcers remains a priority for those invested in the health and well-being of all horses.

ReSolvin EQ contains a blend the LC-PUFAs commonly known as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), and GLA (gamma-linolenic acid). While EPA and DHA are familiar omega-3 fatty acids, found most prominently in marine-derived oils like EO-3, GLA is omega-6 fatty acid that has significant anti-inflammatory properties. Research attributes many of these beneficial properties to the conversion of GLA to DGLA (di-homo-gamma-linolenic acid), which changes to several anti-inflammatory biomolecules and inhibits production of pro-inflammatory biomolecules.

A study conducted at Kentucky Equine Research compared how horses respond to LC-PUFA or short-chain (SC-) PUFA supplementation. The study was divided into two 90-day periods. The experimental oil used for the LC-PUFAs was ReSolvin EQ, which contains EPA, DHA, and GLA, while the SC-PUFAs came from a mix of corn and flax oils. Horses fed ReSolvin EQ had higher levels of EPA, DHA, GLA, and DGLA than those fed SC-PUFAs.

One important component of this study involved gastroscopy and the identification of gastric ulcers. Researchers performed a gastroscopy on all horses at the beginning of the study, and squamous gastric ulcers were graded using the familiar 0 to IV scale, where 0 indicates no sign of ulceration and IV signifies severe disease. Eight of the horses had grades between 0 and II, indicating no significant disease, but five horses had grade-III or grade-IV ulcers. Once fed the long-chain PUFAs, however, the ulcers in four of five of these horses resolved completely.

Read the entire study: Long-chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) Supplementation Increases Levels in Red Blood Cells and Reduces the Prevalence and Severity of Squamous Gastric Ulcers in Exercised Thoroughbreds.

The researchers designed this as a crossover study, so some of the horses were fed the SC-PUFAs after the LC-PUFAs. When switched back, the squamous ulcers returned in the horses that had improvements previously, indicating the LC-PUFAs showed a protective and healing effect.

This may be due partly to the actions of a particular pair of prostaglandins and their effect on gastric tissues. When produced within the gastric tissues, prostaglandins E1 (PGE1) and E2 (PGE2) have been shown to:

• Stimulate bicarbonate secretion to help buffer gastric acid, which can irritate and ulcerate the lining of the stomach;
• Inhibit hydrochloric acid secretion to maintain an appropriate pH;
• Ensure microvascular blood flow to the stomach; and
• Enhance mucus production to form a protective barrier between the lining of the stomach and the stomach contents.

ReSolvin EQ supplementation increases the concentration of key fatty acid precursors (GLA, DGLA, EPA, DHA) to influence the production of prostaglandins PGE1, PGE2, and other metabolites involved in inflammation, and to prevent and heal gastric ulcers.

In sum, targeted supplementation with ReSolvin EQ provides a potent anti-inflammatory product for horses predisposed to gastric ulcers. Horses given ReSolvin EQ should also be fed Nano-E, a vitamin E supplement developed by Kentucky Equine Research with superior bioavailability that provides antioxidant protection. ReSolvin EQ can be fed in combination with other KER Digestive Health supplements when additional support is needed.

KERx Special Needs Nutrition is a division of KER Targeted Nutrition that features products developed by Kentucky Equine Research and recommended by veterinarians to support specific nutrition-related challenges.