Horses have one of the highest skeletal muscle oxidative capacities amongst mammals, which, combined with a high glycolytic capacity, could perturb redox status during maximal exercise. We determined the effect of 30 d of oral coenzyme Q10 and N-acetyl cysteine supplementation (NACQ) on muscle glutathione (GSH), cysteine, ROS, and coenzyme Q10 concentrations, and the muscle […]

In the mitochondria, complexes I and III of the electron transport system (ETS) generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) during exercise that are reduced by antioxidants to mitigate oxidative stress. Among these antioxidants are thiol-based antioxidants such as glutathione as well as coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which also transports electrons from complex I and II to complex […]

In combination with exercise, nutrition is an essential component of managing horses with myopathies. The optimal feeding program for an individual is tailored to the diagnosis of a specific underlying myopathy. Exertional myopathies are defined by muscle pain and impaired performance during or after exercise. Exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) represents a subset of exertional myopathies characterized […]

Mesquita, V., Pagan, J., Valberg, S., Waldridge, B. and Whitehouse, C. (2014), Effect of Non-Structural Carbohydrate, Fat and Fiber Intake on Glycogen Repletion Following Intense Exercise. Equine Veterinary Journal, 46: 33. (International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology 2014) Muscle glycogen is a potentially limiting substrate for horses during intense exercise. Low-starch, high-fat concentrates have become popular […]

Muscle glycogen is a potentially limiting substrate for horses during intense exercise. Low-starch, high-fat concentrates have become popular for performance horses, but their effect on muscle glycogen usage and repletion is unclear. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) intake on substrate utilization and glycogen repletion in Thoroughbreds during training […]

Assembled by the nutritionists and veterinarians at Kentucky Equine Research (KER), this easy-to-use guide includes practical feeding and management recommendations for the following diseases: Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) Exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) Malignant hyperthermia (MH) Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)

Vitamin E can be obtained from natural or synthetic sources, but the chemical structure of each is different. The following studies were conducted to determine if synthetic and natural-source vitamin E have similar bioavailabilities when administered at equal IU doses and to determine if water-dispersible forms of vitamin E are more bioavailable than lipid-soluble forms. […]

Borgia Lisa A; Valberg Stephanie J; McCue Molly E; Pagan JD; Roe Charles R (2010) Effect of dietary fats with odd or even numbers of carbon atoms on metabolic response and muscle damage with exercise in Quarter Horse-type horses with type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy. American journal of veterinary research 2010;71(3):326-36.

To compare effects of corn oil or a 7-carbon fat (triheptanoin) on acylcarnitine, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism in plasma or muscle of exercising horses. Fatigue was not associated with depletion of citric acid cycle intermediates for either oil. Triheptanoin induced a significantly higher insulin secretion and did not appear to enhance muscle glycogen repletion.

The effect of dietary starch and fat content on serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and substrate availability was evaluated in 4 mares of Quarter Horse-related breeds with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM).