Efficacy of the oral supplement, Equine Omega Complete, for the prevention of gastric ulcers and alpha-tocopherol supplementation in horses.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol supplementation reduces gastric ulcer formation in humans and rodents; however, efficacy of prevention in horses is unknown. Equine Omega Complete (EOC) is an oral supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVE: Determine if EOC supplementation prevents gastric ulcers and increases serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in healthy horses. ANIMALS: Nine thoroughbred geldings; 5-13&#x2009;years old. METHODS: Prospective randomized block design, repeated in crossover model. Horses were administered EOC, omeprazole, or water PO for 28&#x2009;days. Horses underwent an established gastric ulcer induction protocol from days 21-28 via intermittent feed deprivation. Gastroscopies were performed on days 0, 21, and 28. Serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations were measured on days 0 and 28. The effects of treatment and time on ulcer grades were assessed with ordinal logistic regression, with significance at P-value <.05. RESULTS: Ulcer grades increased during ulcer induction in control and EOC but not omeprazole groups (P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.02). Grades increased in EOC-treated horses after ulcer induction from a median of 1 [95% confidence interval 0-2.5] (day 0) to 2.5 [1.5-3.5] (day 28) and were similar to the control group (P&#x2009;=&#x2009;.54). Serum alpha-tocopherol increased in EOC-treated horses from day 0 to day 28 (mean 2.20.43&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/mL to 2.960.89&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/mL; P&#x2009;<&#x2009;.001) with high individual variation; this increase was not different from omeprazole or control groups. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Supplementation with EOC for 28&#x2009;days did not prevent gastric ulcer formation nor increase alpha-tocopherol concentrations relative to the control group.