Effect of Two Diets on Antioxidant Status in Racing Steeplechasers During Intensive Training

Aims: High-intensity training, racing and inappropriate antioxidant supply generates high levels of deleterious oxidative stress. This study aimed at comparing the effect of 2 commercial feeds on oxidative stress levels in steeplechasers, over a 3-month period.

Methods: A random double-blind study was undertaken to compare the effect of 2 diets in 40 racehorses. The first group received a regular pelleted commercial diet (R) and the second group received a low-starch high-fibre diet (L). The horses were examined after a 6-week habituation period (T0) and after 6 (T6) and 12 weeks of reinforced training (T12). Horses were raced regularly. At each step, horses were weighed; body and clinical scores were attributed. Several blood markers were studied including vitamin A (Vit A), vitamin E (Vit E), beta-carotene, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and pre- and post effort creatine kinase (CK) activity. Data were analysed using an ANOVA for repeated measurements and a t test. [...]