Electrolyte Supplementation in the Horse – is it effective?? Find comments after the abstract.
via pubmed: horse by Lindinger MI, Ecker GL on 5/17/12
Gastric emptying and intestinal absorption of electrolytes,and exercise performance in electrolyte supplemented horses.
Exp Physiol. 2012 May 11;
Authors: Lindinger MI, Ecker GL
Abstract
Horses lose considerably more electrolytes through sweating during prolonged exercise than can be readily replaced through feeds. The present study tested an oral electrolyte supplement (ES) designed to replace sweat electrolyte losses. We measured gastric emptying of 3L of ES (using gamma imaging of 99Tc- sulfide colloid), the absorption of Na+ and K+ from the g.i. tract using 24Na+ and 42K+, and the distribution of these ions in the body by measuring radioactivity within plasma and sweat during exercise. Three L of ES emptied from the stomach as fast as water, with a half time of 47 minutes, and appeared in plasma by 10 minutes after administration (n = 4 horses). Peak values of plasma 24Na+ and 42K+ radioactivity occurred at 20-40 minutes and a more rapid disappearance of K+ radioactivity from plasma was indicative of movement of K+ into cells (n = 3 horses). In a randomized crossover experiment (n = 4 horses), 1h after administration of placebo (water), 1 L or 3 L of ES containing 24Na+, horses exercised on a treadmill at 30% of peak VO2 until voluntary fatigue. 24Na+ appeared in sweat at 10 minutes of exercise, and when horses received 3L of ES the duration to voluntary fatigue was increased in all horses by 33+10 %. It is concluded that an oral ES designed to replace sweat ion losses was rapidly emptied from the g.i. tract, was rapidly absorbed in the upper intestinal tract and rapidly distributed within the body. The ES clearly served as a reservoir to replace sweat ion losses during exercise, and administration of ES prior to exercise resulted in increased duration of submaximal exercise.
PMID: 22581743 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
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Comments:
Electrolyte supplementation has been effectively used for many years in the equine sport of endurance riding and racing. Though feeds provide the primary source, maximal exercise and sweating can create a substantial deficit in electrolytes, leading to possible gastrointestinal and muscle issues. Any sport or circumstance that causes significant sweating deserves attention for possible supplementation.
