supplements

Question 1

nutritional supplement

Answer 1

designed to make up for deficiencies in the diet
before use first ask if the horse’s regular diet is deficient, is there a reason to believe the horse will benefit from levels above the requirement and how much of the nutrient is in the supplement

Question 2

ergogenic aids

Answer 2

products intended to increase work capacity, suggested benefits include stronger/faster, more stamina/less fatigue and more agile/coordinated

Question 3

nutraceuticals

Answer 3

intended to improve health/appearance, alter behavior or prevent disease, has no official definition (materials are food or drugs according to the FDA)

Question 4

FDA requirements

Answer 4

supplement manufacturers may not make drug claims for their products unless they have been approved by the FDA as a drug, many supplements/additives are considered to be generally regarded as safe (GRAS)

Question 5

questions to ask about ergogenic aids and nutriceuticals

Answer 5

how does the supplement work?
what are the active ingredients?
what is the physiological basis for its function?
what is the limiting factor in performance?
is the recommended dose large enough to have an effect?
evidence of efficacy?-research studies/types of horses used/what type of other species/published
anecdotal reports?-number of sources and credibility of sources

Question 6

questions about safety

Answer 6

quality control in production, side effects of active ingredients/other components in the supplement/interactions with other supplements or medications/long term safety studies
does it contain any prohibited substances

Question 7

prebiotics

Answer 7

substance that enhances the growth of certain GI organisms ex. some oligosaccharides
ask if there is evidence of efficacy in horses, is it safes there a reason to think the resident microbial community is sub-optimal

Question 8

probiotics

Answer 8

viable microbes that survive in the GI tract

ask if the organisms are viable, how many are there, can the organisms colonize the equine GI tract and is it safe

Question 9

what to do when considering a supplement

Answer 9

read the label and compare to the current diet, understand its proposed purpose, assess cost/efficacy/benefits, ask for evidence and be skeptical