Because horses are such an important part of recreation and competition, improving their health and well-being can also enhance their athletic performance. Research studies like this one, which examines the effects of antioxidants and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) on horse performance and recovery, can provide valuable insights for owners, trainers, and riders.
The study suggests that while antioxidant and BCAA supplementation may offer some benefits related to exercise recovery, the results did not show a significant improvement in overall athletic performance compared to antioxidants alone. As with many areas of equine nutrition, more research is needed to better understand when and how these supplements may be most effective.
You can try them yourself and see if you feel there are differences. Some believe there are clearn benefits and research is anything but conclusive.
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Comparison of an Antioxidant Source and Antioxidant Plus BCAA on Athletic Performance and Post-Exercise Recovery of Horses
- This study evaluated whether adding branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) to a high-antioxidant diet would improve exercise recovery and muscle protein synthesis in conditioned polo horses compared to antioxidants alone or a control diet.
- Eighteen mixed-breed polo horses underwent lactate threshold exercise tests while receiving one of three dietary treatments: a low-antioxidant control diet, a high-antioxidant diet, or a high-antioxidant diet supplemented with BCAAs.
- Oxidative stress markers decreased over the 30-day supplementation period, indicating that exercise-related oxidative stress was reduced over time regardless of treatment group.
- Exercise stimulated the expression of several genes associated with muscle metabolism and protein synthesis, demonstrating a normal adaptive response to training and recovery.
- The addition of BCAAs to the antioxidant supplement did not provide a measurable advantage over antioxidants alone for reducing oxidative stress or enhancing post-exercise muscle protein synthesis.
Kent, E., Coleman, S., Bruemmer, J., Casagrande, R. R., Levihn, C., Romo, G., Herkelman, K., & Hess, T. (2023). Comparison of an antioxidant source and antioxidant plus BCAA on athletic performance and post-exercise recovery of horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 121, 104200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104200
