Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:08:09.889Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Small changes in exercise, not nutrition, often result in measurable changes in bone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2008

B D Nielsen*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
H S Spooner
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
*
*Corresponding author: bdn@msu.edu
Get access

Abstract

Skeletal injuries in the equine athlete are a tremendous concern with both economic and animal welfare implications. As a result, much research has focused on improving bone quality through nutritional and exercise interventions. With the recent utilization of biochemical markers, changes in bone metabolism can be monitored. This study examined and compared the response of bone markers and estimates of bone mineral content, in studies with nutritional interventions, with those utilizing exercise interventions. The post hoc analyses suggest that nutritional interventions result in less change to bone markers and bone mineral content than exercise treatments. Of the bone markers examined, osteocalcin correlates most strongly to estimates of bone quality while keratin sulphate, an indicator of cartilage turnover, showed the least correlation. Comparing the results of this study with other published studies, similar findings were observed, suggesting that small alterations in exercise play a greater role in affecting measurable changes in bone metabolism and quality of the equine athlete than do small changes in nutrition.

Type
Research Paper
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Meakim, DW, Ott, EA, Asquith, RL and Feaster, JP (1981). Estimation of mineral content of the equine third metacarpal by radiographic photometry. Journal of Animal Science 53: 10191026.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Hiney, KM, Nielsen, BD, Rosenstein, DS, Orth, MW and Marks, BP (2004). High-intensity exercise of short duration alters bovine bone density and shape. Journal of Animal Science 82: 16121620.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Turner, KK, Nielsen, BD, O'Connor, CI, Rosenstein, DS, Marks, BP and Orth, MW (2005). Bone characteristics and turnover after silicon supplementation. Proceedings of the 19th Equine Science Society Symposium, pp. 3136.Google Scholar
4Nielsen, BD, Potter, GD, Greene, LW, Morris, EL, Murray-Gerzik, M, Smith, WB and Martin, MT (1998). Response of young horses in training to varying concentrations of dietary calcium and phosphorus. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 18: 397404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Fenton, JI, Orth, MW, Chlebek-Brown, KA, Nielsen, BD, Corn, CD, Waite, KL and Caron, JP (1999). Effect of longeing and glucosamine supplementation on serum markers of bone and joint metabolism in yearling Quarter Horses. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research 63: 288291.Google ScholarPubMed
6Lang, KJ, Nielsen, BD, Waite, KL, Link, J, Hill, GM and Orth, MW (2001). Increased plasma silicon concentrations and altered bone resorption in response to sodium zeolite A supplementation in yearling horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 21: 550555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7Nielsen, BD, O'Connor, CI, Rosenstein, DS, Schott, HC and Clayton, HM (2002). Influence of trotting and supplemental weight on metacarpal bone development. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 34: 236240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8Woodward, AD, Nielsen, BD, O'Connor, CI, Webel, SK and Orth, MW (2005). Dietary long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids increase plasma eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations and trot stride length in horses. Proceedings of the 19th Equine Science Society Symposium, pp. 101106..Google Scholar
9Lang, KJ, Nielsen, BD, Waite, KL, Hill, GM and Orth, MW (2001). Supplemental silicon increases plasma and milk silicon concentrations in horses. Journal of Animal Science 79: 26272633.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Nielsen, BD, Potter, GD, Greene, LW, Morris, EL, Murray-Gerzik, M, Smith, WB and Martin, MT (1998). Characterization of changes related to mineral balance and bone metabolism in the young racing Quarter Horse. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 18: 190200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Hoekstra, KE, Nielsen, BD, Orth, MW, Rosenstein, DS, Schott, HC and Shelle, JE (1999). Comparison of bone mineral content and bone metabolism in stall- versus pasture-reared horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 30: 601604.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Bell, RA, Nielsen, BD, Waite, K, Rosenstein, D and Orth, MW (2001). Daily access to pasture turnout prevents loss of mineral in the third metacarpus of Arabian weanlings. Journal of Animal Science 79: 11421150.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Hiney, KM (2002). The effects of short term high intensity exercise on bone parameters of immature animals. PhD dissertation. Michigan State University.Google Scholar
14Hiney, KM, Nielsen, BD and Rosenstein, DS (2004). Short-duration exercise and confinement alters bone mineral content and shape in weanling horses. Journal of Animal Science 82: 23132320.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Kavazis, AN, Ott, EA, Johnson, E, McDowell, L, Sobota, JS and Kivipelto, J (2001). Influence of trace mineral intake of mares on the trace mineral status of their foals. Proceedings of the 17th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium, pp. 2425.Google Scholar
16Sobota, JS, Ott, EA, Johnson, E, McDowell, L, Kavazis, AN and Kivipelto, J (2001). Influence of manganese on yearling horses. Proceedings of the 17th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium, pp. 136137.Google Scholar
17Baker, LA, Kearney-Moss, T, Pipkin, JL, Bachman, RC, Haliburton, JT and Veneklasen, GO (2003). The effect of supplemental inorganic and organic sources of copper and zinc on bone metabolism in exercised yearling geldings. Proceedings of the 18th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society, pp. 100105..Google Scholar
18Michael, EM, Potter, GD, Mathiason-Kochan, KJ, Gibbs, PG, Morris, EL, Greene, LW and Topliff, D (2001). Biochemical markers of bone modeling and remodeling in juvenile racehorses fed differing levels of minerals. Proceedings of the 17th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium, pp. 117121.Google Scholar
19Peterson, ED, Siciliano, PD, Turner, AS, Kawcak, CE and McIlwraith, CW (2001). Effect of growth rate on serum-bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin in weanling horses. Proceedings of the 17th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium, pp. 186187.Google Scholar
20Williams, JL, Potter, GD, Michael, EM, Gibbs, PG, Scott, BD, Hood, DM and Morris, EL (2003). Pretraining influence on bone growth and development in weanling horses. Proceedings of the 18th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium, pp. 3237.Google Scholar
21Henry, JC, Cooper, SR, Freeman, DW and Kropp, JR (2003). Effects of exercise on bone metabolism in yearling horses. Proceedings of the 18th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society Symposium, pp. 230235..Google Scholar
22Spooner, HS, Potter, GD, Michael, EM, Gibbs, PG, Scott, BD, Smith, NJ and Walker, M (2005). Influence of protein intake on bone density in immature horses. Proceedings of the 19th Equine Science Society Symposium, pp. 1116..Google Scholar
23Stephens, T, Ott, E and Kivpelto, J (2005). Effect of dry lot, dry lot with forced exercise, and pasture programs on bone characteristics of yearling horses. Proceedings of the 19th Equine Science Society Symposium, p. 372.Google Scholar
24Inoue, Y, Matsui, A, Asai, Y, Aoki, F, Yoshimoto, K, Matsui, T and Yano, H (2005). Response of biochemical markers of bone and Ca metabolism to short-term exercise in Thoroughbred horses. Proceedings of the 19th Equine Science Society Symposium, pp. 387389.Google Scholar
25Price, JS, Jackson, B, Eastell, R, Wilson, AM, Russell, RGG., Lanyon, LE and Goodship, AE (1995). The response of the skeleton to physical training: a biochemical study in horses. Bone 17: 221227.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26de Behr, V, Daron, D, Gabriel, A, Remy, B, Dufrasne, I, Serteyn, D and Istasse, L (2001). The course of some bone remodeling plasma metabolites in healthy horses and in horses offered a calcium-deficient diet. Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition 87: 149159.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
27Graham, PM, Ott, EA, Brendemuhl, JH and TenBroeck, SH (1994). The effect of supplemental lysine and threonine on growth and development of yearling horses. Journal of Animal Science 72: 380386.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28Ott, EA and Asquith, RL (1989). The influence of mineral supplementation on growth and skeletal development of yearling horses. Journal of Animal Science 67: 28312840.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Ott, EA and Asquith, RL (1995). Trace mineral supplementation of yearling horses. Journal of Animal Science 73: 466471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
30Ott, EA and Asquith, RL (1986). Influence of level of feeding and nutrient content of the concentrate on growth and development of yearling horses. Journal of Animal Science 62: 290299.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
31Ott, EA, Brown, MP, Roberts, GD and Kivipelto, J (2005). Influence of starch intake on growth and skeletal development of weanling horses. Journal of Animal Science 83: 10331043.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32Lang, KJ, Nielsen, BD and Orth, MW (2002). Bone metabolism markers in Arabian horses during the first two years of life. Professional Animal Scientist 18: 180183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar