70 Ahiflower (Buglosoides Arvensis) oil supplementation alters whole blood and muscle fatty acid profile in mature horses

Abstract

The omega-3 (n-3) profile of common plant-based ingredients are derived from α-linolenic acid (ALA). Previous research has indicated that horses lack the ability to convert ALA or other short-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (SC-PUFA) into the biologically relevant docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Ahiflower (Buglossoides Arvensis) oil is a novel plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids derived from n-3 stearidonic acid (SDA), and gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid (see Table 1 for fatty acid profile). The objective of this trial was to evaluate how supplementation of Ahiflower oil to horses would alter whole blood and muscle fatty acid composition. Mature Quarter Horses (n = 20) were balanced by age, BW, and BCS and assigned to one of 4 treatment groups. LOW (n = 5; BW = 507.12 ± 2.3kg; BCS = 5.4 ± 0.3) was offered 30mL/day of Ahiflower oil. HIGH (n = 5; BW = 517.45 ± 4.5kg; BCS = 5.7 ± 0.1) was offered 60mL/day of Ahiflower oil. FLAX (n = 5; BW = 497.25 ± 3.5kg; BCS = 6.1 ± 0.7) was offered a flaxseed pellet (CP = 15.42%, Total omega-3 = 3.75%) formulated to provide the same amount of total omega-3′s as LOW was offered. PAST (n = 5; BW = 508.14 ± 3.6kg; BCS = 5.2 ± 0.6) was allowed free-choice access to mixed grass pasture (CP = 16.0%, Total omega-3 = 0.79%). All horses were offered 1.81kg/d of Purina® Strategy GX® (CP = 14.24%, Total omega-3 = 0.44%) daily. LOW, HIGH, and FLAX were housed in drylots by treatment group and were offered 2.0% BW as Timothy grass hay (CP = 10.10%, Total omega-3 = 0.35%). On d 0, 30, and 60 blood samples were collected along with a mid-gluteal muscle sample (∼1g). Samples were analyzed for fatty acid profile via LC-HPLC (UF ATCL).Data were analyzed via ANOVA (SAS 9.4). Horses in the LOW group had a 12.5% increase in total omega-3, while horses in HIGH had a 40.1% increase. Similar differences were observed for EPA (LOW = 19.2%; HIGH = 40.1%), and GLA (LOW = 60.1%; HIGH = 167%). Horses in HIGH had a greater increase from baseline in muscle EPA + DHA compared with all other groups (250%). All differences were significant at P < 0.05. Taken together these data indicate that horses had the ability to convert the PUFA's in Ahiflower oil into EPA. Increased EPA in whole blood and muscle tissue potentially allows for increased production of anti-inflammatory eicosanoids and prostaglandins. Further research is necessary to elucidate the mechanism by which this conversion occurs.