The preventive effects of two nutraceuticals on experimentally induced acute synovitis

Background: Nutraceuticals are often used in the management of equine osteoarthritis, but scientific evidence of their efficacy is lacking. Objectives: To study the preventive effects of two new nutraceuticals after the experimental induction of synovitis in comparison with positive and negative control treatments. Study design: Blinded, controlled, randomised experiment. Methods: Twenty-four healthy Standardbred horses were randomly allocated to supplement AT (multi-ingredient, 28 days), supplement HP (collagen hydrolysate, 60 days), meloxicam (4 days) or placebo (60 days). Synovitis was induced in the right intercarpal joint by intra-articular injection of 0.5 ng lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli while treatments were continued. Blood and synovial fluid were sampled before treatment, immediately prior to LPS injection, and at 8, 24 and 48 h post-injection. Synovial fluid samples were analysed for total nucleated cell count (TNCC), total protein (TP) and selected biomarkers (prostaglandin E2 [PGE2], interleukin-6 [IL-6], glycosaminoglycans [GAGs], type II collagen synthesis [CPII], matrix metalloproteinase [MMP]). Lameness was scored by visual examination and pressure plate analysis immediately prior to LPS injection, and at 8, 24 and 48 h post-injection. Clinical examinations were performed before treatment, immediately prior to LPS injection, at 2, 4 and 6 h post-injection, and then twice per day during the test period. Results: Before treatment and intra-articular challenge, there were no statistically significant differences among the treatment groups for any of the parameters. After intra-articular challenge, the placebo group showed significantly higher synovial fluid TP, TNCC and PGE2 compared with the meloxicam group, although the model did not induce a relevant amount of lameness. Both nutraceuticals resulted in significantly lower synovial fluid TP, TNCC and PGE2 compared with placebo. No statistical differences in IL-6, GAGs, CPII or MMPs were observed among treatment groups. No adverse effects were observed. Main limitations: Despite evidence of synovitis, lameness was too mild to detect. Conclusions: The preventive administration of these nutraceuticals showed anti-inflammatory effects in this validated synovitis model. Therefore, further studies of their clinical applicability are warranted

Equine Rounds, No. 1, November, 1983

Topics in this issue of Equine Rounds include: Student Chapter AAEP Introduces Equine Newsletter; The Clinical Staff; Inside the Clinic: The Lameness Examination (Annemarie Bimbo, Andrew Weitzman); Research Update: Equine Influenza Vaccine (J. C. Davies); William C. Rebhun (interview) (Andrew Pepper, Chip Myers); Drug Testing of Race Horses (Sarah M. Darish, George A. Maylin)

Equine Rounds, No. 4, September, 1984

Topics in this issue of Equine Rounds include: Shoeing for Lameness of the Foot (Andy Weitzman, Buster Conklin); The AHSA Drugs and Medications Rules and the Exhibitor: Subsection G (Lynne V. Swanson, John G. Lengel, Nora Matthews); Equine Rounds Interview: Dr. Susan Fubini (Kathleen OBrien); Laminitis--What Is It? (Pamela Livesay-Wilkins, Prabin Mishra)

Equine Rounds, No. 6, February, 1985

Topics in this issue of Equine Rounds include: Causes of Diarrhea in the Foal (Pat Kenney); Patent Urachus in the Foal (Terry Dewey); Ultrasonography in Broodmare Practice (Wendy R. Kimmel, Amy Dietze); When Will Your Foal Be Born? (Pamela Livesay-Wilkins, Robert B. Hillman, George Haluska)

Equine Rounds, No. 3, April, 1984

Topics in this issue of Equine Rounds include: Colostrum Related Diseases of the Newborn Foal (Pamela Livesay-Wilkins, S. Gordon Campbell); Reproductive Management of Horses (Wendy Kimmel, Wendell Cooper); Embryo Transfer in the Mare (Pat Kenney, Gordon Woods); Colic Due to Ruptured Bladder in the Young Foal (Mary Eagle); The Many Faces of Rhinopneumonitis (Mary K. Letwin)

Equine Rounds, No. 9, December, 1985

Topics in this issue of Equine Rounds include: Do You Have a 'Preemie'? (Pamela Livesay-Wilkins, Diane Craig); Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn (Mary Dyroff, Steven Dill); The Dummy Foal (Neonatal Maladjustment Syndrome) (Susan Coggins)