Joint Supplements

®
Joint Supplements
….to buy or not to buy?
By Nicola Tyler B.Sc. (Hons), Director Of Nutrition, TopSpec Equine Limited
There is a great deal of anecdotal
evidence, and some scientific proof,
that targeted nutrition can play a role
in improving the mobility of many
horses that have previously had their
action compromised by a perceived
‘stiffness’ in their joints.
But this does not necessarily mean
that the widespread practice of feeding
joint supplements to young, sound
horses is a wise investment.
In view of the high cost of these
products when would an owner be
well advised to use them and what are
the important nutrients to look out for
if such a product is purchased?
What do we mean
by joints?
When owners buy joint supplements they
are usually seeking to help synovial joints,
which generally facilitate a wide range of
movement through the limbs, and help
to absorb shock. They include the stifle,
elbow, hock, knee, fetlock, pastern and
coffin joints.
Healthy synovial joints allow two bone
ends to slide smoothly over each other,
courtesy of a concussion-absorbing and
slippery articular cartilage surface plus a
supporting structure.
This structure includes a fibrous joint
capsule lined by the synovial membrane
and filled with a lubricating and shockabsorbing fluid known as synovial fluid.
Ligaments are another important element
of the supporting structure, linking bone
to bone in a way that, when the limbs
move in perfect alignment, minimises
the possibility of wear and tear on
inappropriate, and insufficiently protected,
areas of cartilage.
Outside the joint capsule, ligaments and
tendons, the latter linking muscle to bone,
also help to support joint structures.
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Tel: 01845 565 030
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®
How are joints
damaged?
When a joint is subject to trauma from
repeated and/or excessive use, a range
of resulting conditions are defined under
the umbrella term of ‘traumatic arthritis’.
An initial synovitis (inflammation of
the synovial membrane) can lead to
damaging changes in the cartilage itself.
Pain, swelling and reduced mobility are
common symptoms.
The term DJD (degenerative joint disease)
is used to describe ongoing deterioration
or the end result of initial trauma.
Damaged cartilage is less efficient at
producing the substances that help
to maintain joint elasticity and shock
absorption properties.
In young horses, mainly foals round about
weaning and yearlings, developmental
orthopaedic disease (DOD) is another
loose term used to describe a wide
range of conditions. One type of DOD is
osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) which
occurs when the bone underlying the
articular cartilage fails to mature correctly
and the cartilage itself can ‘crack’
resulting in loose flaps that can trigger
inflammation.
Many factors are involved, one of which
is incorrect nutrition. There are many
aspects to this, not least the feeding of
excess starch; these have been covered
in a previous article.
What substances
make up joints?
What nutrients are contained within bone,
cartilage, ligaments, the joint capsule and
synovial fluid? The bottom line is that
they are all formed from water, protein,
carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals,
so these must all be present in optimum
proportions in a horse’s diet if a joint is to
function correctly.
Synovial fluid is viscous fluid containing
amongst other things water, proteins
such as lubricin, enzymes, free-radicals
and prostoglandins. But perhaps the most
often discussed components in terms of
joint supplements are glycosaminoglycans
(GAGS), mainly sodium hyaluronate (also
known as hyaluronic acid).
Nicola Tyler BSc (Hons)
TopSpec Equine Limited
GAGS are long chains of sugars that could
be compared to the coiled springs of a
mattress. They are largely responsible for
giving the joint fluid its elastic and shockabsorbing properties.
Cartilage is made up of a matrix of
collagen fibres containing cells called
chondrocytes which make big molecules
called proteoglycans that help to hold
GAGS together.
What nutrients
might support
the function of
joints?
Glucosamine is an important constituent
of GAGS (including sodium hyaluronate),
proteoglycans, ligaments and connective
tissue amongst others. It has long been
established that injecting GAGS not only
directly into the joint but also into muscle
improves joint function in many horses.
Could feeding glucosamine be a less
invasive, and cheaper, route to improved
horse welfare?
The glucosamine molecule is small
enough to be absorbed through the major
obstacle between it and the bloodstream,
which is the intestinal wall of the horse’s
digestive system. Results are good when
glucosamine sulphate is fed but better
when glucosamine hydrochloride is fed.
There are pro’s and cons to the use of
both, my preference is for the latter but
beware misleading labels on packaging.
For example a label stating a product
contains10 grams ‘glucosamine’ per dose
means exactly that. It is equally good to
declare 10 grams ‘glucosamine (as HCL),’
this means that 10 grams of glucosamine
is supplied in the form of hydrochloride.
BUT if the label says 10 grams of
‘glucosamine hydrochloride’ per dose
it will only contain 8 grams of pure
glucosamine. Take care.
Chondroitin is a GAG that is a constituent
of proteoglycans. Its use as an oral
supplement is very controversial. Although
some eminent vets feel that adding
chondroitin sulphate to glucosamine in an
oral supplement increases the benefits
to joint function most experienced
nutritionists concur that its large molecule
size prevents it from being absorbed by
the horse.
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It may be that it is broken down in the
digestive tract to smaller, more easily
absorbed substances, for example
glucosamine, which in turn may be broken
down to glutamine (a non-essential amino
acid) and glucose. Both glutamine and
glucose should be readily available to
the horse from a good diet, but damaged
cartilage may not be able to utilise them
fully, so the horse may be responding
to a ‘convenience meal’ of glucosamine
molecule ‘ready prepared’ but not too
large to digest.
It must not be forgotten that a good
underlying structure is also important, so
the diet should provide correct amounts
of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and
protein which are important constituents
of bone.
Copper and zinc are co-factors for
enzymes that support correct bone and
cartilage formation. Similarly manganese
is a co-factor during several stages of
the production of GAGS. The greatest
care must be taken however if joint
supplements contain these trace-minerals,
not to unbalance the proportions of these
nutrients in the existing diet. Sometimes
the levels of these trace-minerals in joint
supplements are so low that they will
not upset the existing balance, but then
they are not going to make a significant
contribution. In view of that, and the many
other important roles copper, manganese
and zinc play I think they are best provided
by a top specification feed balancer or
good quality compound feed.
Anti-oxidants, such as Vitamins A, C and
E plus beta-carotene all have an important
role to play in reducing oxidative damage
around the joint but again care must be
taken to check the levels provided by the
base diet, particularly with vitamin A.
As explained in detail in a previous article
it is nonsense to suggest that providing
supplements in a liquid form makes them
any more available to the horse than a
powdered, granular or pelleted form.
Nicola Tyler can be contacted
on the TopSpec Equine free
Multiple Award Winning Help
line.
Tel: 01845 565030
[email protected]
JOINT SUPPLEMENTS
What other
nutrients might
be beneficial in a
joint supplement?
Methyl Sulphonyl Methane (MSM)
provides a source of sulphur that the
horse can use in the formation of collagen.
MSM has also long been respected for
its anti-inflammatory properties. Trials in
America have shown that Alavis MSM
inhibits the production of prostoglandins
(inflammatory agents) in joint cartilage
samples contained in an artificial
medium.
Mark Hurtig, DVM, who conducted the
trial, said that there was good evidence
that MSM has a preventative effect on
the development of arthritis in the joints,
as well as a therapeutic effect on existing
inflammation.
Further work on Alavis MSM carried out
on racehorses in training in America
showed that oral supplementation with
10 to 20 grams per day led to improved
performance, as measured by time
over distance, and faster recovery from
exercise.
The
total
volume
of
evidence
demonstrating that MSM can help
to reduce inflammation in muscles,
improve many arthritic conditions and aid
growing horses in recovery from physitis
(inflammation of the growth plates of
bone, often seen as swollen fetlocks or
knees) is substantial
Conclusion
It is difficult to justify the cost of feeding
joint supplements to healthy young horses
that are going to be used for light work
such as 40 minutes hacking five times a
week. Good basic feeding should provide
them with everything they need for sound
joint function.
When they become elderly, or should a
mobility problem arise, then it is a different
matter. There can no longer be any doubt
that owners of elderly horses, or those that
are showing some stiffness as a result of
a strenuous career, may find a good joint
supplement a sound investment in terms
of improved mobility.
There is only one way to be sure and
that is to feed a recommended product
for between one and six weeks; if no
improvement is apparent, or if a decline in
mobility is not at least slowed, then there
is little point in continuing to purchase the
product.
It is easy to see why the owners of
valuable youngstock, particularly foals
and yearlings that are at risk of DOD,
especially OCD and physitis, would wish
to protect their investment.
Providing that all other good management
and nutritional practices that could
influence DOD are followed then the
price of a good joint supplement would
seem an easily justified ‘insurance policy’
compared to the potential value of the
horse. For foals and yearlings already
showing symptoms then an appropriate
joint supplement will correctly be
recommended by both the attending vet
and nutritionist.
In view of the evidence so far accumulated
it may also be possible to justify the
purchase of joint supplements for young,
healthy horses about to embark on an
athletically demanding career.
Young event horses, show-jumpers,
dressage, driving and endurance horses
would all fit this category but do not
splash out on joint supplements if the
basic ration is not of a high standard.
That would be like trying to keep warm
by putting a cashmere waistcoat over a
badly torn polyester blouse!
What would be the equivalent of a nice
new warm brushed cotton blouse? The full
recommended rate of a top specification
feed balancer or good quality compound
feed with excellent forage.
The unnatural stresses we place on the
limbs of horses asked to jump repeatedly,
to perform athletic movements regularly,
or to travel long distances over terrain that
is often rough or unyielding can scarcely
be exaggerated they are so high.
These horses fully deserve every form
of nutritional support we can give them.
Nutritious forage, top quality feed and
a joint supplement from a reputable
company are all fully justified
Relevant products produced by
TopSpec include:
TopSpec 10:10 Joint Support
is a feed additive which provides a nutritional support system to promote the
comfort zone in and around joints. It provides 10g of pure glucosamine and 10 g of
MSM/500kg horse /day. There are also some anti-oxidant ingredients included to
reduce oxidative damage around the joint. A 1.5kg tub will last a 500kg horse for a
month at full-rate or 2 months at half-rate. This granular, caramel flavoured, product
can be mixed into any feed daily.
Available in 1.5kg, 9kg and 20kg tubs.
TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer
is a palatable, pelleted product designed for elderly horses and ponies. It contains
a multi-supplement (i.e. it contains a broad-spectrum supplement plus 10g
glucosamine per 500kg horse per day to aid mobility, and a therapeutic hoof
supplement, a high-level vit E plus selenium supplement for muscle-function and
other anti-oxidant properties, two digestive aids and an immune-system booster
etc) and these are all put on a good quality protein base which promotes muscle
development and topline. It is the only feed balancer to include the scientifically
recommended rate of glucosamine to help maintain mobility.
TopSpec Comprehensive Feed
Balancer
is formulated on a high-quality protein base which promotes muscle development
and function. It contains a multi-supplement (i.e. it contains a broad-spectrum
supplement plus a hoof improvement supplement, a high-level vit E plus selenium
supplement for muscle-function and other anti-oxidant properties, a blood tonic, a
bone supplement, a digestive supplement etc).
TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer is formulated without cereal grains, low
in sugar/starch and ‘Non-Heating.’ It greatly improves a horse’s ability to convert
forage and straights efficiently to provide extra condition or fuel for work.
TopSpec Comprehensive Feed Balancer is designed to balance the rations of most
horses and ponies, whatever their workload, simply by adjusting the rate at which it
is fed and the products it is fed with.
For free nutritional advice and further information on TopSpec products please contact the
TopSpec Multiple Award Winning Helpline
Tel: 01845 565 030
e-mail: [email protected] or view www.topspec.com
© Copyright TopSpec Equine Ltd 2012 Edition 1. No reproduction without permission
TopSpec Senior Feed Balancer is completely cereal-grain free and very low in sugar
and starch so is completely ‘Non-Heating.’ Feeding it will improve a horse’s ability to
convert feed into either condition or work.