Posts
These articles are presented for informational purposes only and are not intended to endorse any product.
Help for Your Horse’s Immune Health
- Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, Staff Veterinary Specialist for Uckele Health & Nutrition
To review from our recent postings, the foundation of building an effective immune system is to guarantee your horse is getting adequate calories, protein, vitamins and carefully balanced minerals. Without this basic foundation, you have about as much chance of success in influencing the immune system as you do of starting a car that is out of gas.
Even with a good foundation, there are times when the immune system is under high stress and could use additional support. Heavy exercise, extremes of weather, injury and transport have all been identified as immune system stressors. High risk of infection exposure or fighting infections are taxing conditions. Allergies, exaggerated inflammatory reactions, autoimmune disease and chronic diseases such as insulin resistance and Cushing's disease are also conditions where the immune system is imbalanced and not functioning correctly.
However, there are many natural and nutritional approaches to supporting immune system function which are safe, effective and encourage a good balance in immune activity.
Flavonoids, aka bioflavonoids, are plant chemicals that give fruits their color. Citrus, raspberries, blueberries, etc. are rich sources of flavonoids. They have clear antioxidant activity in high concentrations but it does not stop there. Even in low concentrations these compounds strengthen innate immune system responses by interacting with receptors on cell surfaces and can curb inflammation, allergies and autoimmunity by exerting effects directly on DNA.
Vitamin C is required for normal numbers of white blood cells and also their function, including production of the antiviral cytokine Interferon. It protects them from damage when organisms are destroyed by free radical reactions. High doses don't necessarily produce stronger immune responses but deficiency can be harmful. Horses can manufacture enough C to avoid fullblown deficiency, but levels are known to drop sharply when they are not on pasture.
Whey protein is an excellent source of protein for the immune system, including L-glutamine which both feeds cells directly and contributes to production of the important antioxidant, glutathione.
Complex carbohydrates in the general class of soluble fiber or gums, including arabinogalactan, fructo-oligosaccharides and mannanoligosaccharides also are capable of interacting with cellular surface receptors to prime immune responses. Supplementation can ultimately increase antibody levels and white cell counts. These carbohydrates are a natural component of many plants and as such are extremely safe. They are not digestible in the small intestine, and therefore do not cause a glucose spike or insulin rise. They are fermentable in the cecum and large intestine, so as a bonus act as prebiotics for the colonic bacteria.
Speaking of bacteria, the “friendly” bacteria in the intestinal tract are very important to immune function. The immune system of the intestinal tract is called GALT – gut associated lymphoid tissue. Research has found that interactions between the immune system and the bacteria colonizing it can have profound effects. Probiotics are defined as bacterial strains capable of colonizing and surviving in the gut which have a beneficial effect on their host by suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria and interacting with the immune system. Documented effects of probiotics to date include:
These nutritional strategies are safe, sane and effective ways to keep the immune system primed to operate optimally.
Help for Your Horse's Immune Health, Part 4
1/10/14 10:48 AM
- Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD, Staff Veterinary Specialist for Uckele Health & Nutrition
To review from our recent postings, the foundation of building an effective immune system is to guarantee your horse is getting adequate calories, protein, vitamins and carefully balanced minerals. Without this basic foundation, you have about as much chance of success in influencing the immune system as you do of starting a car that is out of gas.
Even with a good foundation, there are times when the immune system is under high stress and could use additional support. Heavy exercise, extremes of weather, injury and transport have all been identified as immune system stressors. High risk of infection exposure or fighting infections are taxing conditions. Allergies, exaggerated inflammatory reactions, autoimmune disease and chronic diseases such as insulin resistance and Cushing's disease are also conditions where the immune system is imbalanced and not functioning correctly.
However, there are many natural and nutritional approaches to supporting immune system function which are safe, effective and encourage a good balance in immune activity.
Flavonoids, aka bioflavonoids, are plant chemicals that give fruits their color. Citrus, raspberries, blueberries, etc. are rich sources of flavonoids. They have clear antioxidant activity in high concentrations but it does not stop there. Even in low concentrations these compounds strengthen innate immune system responses by interacting with receptors on cell surfaces and can curb inflammation, allergies and autoimmunity by exerting effects directly on DNA.
Vitamin C is required for normal numbers of white blood cells and also their function, including production of the antiviral cytokine Interferon. It protects them from damage when organisms are destroyed by free radical reactions. High doses don't necessarily produce stronger immune responses but deficiency can be harmful. Horses can manufacture enough C to avoid fullblown deficiency, but levels are known to drop sharply when they are not on pasture.
Whey protein is an excellent source of protein for the immune system, including L-glutamine which both feeds cells directly and contributes to production of the important antioxidant, glutathione.
Complex carbohydrates in the general class of soluble fiber or gums, including arabinogalactan, fructo-oligosaccharides and mannanoligosaccharides also are capable of interacting with cellular surface receptors to prime immune responses. Supplementation can ultimately increase antibody levels and white cell counts. These carbohydrates are a natural component of many plants and as such are extremely safe. They are not digestible in the small intestine, and therefore do not cause a glucose spike or insulin rise. They are fermentable in the cecum and large intestine, so as a bonus act as prebiotics for the colonic bacteria.
Speaking of bacteria, the “friendly” bacteria in the intestinal tract are very important to immune function. The immune system of the intestinal tract is called GALT – gut associated lymphoid tissue. Research has found that interactions between the immune system and the bacteria colonizing it can have profound effects. Probiotics are defined as bacterial strains capable of colonizing and surviving in the gut which have a beneficial effect on their host by suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria and interacting with the immune system. Documented effects of probiotics to date include:
- regulate cytokines and regulatory lymphocytes
- encourage production of protective mucus by the intestinal cells
- reduce inflammation
- increase production of IgA while decreasing the risk of allergy
These nutritional strategies are safe, sane and effective ways to keep the immune system primed to operate optimally.
No comments:
Post a Comment