Effects of orally administered ascorbic acid on the athletic performance in Arab horses

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

محمد Mashayekhi ¹ (Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran)
M.H Khayat-Nouri ² (Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran)
علی Hassanpour ³ (Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran)
بهرام Amoghli-Tabrizi ⁴ (Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran)

Received: 2008-10-29 Accepted : 2009-01-19 Published : 2008-08-22

Keywords: Performance, Ascorbic acid, Arabic horse,

Abstract :

     The aim of this study was to evaluate the athletic performance of Arab horses fallowing oral administration of ascorbic acid. The study was conducted on two groups each consisting of 20 Arab horses with the age range of 4-9 years and body weight of 450-550 kg. After general examination of all horses, those in the treatment group received 20 grams of oral ascorbic acid daily for 30 days. At the end of 30 days period, general examination was performed once again and two jugular blood samples along with the electrocardiography after exercise at the 2160 meter track. Statistical analysis of the results indicated that the mean serumic levels of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, lactate and uric acid had significantly increased (p<0.05) fallowing exercise in both control and treatment groups but the mean serumic levels of ascorbic acid had decreased (p<0.05) fallowing exercise in both groups. Average heart rate had also significantly increased (p<0.05) after exercise. Abnormal electrocardiographic changes were not seen in any of the cases. Considering the significance difference (p<0.05) in mean creatine phosphokinase and lactate levels fallowing exercise between the control and treatment groups, it can be concluded that the administration of ascorbic acid improves the athletic performance of Arab horses.

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