Supplement Categories and Key Ingredients Part 2
By Nick Hartog
In the last article the primary topic was joint supplements and the various forms and types. In this article I would like to go into some other supplement categories.
Hoof Supplements are probably the next largest supplement category and are certainly easier to understand because there are fewer choices for key ingredients. Biotin, a sulfur-bearing B vitamin, and Methionine, a sulfur-bearing amino acid, are the two most important ingredients and they need to be backed up by the minerals, zinc and copper. There are some other ingredients that can be added to enhance the supplement – but these four ingredients are essential.
Biotin helps stimulate the production of keratin in the hoof laminae and coronary band, strengthening and improving the periople, hoof wall, sole, frog and white line. There has been a good deal of published research that have found that adding Biotin can substantially improve dermal tissue within three to six months. It is important to appreciate that the full grow out of the hoof wall generally takes between nine to twelve months. So even though the new tissue growing shows signs of improvement you will not truly know if your hoof problems are solved until the new hoof material meets the ground. Methionine is one of the most important amino acids and is critical for repairing and maintaining connective tissues. It is especially important in supporting the soft tissues that attach the hoof wall and strengthening connective tissue proteins. Zinc plays an essential role in the function of digestive and metabolic enzymes and is crucial for wound healing, healthy skin and coat and hoof growth. Copper is needed for bone, cartilage and elastin formation and the utilization of iron. It is also key to the proper structure of hair and hoof.
There are generally two delivery systems for hoof products – powders or pellets. There is no particular advantage of one form over another – be careful to check ingredients in pelleted products to see if they might be affected by heat. Pelleting is a heat process and some vitamins can lose much or all of their potency through pelleting.
The most important piece of advice with hoof supplements is to be patient, check ingredients, and watch out for red flags. If a product offers dramatic results in a few weeks or you cannot understand what is in the product then I would keep looking.
The next category that draws a lot of attention is coat products. Horses with richly colored coats can often have a completely different color after standing out in the wind and sun for a season. The good news is that a good quality coat supplement can restore the color of the coat and improve the condition of the skin in a fairly short time period – often in three to four weeks.
Flax meal is an important ingredient in coat supplements and an excellent source of the Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, these are also known as Linoleic acid and Linolenic acid. Flax meal often forms the main ingredient in coat supplements. One consideration is that flax meal tends to turn rancid so it is better to buy coat supplements in smaller containers for one horse to ensure the freshness of the product. You should also try to see if there is an expiration date on the product. Rice bran is another good source of fat that can be combined with the flax meal.
Another ingredient that is important in coat supplements is Biotin. Biotin deficiency often manifests itself in the form of poor hair coat and skin condition. Zinc and Copper should also be included because of their association with the health of skin and coat. An ingredient that was recently used for the first time in Grand Coat was Lecithin. Lecithin contains phospholipids that are very effective in keeping the skin healthy. As an alternative to silicone based topical sprays to give your horse the “wow” factor, a good quality coat supplement is a healthy and effective approach.
In this issue (Spotlight on the News) information concerning the NASC Seal was provided and I wanted to touch on this topic because it represents the first time that consumers can have a measure of quality assurance about the products they purchase. Prior to the introduction of the seal there were little or no barriers to entry in the equine supplement business and this has resulted in a wide range of products that have not been manufactured to any measurable standard. In order to earn the seal an independent audit is conducted of the manufacturers facility checking on everything from receipt of raw materials, employee training, record keeping, handling of complaints and adverse events to name a few. Once a manufacturer has earned the seal, they can be subject to other audits, random checks etc. to ensure that the standards present at the time of the original audit are still in place.
Please look for the seal and support the companies that have earned it. You benefit by buying an accurately labeled product that represent value for money, other manufacturers will be forced to raise their standards to acceptable levels to maintain sales.
