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Current Research On Equine Reproduction

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Veterinary researchers have been studying correlations between reproduction and nutritional supplementation for several decades now. Research shows a comprehensive diet has the potential to affect reproductive outcomes in both mares and stallions.

Scientific References

The references below include peer-reviewed research and other authoritative sources used in the preparation of the related article, Nutrition Impacts Reproductive Success.

Microbiome

  1. Altmäe, S., Franasiak, J. M., Mändar, R., et al. (2019). The seminal microbiome in health and disease. Nature Reviews Urology, 16, 703–721.
  2. Schuppe, H. C., Pilatz, A., Hossain, H., et al. (2017). Urogenital infection as a risk factor for male infertility. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 114, 339–346.
  3. Tomaiuolo, R., Veneruso, I., Cariati, F., et al. (2020). Microbiota and human reproduction: The case of male infertility. High-Throughput, 9.
  4. Vitale, S. G., Ferrari, F., Ciebiera, M., et al. (2021). The role of genital tract microbiome in fertility: A systematic review. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

  1. Catandi, G. D., LiPuma, L., Obeidat, Y. M., et al. (2022). Oocyte metabolic function, lipid composition, and developmental potential are altered by diet in older mares. Reproduction, 163, 183–198.
  2. Robles, M., Loux, S., de Mestre, A. M., et al. (2022). Environmental constraints and pathologies that modulate equine placental genes and development. Reproduction, 163, R25–R38.
  3. Jacobs, R. D., Ealy, A. D., Pennington, P. M., et al. (2018). Dietary supplementation of algae-derived omega-3 fatty acids influences endometrial and conceptus transcript profiles in mares. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 62, 66–75.
  4. Carnevale, E. M. (2008). Pregnancy success rates per transfer among mares before and after omega-3 and micronutrient supplementation. Colorado State University.
  5. Aurich, C., Ortega Ferrusola, C., Pena Vega, F. J., et al. (2018). Seasonal changes in the sperm fatty acid composition of Shetland pony stallions. Theriogenology, 107, 149–153.

Prebiotics and Postbiotics

  1. Abbasi, A., Aghebati-Maleki, L., & Homayouni-Rad, A. (2021). The promising biological role of postbiotics derived from probiotic Lactobacillus species in reproductive health. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 1–13.
  2. Kyono, K., Hashimoto, T., Kikuchi, S., et al. (2018). A pilot study and case reports on endometrial microbiota and pregnancy outcome. Reproductive Medicine and Biology, 1–11.
  3. Respondek, F., Myers, K., Smith, T. L., et al. (2011). Dietary supplementation with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses. Journal of Animal Science, 89, 77–83.
  4. Smieszek, A., Marcinkowska, K., Pielok, A., et al. (2022). Obesity affects the proliferative potential of equine endometrial progenitor cells and modulates their molecular phenotype associated with mitochondrial metabolism. Cells, 11.
  5. Vick, M. M., Sessions, D. R., Murphy, B. A., et al. (2006). Obesity is associated with altered metabolic and reproductive activity in the mare: Effects of metformin on insulin sensitivity and reproductive cyclicity. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 18, 609–617.

Probiotics

  1. Lipiński, K., Chrostowski, G., Matusevicius, P., et al. (2012). The effect of diets supplemented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii probiotic yeast on the reproductive performance of pregnant and lactating sows. Veterinarija ir Zootechnika, 59, 40–44.
  2. Zaleska, B., Milewski, S., & Ząbek, K. (2015). Impact of Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on reproductive performance, milk yield in ewes and offspring growth. Archives Animal Breeding, 58, 79–83.

Glutamine

  1. Hong, J., & Lee, E. (2007). Intrafollicular amino acid concentration and the effect of amino acids in a defined maturation medium on porcine oocyte maturation, fertilization, and preimplantation development. Theriogenology, 68, 728–735.
  2. Wang, L., Zhou, C., Sun, J., et al. (2022). Glutamine and norepinephrine in follicular fluid synergistically enhance the antioxidant capacity of human granulosa cells and the outcome of IVF-ET. Scientific Reports, 12, 9936.
  3. Hamed, M. A., Akhigbe, T. M., Akhigbe, R. E., et al. (2022). Glutamine restores testicular glutathione-dependent antioxidant defense and upregulates NO/cGMP signaling in sleep deprivation-induced reproductive dysfunction in rats. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 148, 112765.

Carnitine

  1. Pekala, J., Patkowska-Sokola, B., Bodkowski, R., et al. (2011). L-carnitine—Metabolic functions and meaning in humans life. Current Drug Metabolism, 12, 667–678.
  2. Dunning, K. R., & Robker, R. L. (2012). Promoting lipid utilization with L-carnitine to improve oocyte quality. Animal Reproduction Science, 134, 69–75.
  3. Aliabadi, E., Soleimani Mehranjani, M., Borzoei, Z., et al. (2012). Effects of L-carnitine and L-acetylcarnitine on testicular sperm motility and chromatin quality. Iranian Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 10, 77–82.
  4. Li, J., Liu, L., Weng, J., et al. (2021). Biological roles of L-carnitine in oocyte and early embryo development. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 88, 673–685.
  5. Miyamoto, K., Sato, E. F., Kasahara, E., et al. (2010). Effect of oxidative stress during repeated ovulation on the structure and functions of the ovary, oocytes, and their mitochondria. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 49, 674–681.

Vitamin E

  1. Lewis, E. D., Meydani, S. N., & Wu, D. (2019). Regulatory role of vitamin E in the immune system and inflammation. IUBMB Life, 71, 487–494.
  2. Fey, W. O. (1948). Study of the improvement of reproduction in brood mares by treatment with vitamin E. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde, 90, 113–133.

Vitamin C

  1. Aten, R. F., Duarte, K. M., & Behrman, H. R. (1992). Regulation of ovarian antioxidant vitamins, reduced glutathione, and lipid peroxidation by luteinizing hormone and prostaglandin F2 alpha. Biology of Reproduction, 46, 401–407.
  2. Dawson, E. B., Harris, W. A., & Powell, L. C. (1990). Relationship between ascorbic acid and male fertility. World Review of Nutrition and Dietetics, 62, 1–26.
  3. Luck, M. R., Jeyaseelan, I., & Scholes, R. A. (1995). Ascorbic acid and fertility. Biology of Reproduction, 52, 262–266.

Superoxide Dismutase

  1. Carillon, J., Rouanet, J. M., Cristol, J. P., et al. (2013). Superoxide dismutase administration, a potential therapy against oxidative stress related diseases: Several routes of supplementation and proposal of an original mechanism of action. Pharmaceutical Research, 30, 2718–2728.
  2. Negri, L., Benaglia, R., Monti, E., et al. (2017). Effect of superoxide dismutase supplementation on sperm DNA fragmentation. Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia, 89, 212–218.

Oxidative Stress

  1. Fujii, J., Iuchi, Y., & Okada, F. (2005). Fundamental roles of reactive oxygen species and protective mechanisms in the female reproductive system. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 3, 43.
  2. Baumber, J., Ball, B. A., Gravance, C. G., et al. (2000). The effect of reactive oxygen species on equine sperm motility, viability, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and membrane lipid peroxidation. Journal of Andrology, 21, 895–902.
  3. Pena, F. J., O'Flaherty, C., Ortiz Rodriguez, J. M., et al. (2019). Redox regulation and oxidative stress: The particular case of the stallion spermatozoa. Antioxidants, 8.
  4. Agarwal, A., Gupta, S., & Sharma, R. K. (2005). Role of oxidative stress in female reproduction. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 3, 28.
  5. Agarwal, A., Aponte-Mellado, A., Premkumar, B. J., et al. (2012). The effects of oxidative stress on female reproduction: A review. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 10, 49.
  6. Al-Gubory, K. H., Fowler, P. A., & Garrel, C. (2010). The roles of cellular reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress and antioxidants in pregnancy outcomes. International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, 42, 1634–1650.
  7. Contri, A., De Amicis, I., Molinari, A., et al. (2011). Effect of dietary antioxidant supplementation on fresh semen quality in stallion. Theriogenology, 75, 1319–1326.
  8. Desai, N., Sharma, R., Makker, K., et al. (2009). Physiologic and pathologic levels of reactive oxygen species in neat semen of infertile men. Fertility and Sterility, 92, 1626–1631.

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