Changes in body condition and serum metabolites in endurance horses fed stabilized rice bran

The objective of the trial was to study the effects of dietary stabilized rice bran on body condition and serum lipid and carbohydrates metabolites in endurance horses. Four subjects (419±5.98 kg) in training received 500 g/d of stabilized rice bran (Risosprint®, Riso Scotti Ingredients, Italy) in a 85F:15C diet, fed at 2.5% body weight (23 Mcal/d DE and 760 g/d crude protein). Dietary treatment lasted 7 months. Feed intake was recorded daily, while body weight, body condition score, heart rate, capillary refill, and mucous membrane colour were evaluated monthly, at rest. Blood samples were collected for ALT, AST, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides serum content before starting the dietary treatment, monthly, and one month after the administration of stabilized rice bran. Data were analysed by MIXED procedure of SAS considering the effect of time response to the dietary treatment. Feed intake, body weight and body condition score were not affected during time as heart rate, capillary refill, and mucous membrane colour. Significantly reduced ALT, cholesterol and triglycerides serum content were found mainly at the end of the trial, when compared with samples collected on months three and four (P<0.05). Glucose serum content showed more variable trends in the first four months of the trial, with significant increased levels at 30 days of treatment than in the subsequent two months (85.75 vs 77.00 and 76.35 mg/dl respectively; P<0.01) and in the rest of the trial (P<0.05). The inclusion of stabilized rice bran in the diet of endurance horses in training exerted lowering effects on ALT, cholesterol and triglycerides basal serum content with a long-time administration effect.