Commercial claims such as ?high antioxidant power? are common in compound foods and ?supplements? that we administer to horses. Thus, it is natural for the owner, rider or person responsible for feeding the horse, to question what is the ?power? antioxidant and what is its importance in equine nutrition.
In order to understand the importance of antioxidant molecules, it is necessary to understand what oxidizing substances are and how they behave.
What are oxidizing substances?
They are substances naturally produced in the most diverse metabolic functions, called reactive oxygen species (ROS) or free radicals. Examples of ROS are the hydroxyl radical (OH-), the superoxide anion (O2-) and the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).
Although they are a natural consequence of several molecular processes, these substances also have a harmful potential, being able to cause damage to DNA fractions, proteins and lipids, affecting the most different cells and tissues of the horse.
By increasing the metabolic rate, an increase in these substances in circulation is expected. When the amount of these molecules in circulation exceeds the regulatory capacity, there is a disturbance in the oxidant/antioxidant balance, which gives rise to the so-called oxidative stress.
Thus, situations of greater demand such as stress, exercise, transport, growth, pregnancy, lactation and disease, are associated with a greater risk of oxidative stress.
What is the role of antioxidant molecules?
Antioxidant molecules act:
? Inactivating the ROS;
? Inhibiting their production;
? Repairing the damage caused by them, in different tissues and cells.
In short, antioxidant substances play a protective role, preventing oxidation and reducing the risks associated with it.
VIT E+
Nutrition plays an important role, as it is through this route that we supply antioxidant substances and, at the same time, nutrients necessary for enzymes with antioxidant properties.
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