Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) support healthy cell membrane and tissue structure, immune function, and inflammatory response. Horses do not have the ability to produce these essential fatty acids in their bodies, so they must obtain them from dietary sources.

Omega-3 fatty acids are used to produce compounds that resolve inflammation, while compounds from omega-6 fatty acid typically promote inflammation.

A horse’s natural diet of grass supplies two to three times as many omega-3 fatty acids as omega-6 fatty acids, whereas modern diets composed of concentrates and hay typically supply significantly more omega-6 fatty acids. This affects the balance of pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory compounds produced.

Source matters. Fatty acids can be provided in the diet from plant-based or marine-derived sources. Plant-based sources, such as pasture grasses, flaxseed, and chia, supply high levels of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a short-chain omega-3 fatty acid, and desirable omega-3 to omega-6 ratios. Cereal grains and their oils deliver high levels of linoleic acid (LA), a short-chain omega-6 fatty acid, with little omega-3. These short-chain fatty acids can convert to long-chain forms but use the same enzymes to do so, thus creating competition among them before they can influence inflammation.

Marine-derived sources. Oils from fish, microalgae, and krill provide several long-chain omega-3s, including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), two of the most biologically active fatty acids. EPA and DHA are used to produce inflammation-resolving compounds.

Overcoming competition. In the horse, the conversion of ALA into EPA and DHA is an inefficient process. Excessive omega-6 intake from modern diets high in LA further inhibits this process, which is why supplementation with ALA does not increase blood EPA and DHA levels. Providing a direct dietary source of EPA and DHA avoids this competition, contributing directly to production of anti-inflammatory compounds.

Benefits of Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids

-Anti-inflammatory support for horses with chronic airway inflammation, allergic hyperreactivity, osteoarthritis, and skin conditions

-Reduced exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) due to improved membrane fluidity

-Improved fertility in mares and semen quality in stallions

-Enhanced glucose clearance

Direct EPA and DHA supplementation from EO-3™ and ReSolvin EQ™ raises blood and cellular EPA and DHA levels. ALA sources do not.

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