Prebiotics and Synbiotics in Equine Health and Disease

Abstract

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that promote the growth of probiotic microorganisms in the intestines. They are marketed as feed supplements to support equine digestion, metabolism, growth, and immunity. Synbiotics are supplements that contain combinations of prebiotics and probiotic bacteria and/or yeasts. Both prebiotics and synbiotics are commercially available and are promoted for use in supporting equine digestion, enhancing athletic performance, as well as reducing stress and morbidity associated with intestinal disease. This narrative review aimed to summarize the literature on the use of prebiotics and synbiotic supplementation in equine nutritional practice. Sixteen papers were identified that reported on the use of prebiotic or synbiotic supplementation in horses. The literature presented here suggests that prebiotics may play a role in equine health and disease prevention. Prebiotics have been studied for their effects on athletic performance; increasing production of volatile fatty acids (VFA's) associated with hindgut fibre fermentation; insulin resistance and carbohydrate metabolism associated with reduction in the development of gastric mucositis, and hindgut acidosis and laminitis. Prebiotic compounds are thought to have an entero-protective effect by improving the composition and diversity of the intestinal microbiota, that in turn impacts immune function via metabolomic effects. Prebiotics derived from yeasts, including mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), have been shown to reduce colonies of intestinal pathobionts and accelerate healing in acute enterocolitis. Overall, the current evidence to support the use of prebiotics and synbiotics in equine health and disease is not extensive but promising.

Keywords

• equine
• prebiotics
• fiber
• synbiotics
• microbiome
• digestion