Equine Gastric Support & Circuvate EQ
BioStar’s Circuvate EQ is formulated to provide circulatory support to horses, which is crucial for feet, connective tissue, joints, and the heart. The ingredients specifically support the body’s natural production of nitric oxide for circulation, as well as providing antioxidants.
Recently, I ran across an article in The Horse1 which referenced a 2020 study in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science2 about biomarkers used in the diagnosis of equine gastric ulcer syndrome.
This study shows that oxidative stress is evident in horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome, as evidenced by decreased levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and nitric oxide. The study further pointed out that antioxidant therapy may be indicated for treatment protocol for gastric ulcers.
When I read “nitric oxide” I almost yelled “EUREKA” out loud!
This is BIG!
Nitric oxide is the body’s master circulatory molecule. Increasing nitric oxide levels in horses supports feet, connective tissues, joints, heart, metabolism and can help reduce oxidative stress, which is why Circuvate EQ was created.
But until I read the study, I had no idea that oxidative stress played such a large role in equine gastric ulcer syndrome.
Stress and Ulcers
While the broad term “stress” is considered the number one factor in horses developing gastric ulcers, stress is both a physical and psychological response.
We often hear things like: “My horse is stressed at shows … when he ships … when the work is hard … when the air temperature is high … when there’s a change in routine … when he’s in prolonged confinement … when he’s in pain….”
These things are indeed common stressors for horses.
What is oxidative stress?
Oxidative stress is the stress felt by the body’s cells and tissues. More technically, it is the imbalance between production and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (free radicals) and the detoxifying antioxidants in these cells and tissues.
Oxidative stress can lead to cell and tissue damage and chronic inflammation.
Free radicals are normal byproducts of oxygen metabolism. It’s when other factors are present—pollutants, heavy metals, pesticides, obesity, emotional stress, chronic psychological stress, excessive exercise, and certain food factors—that an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants can occur.
Food and oxidative stress
Two major food factors that can contribute to oxidative stress in horses are sugar and refined polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs are found in canola, corn, soybean, and vegetable oils (typically a combination of soybean and corn).
Refined PUFAs are susceptible to lipid peroxidation, which leads to oxidative stress and a cascade of resulting inflammation.
Antioxidants and free radicals
Antioxidants neutralize and remove free radicals by donating an electron.
Some antioxidants for horses include beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, copper, zinc, selenium, CoQ10, and nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is particularly good at inhibiting cellular lipid peroxidation created by refined PUFAS.3
Receiving an electron neutralizes free radicals, preventing cellular damage.
Ayurveda and nitric oxide
Circuvate EQ features an Ayurvedic extract from Indian Gooseberry (aka Amla or Amalaki). The specific patented extract in Circuvate is called Capros®. There are 12 published clinical trials showing that this extract increased nitric oxide by 41-50% and increased levels of glutathione (another key antioxidant) by 24-33%. (4, 5)
Arginine and nitric oxide
The body converts the amino acid arginine into nitric oxide for improved blood flow. Foods for horses that are high in arginine include pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, whole oranges, nutritional yeast, almonds, and spirulina—most of which are already formulated into Circuvate EQ.
Reducing oxidative stress for equine ulcers
The study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science clearly illuminates the biomarkers of ulcers: oxidative stress.
Reducing oxidative stress might mean adjusting diet, evaluating training times and recovery, assessing environmental factors, and/or adding antioxidant support.
Benefits of Circuvate EQ for your horse
Circuvate EQ provides circulatory support for feet, connective tissues, joints, and the heart through nitric oxide production, and addresses the gastric and antioxidant functions of equine health. Adding this formula to your horse’s nutritional program provides an important component for nitric oxide production, which helps reduce oxidative stress.
In fact, BioStar’s Circuvate EQ is the only equine supplement with Capros®, the patented extract from Indian Gooseberry (aka Amla, or Amalaki) clinically proven to increase nitric oxide production in the body.
References:
1 – thehorse.com/186540/gastric-ulcers-consider-antioxidant-support-for-your-horse/
2 – www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080619306021
3 – pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16443165/
4 – www.nutraceuticalsworld.com/contents/view_breaking-news/2019-06-25/study-demonstrates-the-benefits-of-phyllanthgus-emblica-extract-for-metabolic-syndrome/
5 – www.researchgate.net/figure/HPLC-chromatogram-of-CaprosR_fig1_332889865
