Sea Horses

I have always loved the Beaufort wind scale, first developed in 1805 and woven into shipping forecasts since 1867. Despite its genuine functionality it is purely descriptive, and full of accidental poetry. Beaufort Force 3 (a gentle breeze to landlubbers) is almost a haiku:

‘Large wavelets. Crests begin to break.

Foam of glassy appearance,

Perhaps scattered white horses.’

The syllable counts may be wrong, but it is rather beautiful. Induce the poem’s seasonal reference while I misuse it to introduce the piscivorous equine. But don’t worry; from here on, it’s prose all the way to the end.

Ahem.

Horses don’t normally eat mackerel, but if they knew what was good for them they surely would. The omega 3 HUFA’s provide anti-inflammatory benefits in shires, shetlands and fjords, and equally the high-stepping hot blood thoroughbreds and quarter horses that populate the studs and racetracks where the big money lives.

When one of these expensive animals goes lame, develops asthma or any one of a range of chronic inflammatory disorders, this represents a significant economic loss to the owner; and as the commonly used anti-inflammatory drugs come with a plethora of adverse effects (ie 1-3), natural and safe alternative treatments such as fish oil are coming up fast on the rails.

The equine digestive system somewhat resembles that of a human (like us, they have a single stomach and a bio-fermenter at the back end), and these wonderful animals digest and absorb fish oils very effectively (4-8). When they consume fish oil or fish meal, DHA and EPA levels in their plasma and joints rise accordingly (4-8).

As EPA and DHA levels rise there is a corresponding fall in inflammatory mediators (9-11, though see also 12), with improved immune (6), metabolic (13, 14) respiratory (15) and physical (13) performance, and reduced exercise-induced muscle damage (16).

There is also evidence that fish oil improves horses’ intelligence, mood and sociability, and reduces stress-related behaviors (16-18). Finally, a small group of studies show that fish oil improves equine male (19, 20) and female (21, 22) fertility. Fish and horse actually go very well together and in Iceland you can find them at the same table, in a Viking version of surf ’n turf.

Many of the equine studies used fish or algal meal, which combine omega 3’s with the key polyphenols. The same combination, achieved by blending fish oil with olive oil, has been spectacularly effective in reducing cardiovascular disease in high-risk (knock-out) rodents (23) and reversing existing disease in humans (24).

From Clydesdales to Cotton mice to Canucks, then, omega 3’s + polyphenols are da biz. As the same approach works in humans, it’s not surprising that the omega 3’s exert positive effects in other primates such as macaques, in whom (which?) they build better brains (25). If given to pregnant mares, their foals reportedly learn better too (26).

This is why milk from ruminants (cows, goats, sheep) and monogastric species (horses, donkeys, dogs, humans) all contain omega-3 fatty acids (27, 28); and it is why animals consuming a natural (polyphenol-rich) diet produce breast milk which also contains elevated levels of polyphenols (29, 30).

The combination is undoubtedly good for a baby’s growing brain, and if pregnant women ate a better diet their breast milk would likely contain more polyphenols too (31).

What about other animals?

Over the last few years, I have heard from hundreds of pet owners who use the well-known fish and olive oil blend to treat inflammatory skin and joint conditions in dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, ferrets and parakeets. Many of them use the Balance test to monitor their pets’ progress.

This makes sense, as all animals have broadly similar cell structures and basic cytochemistry. Cell membrane lipid components at the top of the inflammatory cascade, cytokines and other mediators in the mid-section and the matrix-metalloproteases at the end of the cascade, occur in all mammals and avian species (32-34). One would therefore expect the fish oil/olive oil combination to combat chronic inflammation in all these animals (35-38), as the corticosteroids do, but without the steroids’ potentially serious toxicity.

And our companion animals need it. Their health has declined in parallel with our own (39-43), as we have removed them progressively from their natural habitat and diet. Dogs and cats are experiencing more skin problems, allergies, cancer … (39-43). In the future, therefore, I expect to see fish/olive oil blends achieving the same enormous gains in animal health that we have seen in humans.

There is a place for prebiotics here too. Evidence is accumulating for the role of prebiotic fiber in enhancing the microbiota, the production of anti-inflammatory metabolites and the reduction of inflammation (44, 45) in a wide variety of commercial and domestic animals including obligate carnivores such as cats (46-51).

It looks as if the health protocol, which was originally designed for humans, will be equally helpful in maintaining the health of our animal companions. Pet owners and veterinarians, take note.

When it comes to saffron, an affiliate member of the protocol, the picture is less clear-cut.

This spice might be helpful when given in small doses to stressed pets but it is reportedly harmful to dogs at high doses, and cats appear to be particularly vulnerable. At this time there is insufficient data to permit any kind of recommendation. If I had an anxious dog I might try this approach but for now, cave cattus and caveat emptor.

If anyone knows more about this, drop me a line. If you enjoy doggerel (and even if you don’t), here are four of my own:

When Rex unsheathes his teeth and claws,

Saffron might just give him pause.

But do not give it to your kit,

For that will be the end of it.

I’ll get my coat.

Next week: From horse to hoosegow.

References

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24. Personal experience, 2017-2014
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