Prebiotics, probiotics, and the combination of the two (called
synbiotics) are nutritional supplements marketed to support and
protect the gastrointestinal (GI) system in a variety of mammals,
including horses.
Probiotics are live “good” microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast. Classic examples of probiotics are the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii and bacteria in the Lactobacillus and Bifobacterium families (e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is found in some yogurts). In horse supplements, common probiotics include Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Millions to billions of colony-forming units (CFUs) are included per serving
In contrast, prebiotics are the foods that feed the probiotics. Examples of prebiotics included in equine supplements include fructooligosaccharides (FOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), polydextrose, mannooligosaccharides (MOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), pectin, and psyllium. Your horse does not digest these food ingredients. Instead, prebiotics are digested by the “good” microorganisms and probiotics in the horse’s digestive system to increase their numbers or activity.2 When prebiotics and probiotics are supplemented together, the products are referred to as synbiotics, because they work synergistically
In humans, researchers have studied pre- and probiotics in a variety of disease conditions, including:
■ Infectious diarrhea;
■ Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis)
■ Gastric ulceration;
■ Tooth decay/periodontal disease;
■ Vaginal infections;
■ Skin infections and atopic dermatitis (chronic itchy, scaly skin);
■ Weight loss;
■ Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); and
■ The treatment of certain cancers.
In horses, veterinarians primarily recommend prebiotics and probiotics for GI-related concerns, such as diarrhea, to encourage the growth of the good microbes and to minimize the invasion and growth of disease-causing bacteria.
For example, antibiotic administration, stress, transport, abrupt dietary changes, and Clostridium or Salmonella infections can potentially alter the normal microbe population in a horse’s large intestine.
Study results have shown that pre- and probiotics aid in digestion and gut health.
Specifically, probiotics help the horse’s GI tract break down and ferment grass and hay. This fermentation process results in the production of volatile fatty acids that provide a significant energy source to the horse.
Probiotics also produce B vitamins (such as biotin, which is needed for maintaining healthy hooves) and other nutrients essential to the horse’s overall health. Finally, the “good” intestinal microbes—yeasts, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi—keep the “bad” microbes (such as Salmonella and Clostridium difficile) from overpopulating the intestines and causing diarrhea and illness.
Reference
thehorse.com
Probiotics are live “good” microorganisms, such as bacteria and yeast. Classic examples of probiotics are the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii and bacteria in the Lactobacillus and Bifobacterium families (e.g., Lactobacillus acidophilus, which is found in some yogurts). In horse supplements, common probiotics include Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Millions to billions of colony-forming units (CFUs) are included per serving
In contrast, prebiotics are the foods that feed the probiotics. Examples of prebiotics included in equine supplements include fructooligosaccharides (FOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), polydextrose, mannooligosaccharides (MOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), pectin, and psyllium. Your horse does not digest these food ingredients. Instead, prebiotics are digested by the “good” microorganisms and probiotics in the horse’s digestive system to increase their numbers or activity.2 When prebiotics and probiotics are supplemented together, the products are referred to as synbiotics, because they work synergistically
In humans, researchers have studied pre- and probiotics in a variety of disease conditions, including:
■ Infectious diarrhea;
■ Inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis)
■ Gastric ulceration;
■ Tooth decay/periodontal disease;
■ Vaginal infections;
■ Skin infections and atopic dermatitis (chronic itchy, scaly skin);
■ Weight loss;
■ Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing); and
■ The treatment of certain cancers.
In horses, veterinarians primarily recommend prebiotics and probiotics for GI-related concerns, such as diarrhea, to encourage the growth of the good microbes and to minimize the invasion and growth of disease-causing bacteria.
For example, antibiotic administration, stress, transport, abrupt dietary changes, and Clostridium or Salmonella infections can potentially alter the normal microbe population in a horse’s large intestine.
Study results have shown that pre- and probiotics aid in digestion and gut health.
Specifically, probiotics help the horse’s GI tract break down and ferment grass and hay. This fermentation process results in the production of volatile fatty acids that provide a significant energy source to the horse.
Probiotics also produce B vitamins (such as biotin, which is needed for maintaining healthy hooves) and other nutrients essential to the horse’s overall health. Finally, the “good” intestinal microbes—yeasts, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi—keep the “bad” microbes (such as Salmonella and Clostridium difficile) from overpopulating the intestines and causing diarrhea and illness.
Reference
thehorse.com
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