Gelatine hydrolysaat: Mogelijk werkingsmechanisme bij verschillende species en het effect van de kwaliteit op de orale opname bij paarden.

Abstract

This research of gelatin hydrolysate consists of a literature study of the substance in which the working mechanism will be reviewed, as well as a practical research part that includes a preference test that studied the preference of horses between a food grade and pharma grade quality of gelatine hydrolysate.

To summarize the current state of knowledge about GH:

- Gelatin hydrolysate has the same amino acid composition as collagen fibrils and is used for the synthesis of these fibrils. - Gelatin hydrolysate accumulates in cartilage. - Bovine chondrocytes in vitro show an increase in collagen secretion when stimulated with gelatin hydrolysate. - Gelatin hydrolysate acts as an inhibitor for cartilage breakdown

In the production process of GH there are some steps taken with different durations or steps that are repeated. Differences in treatment lead to different product purities and therefore different qualities of GH. The higher the quality, the higher the cost of production. Gelatin hydrolysate can also be produced under different standards. For example, the pharma-grade standard for pharmaceutical products has many rules and regulations to comply. The food-grade standard used is regulated to a lesser extent. - The main objective of the study described in this report was to determine whether horses display a preference for either of these different qualities of GH (Pharma- versus Feed grade quality) - How does the preference for the feed with GH supplement turn out if compared to feed with no supplement? - In this test the supplement was presented to horses in the form of a dry powder as topdressing over the normal feed,. It was questioned if this would be a preferable way of supplementing the feed?

This preference test was split into three field tests. The first test was held at a stable in a town called Kasterlee (Belgium). In this test the horses were given the choice between their normal feed supplemented with the high purity pharma-grade GH, and their normal feed supplemented with the lower purity food-grade GH. This group of horses was to some extent adapted to a diet supplemented with GH.

The second test was held at a stable in a town called Peer (Belgium). In this test the horses were given a choice between their normal feed supplemented with the lower purity food-grade GH, and their normal feed without any supplements.

The third test was held at a stable in a town called Sappemeer (Netherlands). In this test the horses were again, like in the first test, given the choice between the two qualities of GH. The difference compared to the group of horses in Kasterlee was that this group of horses had never been fed with GH.

Conclusion

- The results show that horses have a preference for feed supplemented with the high purity pharma-grade GH over feed supplemented with the lower purity food-grade GH. - The results also show that horses have a preference for feed without supplements over feed supplemented with the lower purity GH. - The acceptance of feed supplemented with GH is higher when the horses are given time to get used to the product.