askHELTIE HELTIEhorse® Did you know that silicon stimulates glucosamine production in horses?

Did you know that silicon stimulates glucosamine production in horses?

Horses with joint issues such as early-stage arthritis or insufficient joint fluid often receive supplements containing glucosamine and chondroitin. These are substances that the body uses to build things like cartilage and joint fluid. But did you know that the body also produces these substances on its own? And that this is much more effective than glucosamine or chondroitin absorbed through diet? We explain how it works and how you can stimulate the body's own production of glucosamine for a smoother horse.

Joints

Silicon

13 August '24 • 4 min reading time

Many horse owners give glucosamine as a supplement for joint issues or to make their horses more supple and help them get 'up and running' faster. However, scientific research shows that supplementing with glucosamine has minimal effects. The glucosamine from the supplement must travel through the intestines to reach its destination in the joints, and this absorption process is poor. The mineral silicon, given in a well-absorbed hydrolyzed form, is a much more effective supplement. Silicon stimulates the body's own production of glucosamine and chondroitin, thus contributing to an increased production of collagen and joint fluid by the body itself—right where it's needed!

Joint Issues in Horses

Unfortunately, arthritis and other joint problems are common in (sport) horses. With increasing age and intensive strain, a horse can become stiffer and experience more 'startup problems.' Joints in the legs, such as the fetlock and hock, are particularly vulnerable. Pain and stiffness can originate in the joints themselves, in a decrease in joint fluid, painful mucous membranes, or thinning cartilage. Joints are surrounded by mucous membranes and synovial fluid (joint fluid). This fluid acts as a lubricant between the moving parts of the joints. The production of synovial fluid often decreases as a horse ages, which also affects suppleness. Mucous membranes can become irritated from overuse or if there is insufficient joint fluid for lubrication, causing pain. The quality of cartilage, which absorbs shock in the joints, is also crucial for smooth movement. And the bones themselves need to be strong: fewer injuries occur when bone density is high. All these factors influence whether your horse can move smoothly.

Why Glucosamine?

Horses with joint problems often face reduced production of joint fluid, thinning cartilage, and sometimes more brittle bones. Glucosamine and chondroitin are important components of all collagen-rich tissues such as cartilage, connective tissue, bones, and joint fluid. When there is sufficient glucosamine and chondroitin available, the horse produces more joint fluid and you see better cartilage quality, higher bone density, and stronger tendons and ligaments. Glucosamine and chondroitin are produced by the body to maintain healthy joints. However, sometimes this production is insufficient, for example, due to a shortage of raw materials or if the horse is older. Supplementing glucosamine through diet is challenging. Research has shown that only 10% of a glucosamine supplement is properly absorbed and reaches the right place. Often, when starting a glucosamine supplement, you may see a small effect, likely because it also has mild anti-inflammatory properties. However, to stimulate the production of collagen, cartilage, and joint fluid, and thus address stiffness and joint pain in the long term, a glucosamine supplement is not very suitable. Many doctors and veterinarians view it as 'harmless if it doesn't help.' But in many cases, it seems largely to be money wasted.

Silicon Stimulates Natural Production

Since glucosamine is poorly absorbed through feed, it would be very effective to stimulate the body's natural production of glucosamine and chondroitin. The good news? It can be done! By ensuring your horse gets enough silicon in its diet. Silicon is an aid in the production of glucosamine and chondroitin. Various studies show that supplementing with silicon stimulates collagen production and leads to more bone formation. In a study with racehorses, scientists found that well-absorbed silicon improved performance and could prevent injuries.

Good Absorption

For any supplement you provide, it is important that your horse can actually absorb the active substances into its blood and transport them to where they are needed. Silicon in solid form is barely absorbable for horses, so it should be given in a liquid form. Hydrolyzed liquid silicon reaches the joints and stimulates the body's own production of glucosamine and chondroitin. This bypasses the absorption issues that many joint supplements for horses face. Silicon works from the outside in and helps the horse's body strengthen tendons and ligaments, produce cartilage and joint fluid, and even form bones. This process takes several months, so it takes time to see the full effect. When people take silicon for knee problems, they often notice some difference within a few days. This is because the mucous membranes and joint fluid production improve relatively quickly with silicon. However, for stronger bones and injury prevention, silicon needs to be used for a longer period.

Bronnen:

Jurkić LM, Cepanec I, Pavelić SK, Pavelić K. Biological and therapeutic effects of ortho-silicic acid and some ortho-silicic acid-releasing compounds: New perspectives for therapy. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2013;10(1):2. Published 2013 Jan 8. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-10-2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3546016/

Charles T. Price, Kenneth J. Koval, and Joshua R. Langford. 2013. Silicon: A Review of Its Potential Role in the Prevention and Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis. International Journal of Endocrinology, Vol 2013. https://www.scienceopen.com/document_file/35a4be73-4673-4f19-8ebb-3e2723201c0d/PubMedCentral/35a4be73-4673-4f19-8ebb-3e2723201c0d.pdf

Mark JS Miller, Komal Mehta,Sameer Kunte, Vidyanand Raut, Jayesh Gala, Ramesh Dhumale, Anil Shukla, Hemant Tupalli, Himanshu Parikh, Paul Bobrowski, and Jayesh Chaudhary. Early relief of osteoarthritis symptoms with a natural mineral supplement and a herbomineral combination: A randomized controlled trial. 2005. Journal of Inflammation V2, 2005. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1276811/

Reffitt DM, Ogston N, Jugdaohsingh R, Cheung HF, Evans BA, Thompson RP, Powell JJ, Hampson GN. Orthosilicic acid stimulates collagen type 1 synthesis and osteoblastic differentiation in human osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Bone. 2003 Feb; 32 (2): 127-35. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12633784

Seaborn C, et al. Silicon deprivation decreases collagen formation in wounds and bone, and ornithine transminase enzyme activity in liver. Biol Trace Elem Res 2002, 89(3):251-61.

Sina Gaylene Wallace, Tara Ann Hembrooke, Carl Keen. 2006. Exercise Performance in Silicon Supplemented Thoroughbreds. The FASEB Journal. https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1096/fasebj.20.4.A197-b

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