Antioxidants in horses

Antioxidants protect the body against free radicals. Free radicals are substances that can cause damage to cells and tissues. They are byproducts in our body that can react with other substances. An excess of free radicals (or in the wrong places) can lead to physical discomfort.

Antioxidants

Collective name for different substances

Protect against free radicals

Subtitle in H2

What are antioxidants

Antioxidants is a collective name for different substances that help protect the body against free radicals. Vitamin E, Vitamin C, beta-carotene, glutathione, selenium, zinc, and flavonoids are antioxidants. From food, a horse typically gets enough antioxidants. But in case of illness or a weakened immune system, it may be beneficial to provide additional antioxidants.

How do antioxidants work?

Free radicals are molecules that are missing an electron and therefore are unstable. Free radicals can cause damage to tissues and cells, this is called oxidative stress. This occurs when there are too many free radicals present or in an unfavorable location. Antioxidants protect these tissues (and DNA) against this oxidative stress by neutralizing the free radicals. They do this by donating an electron to the free radicals, thereby neutralizing them. An antioxidant does not experience any negative effects by donating this electron and therefore does not become a free radical itself.

Free radicals are not all bad, they also have a beneficial effect. They are used by the immune system to kill off harmful bacteria or clean up lactic acid.