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How do "calming supplements" work?
- My trainer has recommended a supplement called Seroquine from Uckele Health & Nutrition. It contains the following ingredients per 30g
(recommended dose):
taurine 8,000 mg
thiamine 1,100 mg
magnesium 5,000 mg
inositol 4,000 mg
I have a 5-year old Welsh cob in training for combined driving. He has a great temperament but can be skittish when introduced to new stimuli, which occurs on a regular basis. My trainer's experience is that this supplement helps the young horse process things a little better and not be as jumpy. I am having a hard time figuring out what the mechanism might be. Can you help shed some light?
This is a question I am often asked about "calming supplements." Whether or not they work as they claim to is up in the air. I have not seen any research dealing with calming supplements, but there are plenty of people testifying to their effectiveness. Each ingredient has a proposed mechanism. I can shed some light on this; however, use caution when feeding them, as you may be wasting your money.
Taurine: Low taurine and magnesium levels have been found in patients after heart attacks. Like magnesium, taurine affects cell membrane electrical excitability by normalizing potassium flow in and out of heart muscle cells. Taurine functions in electrically active tissues such as the brain and heart to help stabilize cell membranes. Taurine seems to inhibit and modulate neurotransmitters (like glycine and GABA) in the brain and helps to stabilize cell membranes. It also has functions in the gallbladder, eyes, and blood vessels and appears to have some antioxidant and detoxifying activity. Taurine aids the movement of potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium in and out of cells and thus helps generate nerve impulses.
Thiamine: Thiamine is very important for the normal function of the citric acid cycle. In this cycle, breakdown products of carbohydrates, fats and proteins are brought together for further breakdown and synthesis. High-grain diets result in a greater requirement for thiamine. Thiamine-deficient animals may be weak with poor appetites, weight loss and incoordination (especially in the hind legs) and exhibit nervousness that contributes to inefficient weight gain. A deficiency in thiamine can result in a number of different nervous disorders and hyper-irritability. Ensuring that thiamine status is optimal is a key step in improving weight gain.
Magnesium: Called the "anti-stress mineral," magnesium aids in relaxing nerves, relieving tension, assisting digestion, activating enzymes important for protein and carbohydrate metabolism, and modulating the electrical potential across all cell membranes. Magnesium is important in the production and transfer of energy, muscle contraction and relaxation, and nerve conduction. It also aids regularity, is necessary to keep vertebrae in their proper position, induces restful sleep, purifies and purges body tissues (by combating acids, toxins, gases, impurities, and neutralizing poisons), and lowers fever. Magnesium is stored in the bowel, nerves and ligaments. Chlorophyll and green vegetables contain large amounts of magnesium.
Inositol: One of the water-soluble B vitamins, inositol is a direct precursor of phospholipids, which are a major component of cell membranes. It helps to maintain proper electrical energy and nutrient transfer across the cell membrane. Studies suggest that inositol is effective in treating depression and may also provide support for people with obsessive-compulsive disorder and those who experience panic attacks. Research also suggests that inositol may be useful in the treatment and prevention of neurological disorders associated with diabetes.
Tryptophan and other B vitamins are also proposed to calm a nervous horse; most of these use their neurotransmitting and nerve-conducting capabilities.
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