Safety and efficacy of oral edible bird's nest supplementation: Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory benefits for Arabian race stallions during exercise

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation adversely affect the health and performance of athletic horses. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of edible bird's nest (EBN) supplementation and its potential anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in Arabian race stallions during exercise. Key objectives included assessing EBN's impact on hepatic and renal function, hematological profiles, and sialic acid (SA) levels.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two experiments were conducted on 18 Arabian stallions. In Experiment 1, six healthy stallions were divided into control (n = 2) and EBN-supplemented groups (n = 4) to assess safety. The treatment group received 10 g of EBN daily for 12 days. Vital signs, hematological parameters, and organ function markers were monitored. In Experiment 2, 12 stallions were divided into three groups: EBN (n = 3), Premier E® (n = 3), and control (n = 6). The exercise regimen included a daily 10-min walk, 10-min canter (30 km/h), and 10-min walk for 30 days. Blood samples were analyzed for hematological indices and SA levels pre- and post-exercise.

RESULTS: In Experiment 1, EBN supplementation demonstrated no adverse effects, maintaining normal hematological and vital parameters. Kidney and liver function tests revealed significantly reduced creatine kinase, total bilirubin, and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the EBN group. Experiment 2 showed higher SA levels post-exercise in the EBN group (p < 0.05) compared to Premier E® and control groups, suggesting enhanced anti-inflammatory response. Hematological indices, including mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width, and platelet counts, were significantly improved in the EBN group, indicating potential immunomodulatory benefits.

CONCLUSION: EBN supplementation is safe and offers anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in Arabian race stallions, reducing exercise-induced hepatic and muscular stress markers while enhancing recovery. These findings support EBN as a valuable dietary supplement for performance horses. Further studies should explore long-term effects and molecular mechanisms to optimize its use in equine sports.