What Are the Benefits of Grape Seed Extract for Horses?

Grape seed extract, or GSE, contains such healthy compounds as gallic acid, catechins, polyphenols and proanthocyanidins. It is also a powerful antioxidant. GSE is water-soluble and nontoxic; excess levels are excreted through the urine.

  1. Antioxidant

    • Antioxidants counter free radicals, which cause damage to cells and promote aging. As an antioxidant, GSE is 20 times stronger than vitamin C and 50 times stronger than vitamin E.

    Connective Tissue

    • GSE promotes the repair of connective tissue and and also inhibits the enzymes that break down collagen, which can be beneficial for horses that exercise a lot.

    Anti-Inflammatory

    • GSE can block the production of prostaglandins, which create inflammation and cause pain. The antioxidant properties of GSE can also speed up wound healing.

    Ulcers

    • Performance horses, in particular, are prone to developing gastric ulcers. GSE can protect the lining of the stomach and reduce healing time.

    Acidosis

    • A study published in the Cambridge University Press Journal revealed that GSE can reduce the possibility of acidosis, which is a risk especially for performance horses.