We frequently talk about muscle loss and how to regain muscle. But the regaining of muscle is only half the story. The other half the story is to protect the mitochondria so that they can function to the best of their ability.
◆︎ What causes impaired mitochondria?
Stress: Environmental stressors can cause impairment to the mitochondria. Typical examples of this include smoke from wildfires, toxic mineral levels in feed, toxic plants, iron overload, among others.
Inadequate nutrition: When the diet is lacking critical components, such as sufficient calories, sufficient protein, or deficiencies in vitamins or minerals, this can impact the muscle mitochondria.
Disease and syndromes: The body-wide inflammatory response to diseases or syndromes can cause oxidative stress in the muscles. Typical examples of these include insulin resistance, PPID, recurrent airway obstruction (RAO), and infections.
Overuse: Overused muscles can also cause impairment to the mitochondria. This could be the result of overtraining, or from going on a ride by a “weekend warrior”, which asks the muscles to perform at a level to which they are not accustomed.
Aging: Mitochondria may deteriorate as the horse ages.
Hereditary factors: Inherited genes can cause increased oxidative stress. New research focuses on muscle diseases, such as HYPP (hyperkalemic periodic paralysis), PSSM (polysaccharide storage myopathy) and MFM (myofibrillar myopathy).
◆︎ Symptoms of possible mitochondrial damage:
Mitochondrial impairment can present as:
» Muscle weakness
» Muscle spasms upon exercise
» Exercise intolerance
» Exercise fatigue
» Tying up (rhabdomyolysis)
These symptoms can occur due to damaged mitochondria or a reduced number of mitochondria in the cell.
◆︎ Strategies to protect the mitochondria:
♥ Create a balanced diet for the horse with sufficient calories and nutrients.
♥ Exercise moderately and progressively. Be sure that your horse is sufficiently conditioned for the work that you ask your horse to perform. Exercise regularly.
♥ Reduce the stressors. While this is easier said than done, there are steps that can be taken to reduce stressors. This may include reducing the dust in the hay, controlling the sugar and starch content in the diet of an insulin resistant horse, and addressing any environmental toxins. Of course, we are limited by time and energy on what we can do for our horses.
♥ Medically treat a horse that has a chronic disease, such as Lyme disease or EPM.
♥ Provide nutritional supplements to support the horse.
◆︎ Nutritional supplements to support muscle mitochondria:
Nutritional supplements that are antioxidants may support muscle mitochondria .
➡ Acetyl L-Carnitine (ALCAR): Recommended serving size is 10 grams per day for a 1000 lb horse.
➡ L-Carnitine: Recommended serving size is 10 grams per 1000 lbs of body weight per day.
➡ Coenzyme Q10: Supports the cells at the mitochondria level. It is also helpful in humans for muscle support, nerve support, and even migraines. Recommended serving size is 800 mg per day for a 1,000 lb. horse.
➡ N-Acetyl Cysteine: NAC has the dual role of being an anti-oxidant plus thinning mucus. Recommended serving size: 10 grams per day, which is about 1 tablespoon.
➡ Vitamin C: While horses can make their own vitamin C, this can still be a helpful vitamin as an antioxidant. Recommended serving size: 10 grams per day.
➡ Vitamin E: Horse muscles use vitamin E extensively to neutralize free radicals from the mitochondria. For horses with a hay diet: Recommended serving size: Gelcaps: 2000 ius per day. 5 gelcaps. Powder: 2000 ius per day, 1 ½ teaspoons. Actively exercising horses may need up to 8000 ius per day for better support. Horses on pasture usually ingest sufficient vitamin E from grass.
◆︎ Take home message:
➡ After muscle loss, many muscle-related supplements focus on providing sufficient limiting amino acids to help rebuild muscle.
➡ As an additional strategy for horses that have specific challenges, muscle mitochondrial support may help preserve muscle that would otherwise be lost.
We do the best that we can do for our horses. Understanding how to protect muscle mitochondria is a part of that.
Disclaimer: Statements regarding dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition.
©Joan Kulifay, MSc. 2025