What do markers of bone formation tell us in equine nutritional studies

Abstract

Skeletal injuries in performance horses are quite common. Research investigating ways to decrease injuries has been limited due to difficulty in non-invasively measuring the response of bone to a given treatment. With the use of biochemical markers of bone turnover, more projects are being conducted and advancements in improving bone health are occurring. However, such assays are expensive and researchers often need to make decisions as to when their use is justified. By reviewing the responses of bone markers in nutritional studies and comparing them to responses in exercise studies, the objective is to determine whether bone is more likely to respond to a dietary or exercise treatment.