The Parklands Center

(A Standard Biologics, Inc. Company)

66 Charles Street, Elkton, ! "#$"#

Telephone% &''.((#."))$

Cardio*asc+lar !isease and the ,orse (E.I.P.,.)

ABST-ACT
S+mmary% The importance of nutrient-gene interactions on the metabolic health, prevention or resolution of disease states in the horse is enormous. More than 40 essential nutrients, including macro- and micronutrients, are known to be required by mammals such as the horse. ealth may be impaired or disease states may result from a dietary deficiency or e!cess of any one such nutrient. .ene E/pression% "ene e!pression and cell differentiation is a highly controlled process. The regulation of gene e!pression and cell differentiation includes transcription control, #$% processing control, #$% transport control, translation control, m#$% stability control and post translation control. &ach of these control points has nutritionally mediated aspects. 'irtually every micronutrient is involved either directly as part of a cis- or trans-acting factor in #$% transcription, as an important coen(yme in the synthesis of purine and primidine bases, or as an important coen(yme in intermediary metabolism which provides substrates and energy for the support of cell replication, cell growth, )$% replication, #$% transcription, #$% translation and protein synthesis. 0inc 1 Copper% *ertain micronutrients, including +inc , *opper, have a unique role as stabili(ers for gene e!pression. They are vital to the functions that assure that cells and tissue continue as intact structures and that these cells continue to reproduce themselves faithfully. This role for such micronutrients includes that of protection from damage by free radicals or pero!ides. 2+tritionally !ri*en +tations% -ccasionally, because of micronutrient deficits or e!cesses in the diet which can occur simply because of poor nutrient form, inappropriate dose or poor bioavailability, a reaction with free radicals or pero!ides can occur resulting in a .missense/ repair of )$%, and0or a transcription error with a subsequent error in translation. 1uch .errors/ result in a .mutation/ which is random. That is, the error in gene e!pression resulting from transcription errors or damage and subsequent missense repair can occur anywhere in the nuclear )$%. 2idespread metabolic failure from a single such mutation event is possible, but not likely. 3t is more likely that a slight but continuous and cumulative cellular mutation and metabolic failure occurs, ultimately resulting in .disease/ states. Cardio*asc+lar !isease% 4roducts of gene e!pression involving cell types with very short half-lives such as epithelial type cells are among the first to be affected by nutritionally driven mutations described above. 3n the squamous endothelium form, these cells line the blood vessels, act as a semipermeable barrier between the blood and vascular smooth muscle and are highly active as a metabolic and endocrine organ. 3nappropriate nutrient concentrations, inappropriate forms such as inorganic salt forms of trace minerals, especially copper 5as sulfate6 and (inc 5as (inc o!ide or sulfate6 have repeatedly been shown to be among the principle reasons why supplementation fails to affect the nutritional status of mammals such as the athletic horse. Thus there is little doubt that 7leeding 5&.3.4. .6 is a result of poor nutritional support for the athletic horse. (Technical B+lletin #(3'&4'")% .enetic