Bee Pollen Supplementation to Aged Horses Influences Several Blood Parameters

Abstract In humans and animals, ageing leads to a decrease in immune function and an increased susceptibility to infection. Decreased immunity and an increase in the incidence of infectious diseases are particularly notable during the autumn. Bee pollen supplementation improves immunity and antioxidant enzyme activity, as well as general performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bee pollen supplementation during the autumn on blood parameters in aged horses. The study was performed on 16 warmblood horses aged 15 to 26 years. Half of this group received 60 g of bee pollen (soaked in water) daily for 30 days during the autumn season. Blood samples were taken from all horses before and after the supplementation period. Numerous haematological and plasma biochemical parameters including indicators of oxidative stress were determined. The data collected after the supplementation were compared with data collected before the experiment using one-way ANOVA and paired Student’s t-test. In the control group, there was a decline in the total number of red blood cells, haemoglobin and haematocrit and an increase in some lipid parameters, urea, total plasma proteins and sulfhydryl groups. Supplementation with bee pollen prevented the variation of these parameters, except for LDL-cholesterol. We believe that bee pollen supplementation of aged horses during autumn has beneficial effects because it inhibited some of the adverse changes observed in the control horses during this season.