Gastric ulcers occur in the majority of horses involved in competition.
Equine gastric ulcers cause significant damage before symptoms of
abdominal discomfort develop. Stress or intense exercise depletes a
horse's body of chemical messengers called neurotransmitters that are
needed for proper blood flow to the stomach.
Decreased blood flow reduces production of mucus that coats the stomach
lining, which is needed to protect the stomach from acid.
Insufficient production of this protective mucus allows stomach acid to
damage the stomach walls, causing ulcers.
To effectively minimize equine gastric ulcers, it is essential to replenish
depleted substances that are necessary for proper blood flow to the
stomach. GastroPLUS™ is a nutritional supplement designed to
minimize the potential for, and effects of, ulcers by promoting production of neurotransmitters needed
for proper blood flow to the stomach.
IMPORTANT:
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as Banamine or "Bute" (phenylbutazone),
and certain herbs block formation of nitric oxide. They will inhibit GastroPLUS™
effectiveness. All anti-inflammatory drugs and
all other supplements are to be stopped for at least the first 4-weeks
of using GastroPLUS™ .
Gastric ulcers affect more than 80-90% of race horses and are common in
show horses, hunter-jumpers, cutting horses, and recreational horses.
Symptoms are an unreliable indicator of equine gastric ulcers. In a
recent study of 30 horses in simulated race training, (Vatistas, et al
1999), "all horses developed moderate to severe ulceration... only one
horse had signs of abdominal discomfort."
Gastric ulcers in horses are believed to be related to the stress of
intense exercise and the damaging effects of "excess" stomach acid.
Since stomach acid is normally produced in large quantities, it is
important to understand how intense exercise can allow stomach acid to
cause gastric ulcers. The key is understanding how intense exercise or
stress in general affects blood flow to the walls of the stomach.
Stomach acid is normally averted from contacting the walls of the
stomach by a thick layer of protective mucus that must be constantly
secreted. Adequate blood supply to the walls of the stomach is essential
for enough mucus to be produced to support the stomach lining.
Intense exercise or stress activates the sympathetic nervous system.
This "fight or flight" response reduces blood flow to the stomach, which
decreases mucus production. Insufficient gastric mucus production allows
stomach acid to come into contact with the walls of the stomach and
cause ulceration.
It is known that nitric oxide promotes the body's own healing process of gastric ulcers and
helps prevent ulcers from developing. Nitric oxide is a gaseous molecule
produced in the walls of the stomach that relaxes the walls of blood
vessels and increases blood flow. An intensely exercising horse must be
able to produce large amounts of nitric oxide in order to maintain
adequate blood supply to the walls of the stomach.
GastroPLUS™ is a nutritional supplement that is designed to help heal
and prevent gastric ulcers in horses by supporting production of nitric
oxide.
Nitric oxide is synthesized in the body from its nutrient precursor, the
amino acid arginine. Attempts to increase nitric oxide production by
administering large quantities of arginine have met with limited
success. Additionally, administering substantial amounts of arginine may
have undesirable side effects, either through stimulating insulin
release or by affecting other mechanisms.
There has been a need for a way to increase the amount of nitric oxide
produced within the body using relatively small doses of arginine.
Achieving these previously unattainable results was made possible
through the development of a proprietary product formulation
methodology, known as NPS™.
