Health Benefits of Omega Fatty Acids

Many people already have a basic understanding that supplementing flax seed in their horse’s diet improves hair coat quality and appearance by providing essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6) or essential fatty acids (EFAs). What many people don’t know are the benefits that flax seed provides in addition to making the hair coat show quality.

Spring provides horses a chance to shed their winter hair coat, eat green grass, and bask in the sun; but many times it also means pesky insects, inevitably resulting in pruritus or itchy skin. Perhaps one of the most common causes of pruritus are Culicoides insects – commonly known as midges – and what’s often referred to as sweet itch (1). These insects cause a type-I hypersensitivity reaction, which would be a similar reaction a human experiences after exposure to poison ivy. Pruritus causes extreme discomfort and in some cases may result in horses causing self-mutilation while trying to alleviate discomfort.

There is evidence that supplementing EFAs help prevent and treat pruritus, whether it be caused by Culicoides or another ailment that results in seasonal pruritus. EFAs work at the cellular level by targeting the inflammation associated with dermatitis. When a type-1 hypersensitivity reaction occurs, it is the body’s overreaction to a foreign stimulus. Flax seed is one of the highest natural vegetable sources containing EFAs which ultimately shut down the inflammatory cascade and reduce the severity of the skin’s reaction. In other words, flax seed enables immunosuppression and thereby reduces the pruritus that results from insect exposure (2).

The benefits of flax seed supplementation is still being researched, however there is enough evidence that flaxseed supplementation should be considered for more than hair coat health. Although Culicoides are not as common or considered a problem in small animals, the same concept may be carried over to dogs and cats with atopic dermatitis, a skin reaction most often associated with fleas.

Review the complete study and references: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC227015.

1. Clarke A, McKee S, O’Neill W. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) supplementation associated with reduced skin test lesional area in horses with Culicoides hypersensitivity. Can I Vet Res 2002; 66 (4): 272-277.

2. Cunnane SC, Ganguli S, Menard C, et al. High alpha-linolenic acid flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum): some nutritional properties in humans. Br J Nutr 1993; 69:443–453.

This entry originally appeared in the Omega Fields blog. Learn more about the basics of essential fatty acids.

Join The Cheshire Horse with Omega Fields at the Equine Affaire November 12-15 in Better Living Center booth 314 to talk with product experts, win great prizes, and take advantage of incredible show specials available at this event only!

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