A horse's stomach functions continuously in an acidic environment. Unlike many other animals, a horse produces gastric acid around the clock, regardless of whether there is food in the stomach or not. This makes the gastric mucosa especially sensitive, particularly in situations where feeding intervals become long, workload increases, or stress is constant. For this reason, equine gastric ulcers have long been a subject of research, and the role of feeding in gastric physiology has been examined as well.
Calcareum algae, meaning calcium-rich marine algae, has emerged in this research specifically from a nutritional perspective. It is not a medication and not an inhibitor of gastric acid production. Instead, it is a natural mineral source whose relevance is linked to the gastric acid load and the buffering capacity of stomach contents.
The Stomach and Acid Load – Why Does Calcium Matter?
Gastric acid is essential for digestion, but in horses the problem arises when acid comes into prolonged contact with the more sensitive parts of the stomach lining. Studies have found that the composition of the diet—especially mineral content and the amount of forage—affects how acid behaves in the stomach.
Calcium is known as a natural buffer against acidity. It does not remove acid, but it can bind acid and temporarily even out gastric acidity. For this reason, feed ingredients with high calcium content have begun to be studied as part of stomach-friendly feeding.
Calcareum algae differs from ordinary limestone in that it is biologically formed, porous, and dissolves more slowly in the digestive tract. This makes it especially interesting from the perspective of the horse's stomach, where sudden changes are not desirable.
What Has Been Studied About Calcareum Algae in Horses?
In the study "The influence of feeding a high calcium, algae supplement on gastric ulceration in adult horses," researchers examined how feeding a high-calcium, algae-based supplement affected the gastric mucosa of adult horses. The study was based on endoscopic observations, and it focused specifically on the condition of the gastric lining rather than on clinical symptoms.
The study found that horses whose diets included a high-calcium algae-based supplement had milder and fewer gastric mucosal lesions compared with the control group. The observation applied especially to the more sensitive areas of the stomach that are prone to acid-related stress.
It is essential to note that the study did not evaluate calcareum algae as a treatment for ulcers, but as part of feeding that influences the stomach's acidic environment and the mucosal burden. The mechanism of action was likely related to calcium's buffering effect and the algae's slow dissolution in the stomach.
However, the pH-balancing effect of calcareum algae in the stomach is not based on calcium alone. Calcium (Ca²⁺) does not itself raise pH; the effect arises from the carbonate and magnesium compounds contained in the algae, which act as a buffer in an acidic environment. This is not simply about "calcium," but about carbonate-based neutralization capacity.
How Does This Differ From the Pectin–Lecithin Approach?
Research on calcareum algae complements pectin–lecithin research well, but the approach is different. While pectin and lecithin primarily influence the structure of stomach contents and the surface structure of the mucosa, the effect of calcareum algae is directed toward acid load and the buffering capacity of stomach contents.
What these lines of research share is that both examine the resilience of the gastric mucosa from a nutritional perspective. This is not about suppressing acid production or drug therapy. It is about how feeding can support normal gastric physiology under conditions where acid exposure is continuous.
How Is This Knowledge Interpreted in Practice?
Based on research, calcareum algae is considered as part of a feeding strategy especially in situations where a horse’s stomach is under strain. Such situations include hard training, competition season, stress, an irregular feeding schedule, or low forage intake.
The relevance of calcareum algae is not based on an “active” pharmacological effect, but on its mineral composition and structure. Slowly dissolving calcium may help even out the gastric acid environment and reduce constant mucosal exposure to acid stress. For this reason, it is considered an interesting option in stomach-friendly feeding as part of a broader overall strategy.
References
- The influence of feeding a high calcium, algae supplement on gastric ulceration in adult horses
- Venner, M., Lauffs, S., Deegen, E. (1999). Treatment of gastric lesions in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement.
- Sanz, M. G. et al. (2014). Gastric ulceration in horses. Veterinary Record.
