Rosehip (Rosa canina) is a versatile natural ingredient used in horse nutrition, particularly because of its vitamin C content and other bioactive plant compounds. Rosehips also contain polyphenols, carotenoids, galactolipids, dietary fibre and minerals.
Interest in rosehip in equine nutrition is particularly related to its antioxidant properties and its role in the nutrition of joints and connective tissues. Among its compounds, the galactolipid GOPO has attracted particular scientific interest due to its potential relevance to joints and cartilage.
Rosehip has also been studied in horses. Research involving trotters has produced interesting findings concerning vitamin C absorption and antioxidant activity.
Nutritional Composition of Rosehip – Much More Than Vitamin C
Rosehip is especially well known for its naturally high vitamin C content, but its nutritional value comes from a combination of several different compounds.
Rosehip naturally contains:
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Vitamin C, which contributes to collagen formation and acts as an antioxidant in the body.
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Polyphenols and flavonoids, which have antioxidant properties.
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Carotenoids, such as beta-carotene and lycopene, which are natural plant pigments and bioactive compounds.
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Galactolipids, whose properties have been studied particularly in relation to inflammatory responses and joint function.
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Dietary fibre, including pectin, a type of soluble fibre.
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Minerals, such as potassium, calcium and magnesium.
What makes rosehip particularly interesting from a nutritional perspective is that it provides several different antioxidant and bioactive plant compounds at the same time.
Rosehip in Joint and Connective Tissue Nutrition
The structure of joints, tendons and ligaments largely depends on connective tissue, of which collagen is one of the most important structural proteins.
Vitamin C is essential for normal collagen formation. It is required, among other things, for the formation of collagen fibres. Collagen is a key structural component of cartilage, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissues.
Horses are also able to synthesise vitamin C in their own liver. However, the nutritional interest in rosehip extends beyond vitamin C, as it contains many other biologically active compounds.
In particular, rosehip galactolipids and polyphenols have attracted attention in research related to joint nutrition.
What Is GOPO and Why Is It Being Studied?
GOPO is a naturally occurring galactolipid found in rosehip. Its properties have been studied particularly in relation to joint and cartilage health.
Laboratory studies have shown that GOPO can influence the activity of cells involved in inflammatory responses and cartilage metabolism. For example, studies have observed effects on the production of inflammatory mediators and enzymes involved in cartilage degradation.
The effects of rosehip on joints have also been studied in humans. Clinical studies involving rosehip preparations have reported beneficial effects on osteoarthritis-related pain and physical function.
GOPO is one of the key compounds responsible for the scientific interest in rosehip in joint nutrition. However, the properties of rosehip result from a combination of several bioactive compounds rather than from a single galactolipid alone.
Rosehip Antioxidants and Equine Metabolism
Reactive oxygen species, often referred to as free radicals, are naturally produced during normal metabolism and physical activity.
These compounds also have important physiological functions, but maintaining a balance between their production and the body's antioxidant defence mechanisms is essential for normal cellular function.
Rosehip contains several compounds known for their antioxidant properties, including vitamin C, polyphenols, flavonoids and carotenoids.
Vitamin C is a water-soluble antioxidant involved in protecting cells against oxidative reactions. Polyphenols and carotenoids are plant compounds whose antioxidant and other biological properties have been widely studied.
In active horses, oxygen consumption and energy metabolism increase during exercise. At the same time, the production of reactive oxygen species may also increase.
Rosehip is therefore an interesting ingredient in the diets of active and regularly trained horses. Its effects on antioxidant activity in horses have also been investigated in controlled studies.
What Does Research Tell Us About Rosehip in Horses?
Research on rosehip in horses has focused particularly on vitamin C absorption, antioxidant capacity and immune system function.
Study 1: Vitamin C Absorption and Antioxidant Capacity
A study published in 2012 investigated the absorption of natural vitamin C from rosehip and its effects on antioxidant activity in horses.
The study involved 16 trotters that received rosehip powder for three months at two different daily doses:
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25 grams per day, providing 125 mg of vitamin C.
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50 grams per day, providing 250 mg of vitamin C.
Researchers measured blood vitamin C concentrations and the amount of reactive oxygen species released by white blood cells.
At the 50-gram daily dose, blood vitamin C concentrations increased significantly. A statistically significant reduction in the release of reactive oxygen species by the white blood cells studied was also observed at the higher dose.
At the 25-gram daily dose, an upward trend in vitamin C concentration was observed, but the change was not statistically significant.
The study demonstrated that vitamin C from rosehip is absorbed in horses and that rosehip supplementation may influence markers associated with antioxidant activity.
Study 2: Rosehip in Training Trotters
A study published in 2010 investigated the effects of rosehip on the immune system, working capacity and behaviour of trotters.
The study involved 44 horses and was conducted as a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial over three months.
A standardised rosehip preparation was used.
The researchers reported interesting findings, particularly in variables related to inflammatory responses and antioxidant activity.
The results suggested that the bioactive compounds found in rosehip may influence physiological processes in horses, including under conditions of regular physical exercise.
Research findings in horses support continued interest in rosehip as a natural source of antioxidant compounds.
Rosehip and Joint Mobility – What Have Clinical Studies Found?
The effects of rosehip on joints have been studied particularly in humans.
These studies have used standardised rosehip preparations and evaluated outcomes such as joint mobility, pain and stiffness.
A study published in 2003 involved 100 people with hip or knee osteoarthritis. During the four-month study period, participants receiving standardised rosehip powder showed statistically significant improvements in hip joint mobility and pain reduction compared with the placebo group.
A study published in 2005 involving 94 participants found that a rosehip preparation reduced osteoarthritis-related pain.
A meta-analysis published in 2008 combined the results of three randomised clinical trials involving a total of 287 participants.
According to the meta-analysis, standardised rosehip preparations were more effective than placebo in reducing osteoarthritis-related pain. However, the number of available studies was relatively small.
These findings are interesting in relation to research on the bioactive compounds found in rosehip. However, direct clinical evidence concerning joint mobility or osteoarthritis symptoms in horses remains more limited.
Rosehip in Dog Nutrition
Rosehip is also used as a natural feed supplement for dogs.
Its nutritional interest in dogs is largely based on the same compounds as in horses: vitamin C, polyphenols, carotenoids and galactolipids.
Like horses, dogs can synthesise vitamin C in their own bodies. However, the nutritional value of rosehip is not limited to this single vitamin, but also includes its diverse range of plant compounds.
Joint and connective tissue nutrition is of particular interest in active and ageing dogs. The GOPO galactolipid and other bioactive compounds found in rosehip are also interesting from this perspective.
However, high-quality clinical research directly demonstrating the effects of rosehip on joints in dogs remains limited. Much of the available evidence concerning its joint-related effects currently comes from human clinical trials and laboratory studies.
Dietary Fibre in Rosehip
Rosehip also contains dietary fibre, including pectin, a type of soluble fibre.
Soluble fibre can bind water, and some types can serve as fermentable substrates for intestinal microorganisms.
Equine digestion relies heavily on microbial activity in the hindgut, where dietary fibre is broken down by microorganisms. This fermentation produces short-chain fatty acids, which horses use as an energy source.
The fibre content of rosehip contributes to its overall nutritional composition, although the amount of fibre supplied by typical supplementary doses is small compared with a horse's daily forage intake.
Which Horses May Benefit From Rosehip as Part of Their Diet?
Rosehip can be used to complement the diets of horses of different ages and activity levels.
Active Leisure and Competition Horses
The antioxidant compounds found in rosehip are particularly interesting in the diets of horses undergoing regular training. Studies in horses have observed changes in vitamin C concentrations and markers associated with antioxidant activity.
Senior Horses
In older horses, attention to the nutrition of joints, tendons and other connective tissues becomes increasingly important. The vitamin C and studied galactolipids found in rosehip make it an interesting natural ingredient as part of a varied diet.
Leisure Horses and Everyday Feeding
Rosehip is also suitable for inclusion in the diets of ordinary leisure horses as a natural source of vitamins, antioxidant plant compounds and dietary fibre.
Summary – Why Is Rosehip an Interesting Addition to a Horse's Diet?
The nutritional value of rosehip is based on its diverse composition. In addition to vitamin C, it contains polyphenols, carotenoids, galactolipids and fibre.
Three characteristics make rosehip particularly interesting in equine nutrition:
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Natural antioxidants: Rosehip contains vitamin C and several other plant compounds known for their antioxidant properties.
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Joint and connective tissue nutrition: Vitamin C contributes to collagen formation, while the properties of the rosehip galactolipid GOPO have been studied in relation to joints and cartilage.
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Research in horses: Studies involving trotters have demonstrated the absorption of vitamin C from rosehip and changes in markers associated with antioxidant activity.
Rosehip is therefore a versatile plant-based option for complementing a horse's diet, particularly when the aim is to include natural antioxidant compounds and pay attention to joint and connective tissue nutrition.
Scientific References
Studies in Horses
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Winther, K. et al. (2012). The absorption of natural vitamin C in horses and anti-oxidative capacity: a randomised, controlled study on trotters during a three-month intervention period. Comparative Exercise Physiology.
https://researchprofiles.ku.dk/en/publications/the-absorption-of-natural-vitamin-c-in-horses-and-anti-oxidative- -
Winther, K. et al. (2010). A randomised placebo controlled double blind study on the effect of subspecies of rose hip (Rosa canina) on the immune system, working capacity and behaviour of horses. EAAP Scientific Series.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289313682_A_randomised_placebo_controlled_double_blind_study_on_the_effect_of_subspecies_of_rose_hip_Rosa_canina_on_the_immune_system_working_capacity_and_behaviour_of_horses
GOPO and Bioactive Compounds in Rosehip
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Larsen, E., Kharazmi, A., Christensen, L. P. & Christensen, S. B. (2003). An Antiinflammatory Galactolipid from Rose Hip (Rosa canina) that Inhibits Chemotaxis of Human Peripheral Blood Neutrophils in Vitro. Journal of Natural Products, 66(7), 994–995.
https://doi.org/10.1021/np0300636 -
Schwager, J., Hoeller, U., Wolfram, S. & Richard, N. (2011). Rose hip and its constituent galactolipids confer cartilage protection by modulating cytokine, and chemokine expression. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 11, 105.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6882-11-105
Human Clinical Studies on Joint Function
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Warholm, O. et al. (2003). The Effects of a Standardized Herbal Remedy Made from a Subtype of Rosa canina in Patients with Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. Current Therapeutic Research, 64(1), 21–31.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24944354/ -
Winther, K., Apel, K. & Thamsborg, G. (2005). A powder made from seeds and shells of a rose-hip subspecies (Rosa canina) reduces symptoms of knee and hip osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, 34(4), 302–308.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16195164/ -
Christensen, R., Bartels, E. M., Altman, R. D., Astrup, A. & Bliddal, H. (2008). Does the hip powder of Rosa canina (rosehip) reduce pain in osteoarthritis patients? – a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 16(9), 965–972.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18407528/
