GOLD

The ultimate intestinal flora supplement for horses

BIOTICS® ICU

1. Sports performance

A healthy gut flora improves nutrient absorption, dampens inflammation and supports the immune system.
This translates into more efficient energy production and faster muscle recovery.
There is a clear microbiome–mitochondria link that helps increase cardiovascular capacity.

Through the production of volatile fatty acids, the microflora can supply up to 70% of the total energy requirement.

In racehorses, a correlation has been demonstrated between gut flora composition and performance.
In internal research with GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE the production of volatile fatty acids increased by up to 60%, the benchmark for gut health in horses.

2. Medication and medical procedures

Many medications, particularly antibiotics, NSAIDs and gastric medication, severely disrupt the gut flora, and recovery can take months.
Administration of GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE several days before, during and after treatment significantly limits this damage.

3. Poor manure quality and sand ingestion

An imbalanced gut flora can cause diarrhoea or constipation and negatively affect the colour and odour of manure.
Geophagia (sand eating) is also more common in cases of dysbiosis and can lead to colic and impactions.
Support with targeted pre- and postbiotics (GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE) reduces this risk.

4. Behaviour and stress

The gut–brain axis transmits signals from the gut microbiome to the brain via nerves, hormones and metabolites.
Dysbiosis is associated with increased stress and anxious, aggressive or depressive behaviour, disturbed sleep patterns and neurodegeneration.

Normalisation of the gut flora improves mood, stress resilience, concentration and alertness.
GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE increases the production of volatile fatty acids that interact with the nervous system and can even cross the blood–brain barrier.

5. Skin, joints and liver

• Skin:
  Dysbiosis increases systemic inflammation and contributes to itching, eczema, rashes and infections.
  Prebiotics (GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE) help normalise immune responses and support skin health.
• Joints:
  The recently described cartilage–gut–microbiome axis shows that microbiota DNA can be detected in synovial tissue in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  By promoting, among others, Bifidobacteria, GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE beneficially alters the microbiome and provides protection against osteoarthritis, including in obesity.
• Liver:
  The gut and liver are connected via the portal vein.
  Increased intestinal permeability allows toxins and endotoxins to pass through, causing inflammation and oxidative stress in the liver.
  GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE reduces these processes and supports liver health.

6. Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, PPID and IBD

Dysbiosis is associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome through inflammation and leaky gut.
Pre- and postbiotics (GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE) improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of laminitis.

In PPID, the gut flora composition is altered; prebiotics increase resilience and overall health.

In IBD, reduced microbial diversity and pathogenic overgrowth lead to chronic inflammation and malabsorption; normalising the gut flora supports intestinal wall repair.

7. Inflammation and colic

A disturbed gut flora can increase intestinal permeability, allowing endotoxins to trigger systemic inflammation.
Targeted prebiotics (GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE) reduce this inflammatory cascade and improve overall wellbeing.

8. Leaky gut

The intestinal wall consists of a single layer of cells with tight junctions that protect the bloodstream from toxins and bacterial components.
In leaky gut, these junctions open, leading to inflammation, impaired muscle metabolism, allergies, arthritis, colic, malabsorption, energy loss and decreased performance.

Causes:

• Training (blood shunting away from the gut)

• Stress (cortisol weakens tight junctions)

• Diets high in starch and sugars

Practical relevance:
As little as 1 hour of transport and 30 minutes of training can already induce leaky gut.
Administering postbiotics (GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE) beforehand can prevent this phenomenon.

9. Fertility in mares

Mares with a more diverse gut flora have a higher chance of becoming pregnant.
Supplementation with prebiotics (GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE) increases ovulation frequency and shortens the time to conception.

Prebiotics with different fermentation sites throughout the entire intestinal tract, ensuring consistent support of both foregut and hindgut.

Postbiotics (controlled fermented, neutralised and enriched probiotic fragments, mainly cell walls) in concentrations far exceeding what is formed in vivo through natural breakdown.

Fatty acid glycerol ester that supports the intestinal barrier, suppresses intestinal inflammation, strengthens defence mechanisms against pathogens and stimulates gene expression via microRNAs that promote a healthy microbiome.

Dose effectiveness:
Per daily dose, more than 25 grams of prebiotic effect.

Effect on VFAs:
In internal research, production of volatile fatty acids increases by up to 60%.

Probiotics are live, non-native microorganisms that integrate poorly or not sustainably into the refined gut ecosystem. Despite extensive (often sponsored) research, the proven benefit for the host remains limited.

• With 10^9 CFU (colony-forming units), which at first glance appears to be a substantial daily probiotic dose, only 0.000000001 g of active substance is actually added to a total microflora of approximately 500 g in the horse. It is therefore easy to understand that the resulting impact is extremely limited.

  In contrast, an ICU dosage provides 24 g of active substance, delivering a fundamentally different and significantly stronger support of the microbiome.

• Trials in foals had to be discontinued due to adverse effects.
• After antibiotic treatment, probiotics can sometimes impede recovery of the native microbiome.
• Product quality is variable: contamination and lower viable counts than stated on the label are common.
• The most widely used probiotic, live yeast (Saccharomyces), may compete with native flora, alter pH and gut environment, cause overgrowth and immune reactions, potentially carry resistance genes and reduce the effectiveness of other gut-supporting supplements.

The conclusion is clear:
Horses already possess billions of well-adapted native probiotics.
Feeding and modulating this existing ecosystem with pre- and postbiotics is far more efficient and safer.

Packaging:
GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE is available in 0.5 L and 1 L bottles.

Recommended dosage:
50 ml per day.

Use:
Can be used alone or as a booster alongside supplements for joints, sport, liver, immunity or reproduction.

⚠️ Due to the complex composition, thorough shaking before dosing is recommended.

Follow-up strategy:
After the intensive phase, users can switch to COMBI GOLD or COMBI PLATINUM, which contain a lower but sufficient dose of GOLDBIOTICS® ICU EQUINE components.