Use of the chasteberry preparation Corticosal® for the treatment of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses

Abstract

The objective of this study was to describe the efficacy of PPID treatment with the combined supplement corticosal® containing chasteberry. Thirty-eight horses and ponies with PPID were devided into three groups and received either the chasteberry preparation (group Tl) or pergolide in addition to the chasteberry preparation (group T2) for six months or pergolide in addition to a placebo for the first three months and pergolide in addition to the chasteberry preparation for the following three months (group T3). Clinical and laboratory examinations were performed at three times points. Within group Tl, a significant difference in clinical parameters between the first and second examination (p = 0.0042) as well as between the second and third examinations (p = 0.0001) was observed. The clinical signs improved significantly based on the clinical overall score. On the basis of the collected data, beneficial effects of the chasteberry preparation corticosal® on clinical parameters for PPID were determined.