Dr. Priska Darani | Mad Barn

About Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS

Dr. Priska Darani has a lifelong passion for understanding how diet regulates metabolism and contributes to health in both humans and animals. Priska grew up on a dairy farm in Eastern Ontario before attending the University of Guelph in 2005 to complete a B.Sc. in Animal Biology with a focus on nutrition. While at Guelph, she worked at the Arkell Poultry and Equine Research Station where she assisted with daily care of the horses. In 2012, she received an M.Sc. for OMAFRA-funded research on how altering the amino acid balance of lactating cow rations can affect milk production and composition. In 2016, she completed her Ph.D. degree focusing on nutritional regulation of insulin sensitivity and using mathematical models to predict metabolic responses. Dr. Darani is a certified Professional Animal Scientist (PAS) through the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS), signifying her commitment to science-driven, ethical practices in animal nutrition, care, and management, as well as her adherence to top professional standards in the field.

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Jiaogulan for Horses Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD | August 6, 2026

Jiaogulan (pronounced Je-ow-gu-laan), also known as Gynostemma pentaphyllum or J-herb is a climbing vine used in horses to support circulation, respiratory health, and muscle function. The leaves of the jiaogulan plant contain active ingredients that increase nitric oxide levels in...

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Copper for Horses Dr. Eleanor Kellon, VMD | July 31, 2026

Copper (Cu) is an essential trace mineral that is required in the equine diet to support the proper function of many enzymes in the horse's body. Copper is important for iron metabolism, healthy connective tissue, energy production and antioxidant protection....

7 Research-Backed Benefits of Milk Thistle Extract for Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | August 6, 2026

Milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum), also known as St. Mary's thistle, is an herbal supplement primarily used to support liver function in horses. Milk thistle seeds and leaves contain many bioactive compounds, collectively referred to as silymarin. Silymarin is a...

8 Science-Backed Benefits of Spirulina for Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | August 6, 2026

Spirulina is a nutritionally dense blue-green algae that is used as an equine supplement to support horses with immune or respiratory needs. Spirulina refers to dried algae, or cyanobacteria, that is harvested from lakes in Africa, Mexico and China. Fed...

17 Science-Backed Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | August 20, 2026

Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) that are essential in the horse's diet. Supplementing your horse's feeding program with omega-3 oil can support anti-inflammatory mechanisms in the body and contribute to overall health and well-being. Giving your horse a...

5 Research-Backed Benefits of Chasteberry in Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Chasteberry is an herbal supplement that is used to support mood balance and hormone health in female and male horses. The Chastetree berry (Vitex agnus-castus) plant is a shrub that grows in the Mediterranean and parts of Asia. The fruits...

6 Science-Backed Benefits of Probiotics for Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Probiotics are live microbes (bacteria, yeast, fungi and protozoa) that help horses maintain a healthy gut by protecting against "bad" microbes or pathogens. Maintaining a healthy microbiome promotes optimal digestive function and absorption of nutrients and helps support the immune...

7 Common Causes of Gastric Ulcers in Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Have you noticed changes in your horse such as weight loss, a dull coat, disinterest in feeding or crib chewing that have resulted in poor performance? Your horse might be experiencing stomach pain, most likely due to gastric ulcers. Equine...

5 Dangers of High Iron Levels for Horses Dr. Priska Darani, Ph.D., PAS | July 31, 2026

Do you know the dangers of high iron levels in your horse's hay or water? Iron overload is a growing concern among horse owners as more is learned about the harmful effects of having too much of this mineral in...

8 Science-Backed Benefits of Vitamin E in Horses Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that acts as an antioxidant for horses. It helps maintain a healthy immune system and supports normal nerve and muscle function. Vitamin E supplementation is especially important for horses that are mainly eating dry...

9 Science-Backed Benefits of MSM for Horses Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) is a naturally occurring form of sulfur that is found in plants and animals. MSM is used to support joint comfort in aging horses and performance horses. Horses and other mammals cannot utilize pure sulfur in its elemental...

10 Science-Backed Benefits of Magnesium for Horses Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral that horses require for proper nerve and muscle function. Magnesium functions as an electrolyte, plays a role in protein synthesis and is involved in over 300 metabolic processes in the horse's body. It is...

How to Feed a Horse on a Budget Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Horses are expensive. Now that we have the obvious out of the way, let’s get down to business. What are some of the ways you can save money on equine feed while still giving your horse the nutrition he or...

7 Research-Backed Health Benefits of Selenium for Horses Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Selenium (Se) is an antioxidant mineral that is necessary in the horse’s diet. Horses derive selenium by consuming hay or grasses that grow in soils that contain this trace mineral. However, if you live in a region with low selenium...

Feeding Horses Mineral Vitamin Supplement

How to Give a New Supplement to Your Horse: Preventing Feed Refusal Noelle Ursel, B.Sc. | July 31, 2026

If you have taken the first steps towards feeding your horse a balanced diet that includes a concentrated mineral and vitamin supplement, there's a chance that your horse may turn its head up when first introduced to it. But don't...

How Much Vitamin E Should I Give My Horse? Noelle Ursel, B.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Vitamin E, or alpha-tocopherol, is an essential vitamin that must be obtained through your horse's diet. There are many products sold in the equine supplement industry that contain varying forms of vitamin E that are available, but it is sometimes...

EGUS – Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 31, 2026

Let's save the boring stats that every article discussing equine gastric ulcers quotes. If you keep your horse in a stall and/or do any level of training and you are still reading this article, there is an extremely [...]

Equine Insulin Resistance Scott Cieslar, M.Sc. | July 15, 2026

Insulin is a hormone produced by special cells within the pancreas in order to do many important jobs, one of which is the transportation of glucose from the bloodstream into each individual cell. When foods high in [...]

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Research Publications	Cited By
Regulation of chylomicron secretion: focus on post-assembly mechanisms. C Xiao, P Stahel, GF Lewis. Cellular and molecular gastroenterology and hepatology 7 (3), 487-501, 2019.	71
The atherogenic dyslipidemia complex and novel approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention in diabetes. P Stahel, C Xiao, RA Hegele, GF Lewis. Canadian Journal of Cardiology 34 (5), 595-604, 2018.	54
Recent advances in triacylglycerol mobilization by the gut. C Xiao, P Stahel, AL Carreiro, KK Buhman, GF Lewis. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism 29 (3), 151-163, 2018.	49
Oral glucose mobilizes triglyceride stores from the human intestine. C Xiao, P Stahel, AL Carreiro, YH Hung, S Dash, I Bookman, KK Buhman, .... Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 7 (2), 313-337, 2019.	35
Glucose and GLP-2 (Glucagon-Like Peptide-2) mobilize intestinal triglyceride by distinct mechanisms. P Stahel, C Xiao, X Davis, P Tso, GF Lewis. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology 39 (8), 1565-1573, 2019.	26
Emerging role of lymphatics in the regulation of intestinal lipid mobilization. C Xiao, P Stahel, A Nahmias, GF Lewis. Frontiers in Physiology 10, 1604, 2020.	25
Use of dietary feather meal to induce histidine deficiency or imbalance in dairy cows and effects on milk composition. P Stahel, NG Purdie, JP Cant. Journal of dairy science 97 (1), 439-445, 2014.	25
Of the milk sugars, galactose, but not prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharide, improves insulin sensitivity in male Sprague-Dawley rats. P Stahel, JJ Kim, C Xiao, JP Cant. PloS one 12 (2), e0172260, 2017.	22
Effects of intranasal insulin on endogenous glucose production in insulin‐resistant men. C Xiao, S Dash, P Stahel, GF Lewis. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 20 (7), 1751-1754, 2018.	21
Polygenic risk for hypertriglyceridemia can mimic a major monogenic mutation. P Stahel, C Xiao, RA Hegele, GF Lewis. Annals of Internal Medicine 167 (5), 360-361, 2017.	19
Role of the gut in diabetic dyslipidemia. P Stahel, C Xiao, A Nahmias, GF Lewis. Frontiers in Endocrinology 11, 116, 2020.	17
Supranutritional selenium intake from enriched milk casein impairs hepatic insulin sensitivity via attenuated IRS/PI3K/AKT signaling and decreased PGC-1α expression in male …. P Stahel, JJ Kim, SRL Cieslar, JM Warrington, C Xiao, JP Cant. The Journal of nutritional biochemistry 41, 142-150, 2017.	17
Glycemia and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: exploring the gap between risk marker and risk factor. A Nahmias, P Stahel, C Xiao, GF Lewis. Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine 7, 100, 2020.	14
Effects of intranasal insulin on triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particle production in healthy men. C Xiao, S Dash, P Stahel, GF Lewis. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 37 (9), 1776-1781, 2017.	13
A mechanistic model of intermittent gastric emptying and glucose-insulin dynamics following a meal containing milk components. P Stahel, JP Cant, JAR MacPherson, H Berends, MA Steele. PloS one 11 (6), e0156443, 2016.	13
Selenized milk casein in the diet of BALB/c nude mice reduces growth of intramammary MCF-7 tumors. JM Warrington, JJM Kim, P Stahel, SRL Cieslar, RA Moorehead, .... BMC cancer 13, 1-11, 2013.	13
Intranasal glucagon acutely increases energy expenditure without inducing hyperglycaemia in overweight/obese adults. P Stahel, SJ Lee, SK Sud, A Floh, S Dash. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 21 (6), 1357-1364, 2019.	12
Glucagon‐like peptide‐2 mobilizes lipids from the intestine by a systemic nitric oxide‐independent mechanism. C Xiao, P Stahel, C Morgantini, A Nahmias, S Dash, GF Lewis. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 21 (11), 2535-2541, 2019.	11
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is physiologically relevant for chylomicron secretion beyond its known pharmacological role. A Nahmias, P Stahel, L Tian, C Xiao, GF Lewis. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology 41 (6), 1893-1900, 2021.	10
Evaluation of the specific effects of intranasal glucagon on glucose production and lipid concentration in healthy men during a pancreatic clamp. S Dash, C Xiao, P Stahel, K Koulajian, A Giacca, GF Lewis. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism 20 (2), 328-334, 2018.	9
Multi-organ coordination of lipoprotein secretion by hormones, nutrients and neural networks. P Stahel, C Xiao, A Nahmias, L Tian, GF Lewis. Endocrine Reviews 42 (6), 815-838, 2021.	7
Evaluation of the genetic association between adult obesity and neuropsychiatric disease. P Stahel, A Nahmias, SK Sud, SJ Lee, A Pucci, A Yousseif, A Youseff, .... Diabetes 68 (12), 2235-2246, 2019.	7
Phenotypic and genetic analysis of an adult cohort with extreme obesity. P Stahel, SK Sud, SJ Lee, T Jackson, DR Urbach, A Okrainec, JP Allard, .... International Journal of Obesity 43 (10), 2057-2065, 2019.	7
Control of intestinal lipoprotein secretion by dietary carbohydrates. P Stahel, C Xiao, GF Lewis. Current Opinion in Lipidology 29 (1), 24-29, 2018.	7
Parameters of abomasal emptying and glucose-insulin dynamics in Holstein-Friesian calves at 2 ages and 2 levels of milk replacer intake. P Stahel, JAR MacPherson, H Berends, MA Steele, JP Cant. Journal of Dairy Science 100 (6), 5068-5072, 2017.	6
Effect of replacing lactose with fat in milk replacer on abomasal emptying and glucose–insulin kinetics in male dairy calves. P Stahel, H Berends, LN Leal, J Martin-Tereso. Applied Animal Science 35 (6), 586-595, 2019.	4
Investigation of the role of enteric blood flow in mediating GLP-2 stimulation of triglyceride mobilization and chylomicron secretion in the human intestine. C Xiao, P Stahel, S Dash, C Morgantini, GF Lewis. Atherosclerosis Supplements 32, 29, 2018.	4
Hypothalamic miR-1983 Targets Insulin Receptor β and the Insulin-mediated miR-1983 Increase Is Blocked by Metformin. JA Chalmers, PS Dalvi, N Loganathan, EK McIlwraith, L Wellhauser, .... Endocrinology 163 (1), bqab241, 2022.	2
Assessment of lipid response to acute olanzapine administration in healthy adults. A Nahmias, P Stahel, S Dash. Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism 3 (2), e00119, 2020.	2
Glucagon-like peptide-2 acutely enhances chylomicron secretion in humans without mobilizing cytoplasmic lipid droplets. MM Syed-Abdul, P Stahel, A Zembroski, L Tian, C Xiao, A Nahmias, .... The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 108 (5), 1084-1092, 2023.	1
Glucagon-like peptide-2 mobilization of intestinal lipid does not require canonical enterocyte chylomicron synthetic machinery. MM Syed-Abdul, P Stahel, L Tian, C Xiao, A Nahmias, GF Lewis. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids …, 2022.	1
Enteral glucose, absorbed and metabolized, potently enhances mesenteric lymph flow in chow-and high-fat-fed rats. L Tian, MM Syed-Abdul, P Stahel, GF Lewis. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology 323 (4 …, 2022.
ABSTRACT 成人肥満と精神神経疾患との遺伝的関連性の評価. P Stahel, A Nahmias, SK Sud, SJ Lee, A Pucci, A Yousseif, A Youseff, .... Diabetes: a journal of the American Diabetes Association 13 (3), 33-35, 2020.
Evaluation of the Acute Effects of Intranasal Glucagon on Energy Balance in Overweight/Obese Adults. P Stahel, SJ Lee, S Sud, AA Floh, S Dash. Canadian Journal of Diabetes 42 (5), S37, 2018.
Phenotypic and Genetic Analysis of Adults with Extreme Obesity. P Stahel, S Sud, SJ Lee, A Bassett, A Paterson, S Sockalingam, S Dash. Canadian Journal of Diabetes 42 (5), S37, 2018.
Oral Glucose Mobilizes Triglyceride Stores from the Human Intestine. P Stahel, C Xiao, AL Carreiro, YH Hung, A Zembroski, S Dash, .... Atherosclerosis Supplements 32, 21, 2018.
Regulation of Chylomicron Secretion: Focus on Post Assembly. C Xiao, P Stahel, GF Lewis. .
Evaluation of the Effect of Intranasal Glucagon on Endogenous Glucose Production. S Dash, C Xiao, K Koulajian, GF Lewis. DIABETES 65, A483-A483, 2016.
A mechanistic model of intermittent gastric emptying and glucose-insulin dynamics following a meal containing milk components. JP Cant, MA Steele, P Stahel, JAR MacPherson, H Berends. .
Effects of selenized casein and carbohydrate components of milk on insulin sensitivity in rats. P Stahel. University of Guelph, 2016.
Decreasing the solids-non-fat: fat ratio of milk with dietary feather meal in dairy cows.. P Stahel, NG Purdie, JP Cant. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 91 (3), 505-505, 2011.
135 AMPK Wars: the VMH Strikes Back, Return of the PVH 137 Coxsackievirus and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Wolf’s Footprints. AR Hamoud, L Weaver, DE Stec, TD Hinds Jr, C Xiao, P Stahel, .... .