Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that plays a pivotal role in regulating glucose metabolism in horses. It facilitates the uptake of glucose by cells, thus maintaining blood sugar levels within a normal range. Insulin's function is integral to energy balance and metabolic processes in equines. Disruptions in insulin regulation can lead to metabolic disorders such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), characterized by insulin resistance and associated with obesity and laminitis. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiological role, regulatory mechanisms, and clinical implications of insulin in equine health and disease management.
Barnabé A, Loup B, Cawley A, Delcourt V, Garcia P, Popot MA, Keledjian J, Bailly-Chouriberry L.Despite the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) regulation associated with heavy sanctions, the abuse of prohibited substances must be identified and deterred throughout horses' athletic careers, such as the administration of recombinant growth hormone (rGH). GH is naturally produced in mammal organisms to stimulate growth. Thus, rGH administration can enhance the performance of horses by expanding some physical abilities. As measuring endogenous GH levels is complex, an indirect strategy is to monitor GH-associated biomarkers in plasma as insulin-like growth factor 1 (I...
