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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet J / A high protein meal affects plasma insulin concentrations an...
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2019; 251; 105341; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.105341

A high protein meal affects plasma insulin concentrations and amino acid metabolism in horses with equine metabolic syndrome.

Abstract: Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is characterized by an abnormal insulin response to a glycemic challenge but despite the known insulinotropic effects of certain amino acids, there is a paucity of data evaluating the impact of dietary protein on insulin dynamics in these horses. The objective was therefore to assess insulin and amino acid responses following intake of a high protein meal in healthy horses and those with EMS. Six mature horses diagnosed with EMS and six age-matched control horses without EMS were used. Horses were fed 2g/kg body mass (BM) of a high protein pellet (31% crude protein) at time 0 and 30min, for a total of 4g/kg BM, following an overnight fast. Blood samples collected during a 4h period were analysed for plasma glucose, insulin, amino acids and urea concentrations. Glucose concentrations were not different between groups (P=0.2). Horses with EMS had a 9-fold greater insulinemic response to the consumption of a high protein meal compared with controls (P=0.046). Post-prandial levels of histidine, citrulline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine and ornithine were higher in horses with EMS (P<0.05). Baseline urea nitrogen concentrations were not significantly different between groups (P=0.1). Knowing that certain amino acids are insulin secretagogues, these results illustrate that consumption of a high protein meal caused a hyperinsulinemic response and affected amino acid dynamics in horses with EMS. These findings suggest that dietary protein content should be taken into consideration in the management of horses with insulin dysregulation.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-20 PubMed ID: 31492392DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.105341Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research looked at the impact of a high protein meal on the insulin and amino acid response in horses, specifically those with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). It found that high protein meals cause a significant insulin response and alter amino acid dynamics in horses with EMS, thus suggesting that dietary protein content is a crucial factor to consider in managing such horses.

Objective of the Research

  • The primary objective of the research was to gain an understanding of the insulin and amino acid responses following the consumption of a high protein meal in both healthy horses and horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). EMS is characterized by an abnormal insulin response to a glucose challenge, and there is limited data available on the impact of dietary protein on insulin dynamics in these horses.

Research Method

  • The research involved six mature horses diagnosed with EMS and six age-matched control horses without EMS.
  • All horses were fed a high protein pellet meal in two phases – at 0 and 30 minutes, totalling 4g/kg body mass, after an overnight fast.
  • Blood samples collected during a 4-hour period were analysed for plasma glucose, insulin, amino acids, and urea concentrations.

Research Findings

  • The study found that horses with EMS had a 9-fold greater insulinemic (related to insulin) response to a high protein meal compared to the controls.
  • Post-meal histidine, citrulline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine and ornithine levels were higher in horses with EMS.
  • No significant difference was found in glucose concentrations between the two groups. Similarly, baseline urea nitrogen concentrations were not significantly different between groups.

Implications of the Research

  • The research affirms that consumption of a high protein meal results in a hyperinsulinemic response and affects amino acid dynamics in horses with EMS.
  • This suggests that the dietary protein content should be part of the considerations in managing insulin dysregulation in horses, particularly those with EMS, despite the normally prevalent focus on carbohydrate content.

Cite This Article

APA
Loos CMM, Dorsch SC, Elzinga SE, Brewster-Barnes T, Vanzant ES, Adams AA, Urschel KL. (2019). A high protein meal affects plasma insulin concentrations and amino acid metabolism in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. Vet J, 251, 105341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.105341

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 251
Pages: 105341

Researcher Affiliations

Loos, C M M
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
Dorsch, S C
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
Elzinga, S E
  • Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
Brewster-Barnes, T
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
Vanzant, E S
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
Adams, A A
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA.
Urschel, K L
  • Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA. Electronic address: klurschel@uky.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Amino Acids / blood
  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Blood Urea Nitrogen
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Insulin / blood
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / veterinary
  • Postprandial Period / physiology

Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
  1. Daradics Z, Popescu M, Cătoi C, Mircean MV, Macri A, Mîrza O, Szakacs A, Daina S, Fetea F, Tripon MA, Lupșan AF, Bungărdean D, Călugăr A, Bora FD, Crecan CM. Forage Carbohydrate Profiles and Endocrine Morphometric Interactions in Traditionally Managed Horses from Romania. Life (Basel) 2025 Nov 6;15(11).
    doi: 10.3390/life15111721pubmed: 41302145google scholar: lookup
  2. Palmer AT, Watts MR, Timko KJ, Pinnell EF, Keefer KA, Gorman O, Hostnik LD, Burns TA. Corticosteroid Administration Enhances the Glycemic, Insulinemic, and Incretin Responses to a High-Protein Mixed Meal in Adult Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e17305.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17305pubmed: 40062690google scholar: lookup
  3. Loos CMM, Zhao S, Li L, Li J, Han W, Vanzant ES, McLeod KR. Essential oil supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and modulates the plasma metabolome of hyperinsulinemic horses. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1444581.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1444581pubmed: 39687851google scholar: lookup
  4. Loos C, Castelein A, Vanzant E, Adam E, McLeod KR. Nutraceutical Supplement Mitigates Insulin Resistance in Horses with a History of Insulin Dysregulation During a Challenge with a High-Starch Diet. Animals (Basel) 2024 Nov 25;14(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14233385pubmed: 39682351google scholar: lookup
  5. Hisaeda K, Ono T, Kadekaru S, Hata A, Miyama TS, Kutara K, Sugimoto K, Hiasa Y, Ohzawa E, Kunieda T, Iwata E, Kitagawa H. Serum amino acid profiles in clinically normal Noma horses. J Equine Sci 2024;35(2):29-34.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.35.29pubmed: 38962514google scholar: lookup
  6. Stoeckle SD, Timmermann D, Merle R, Gehlen H. Plasma Amino Acid Concentration in Obese Horses with/without Insulin Dysregulation and Laminitis. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 18;12(24).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12243580pubmed: 36552500google scholar: lookup
  7. Loos CMM, McLeod KR, Vanzant ES, Stratton SA, Bohannan AD, Coleman RJ, van Doorn DA, Urschel KL. Differential effect of two dietary protein sources on time course response of muscle anabolic signaling pathways in normal and insulin dysregulated horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:896220.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.896220pubmed: 35978710google scholar: lookup
  8. Loos CMM, Urschel KL, Vanzant ES, Oberhaus EL, Bohannan AD, Klotz JL, McLeod KR. Effects of Bromocriptine on Glucose and Insulin Dynamics in Normal and Insulin Dysregulated Horses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:889888.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.889888pubmed: 35711802google scholar: lookup
  9. Loos CMM, McLeod KR, Stratton SC, van Doorn DA, Kalmar ID, Vanzant ES, Urschel KL. Pathways regulating equine skeletal muscle protein synthesis respond in a dose-dependent manner to graded levels of protein intake. J Anim Sci 2020 Sep 1;98(9).
    doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa268pubmed: 32835365google scholar: lookup
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