A one-health approach to identifying and mitigating the impact of endocrine disorders on human and equine athletes.

The research study focuses on the effects of endocrine disorders, particularly in regards to metabolic diseases and how they affect cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems of horses and humans.

Endocrine Disorders and its Impact

• The study emphasizes on the increasing impact of endocrinopathies (conditions that affect the endocrine system) in different species, including human and equine athletes. Their incidence is increasing and resulting in serious health concerns.
• Disorders like obesity and alterations in insulin and glucose dynamics are specifically pointed out as they affect the whole-body health and homeostasis of both species. These issues need to be handled to maintain health and performance of athletes (humans and horses).
• Apart from general health, endocrine disorders specifically affect the musculoskeletal (structures including muscles, bones, tendons), cardiovascular (heart and blood vessels), and reproductive (relating to reproduction) systems. These impacts are more critical in athletes as they greatly rely on these systems for their performance.

Understanding the Effects for Better Prevention and Treatment

• The researchers stress the importance of understanding the physiological (normal functions of living organisms) and pathophysiological (disordered physiological processes related with disease or injury) mechanisms involved in disease processes. This understanding is important for creating effective prevention and treatment strategies not only for human but for all species in general.
• This understanding should commence from the in utero (while in the womb) development to get insight on origins of metabolic diseases and how they can be prevented or managed effectively.

Role of Novel Interventions and Diagnostics

• Modern interventions and diagnostics are a key focus of this study. These modern approaches are guided by multiomic (study of various types of molecules such as genes, proteins, metabolites etc.) and one-health (collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach to achieve optimal health for people, animals, and environment) approaches.
• These approaches are required to understand the unrecognized effects of endocrine disorders and their association with origin of metabolic diseases, inflammation at intersection of endocrine disease, and other related conditions in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems.