Carbohydrate supplementation of horses during endurance exercise: comparison of fructose and glucose.
Abstract: To delay the onset of fatigue, endurance horses are often fed at rest stops during races. The resulting increase in blood insulin may adversely inhibit lipolysis. In humans, ingestion of fructose produces a smaller insulin rise than glucose. This study compared glucose and fructose as carbohydrate supplements for endurance horses. Three Arabian geldings were given 300 g of fructose (F), glucose (G) or 50% glucose: 50% fructose (GF), in 1.5 L water, by stomach tube. In the Resting Test, carbohydrate was administered at rest. Following treatment, blood samples were taken every 30 min for 8 h, and feces were collected for 24 h. Treatment did not affect fecal weight or water content. Plasma glucose and insulin responses did not differ among treatments. Post-treatment (60 min), plasma L-lactate tended to be higher (P = 0.06) after the F and GF treatments than after the G treatment. In the Exercise Test, two treadmill exercise bouts at 0 degrees incline (Bout 1: 90 min; Bout 2: 120 min) were separated by a 1-h rest period. A total distance of 36.84 km was covered at a mean speed of 2.9 m/s. Carbohydrate was administered 45 min before Bout 2. Plasma glucose and insulin at the start of Bout 2 were higher (P = 0.02 and 0.03, respectively) with the GF treatment than with the F treatment. However, during exercise, plasma glucose concentrations did not differ among treatments. We conclude that fructose is well-absorbed by horses and rapidly converted to glucose.
Publication Date: 2000-06-27 PubMed ID: 10867047DOI: 10.1093/jn/130.7.1760Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research focuses on comparing the effects of fructose and glucose, served to endurance horses as energy supplements. The study finds out that fructose is well absorbed by horses, rapidly converted to glucose, and does not significantly affect levels of insulin or glucose in the bloodstream when compared to pure glucose.
Objective of the Study
- The main objective of the study was to investigate the effects of fructose and glucose as carbohydrate supplements for endurance horses.
- The researchers wanted to establish how well each sugar is absorbed and various effects on the horses’ blood chemistry, including insulin, glucose, and lactate levels.
Methods Used
- The researchers used three Arabian geldings (male horses) and administered carbohydrate supplements of 300g, either as fructose, glucose, or a 50:50 blend of both sugars.
- The carbohydrates were dissolved in 1.5 liters of water and administered using a stomach tube.
- They performed two types of tests: A Resting Test, during which the carbohydrates were administered at rest, and an Exercise Test, entailing two treadmill exercise bouts separated by a one-hour rest period.
- The researchers took blood samples every 30 minutes for 8 hours and also collected feces for 24 hours after the treatment.
Findings
- The treatments had no effect on fecal weight or water content.
- There was no significant difference in plasma glucose and insulin responses among the treatments.
- However, plasma L-lactate levels tended to be higher 60 minutes post-treatment after the fructose and the glucose-fructose blend treatments compared with the glucose treatment.
- During the Exercise Test, plasma glucose and insulin levels at the beginning of Bout 2 were higher with the glucose-fructose blend treatment than with the fructose treatment.
- Despite this, during the exercise, plasma glucose concentrations didn’t significantly differ among the treatments.
Conclusion
- Based on this study, it can be concluded that fructose is well-absorbed by horses and is rapidly converted to glucose.
- The data indicates that fructose could be a useful carbohydrate supplement for endurance horses, given its similar effect to glucose in terms of its impact on insulin, lactate, and glucose levels.
Cite This Article
APA
Bullimore SR, Pagan JD, Harris PA, Hoekstra KE, Roose KA, Gardner SC, Geor RJ.
(2000).
Carbohydrate supplementation of horses during endurance exercise: comparison of fructose and glucose.
J Nutr, 130(7), 1760-1765.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/130.7.1760 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Kentucky Equine Research, Inc., Versailles, Kentucky 40383, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / metabolism
- Dietary Carbohydrates / pharmacology
- Dietary Supplements
- Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
- Fructose / pharmacology
- Glucose / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Lactic Acid / blood
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
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