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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Sci / Chromium propionate increases insulin sensitivity in horses ...
Journal of animal science2020; 98(4); skaa095; doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa095

Chromium propionate increases insulin sensitivity in horses following oral and intravenous carbohydrate administration.

Abstract: Forty-eight Quarter Horse geldings (3 to 8 yr of age) were used to determine the effects of dietary chromium (Cr), in the form of Cr propionate (Cr Prop) on insulin sensitivity. Horses were blocked by age, body condition score, and glucose response to concentrate feeding on day 0 and randomly assigned to treatments. Treatments consisted of 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg Cr/d from Cr Prop. Horses were fed daily a concentrate mix at a rate of 0.2 kg/100 kg body weight (BW) and grass hay at 1.75 to 2.0 kg/100 kg BW. All horses were fed the control diet for 7 d prior to the initiation of the study. After an overnight fast, blood samples from the jugular vein were obtained at 0, 2, and 4 h after concentrate feeding on days 0 and 28 for the determination of glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, and insulin. A glucose tolerance test (GTT) was conducted on day 42. Glucose was infused via jugular vein catheters, and blood samples were collected at various times relative to dosing for glucose and insulin determination. Plasma glucose on day 28 was affected (P < 0.05) by treatment, time, and treatment × time. Horses fed 4 mg Cr/d had lesser (P < 0.05) plasma glucose concentrations than those in the other treatments at 0 h. At 2 h post-feeding glucose concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in horses fed 0 or 8 mg Cr/d than in those given 4 mg Cr. Horses fed 2 mg Cr/d had lesser (P < 0.05) plasma glucose at 4 h post feeding compared with those fed 0 or 8 mg Cr. Plasma glucose did not differ among horses receiving 2 or 4 mg Cr/d at 2 or 4 h. Serum insulin was affected (P < 0.05) by treatment, time, and treatment × time. Insulin concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in horses fed 0 or 2 mg Cr/d than in those given 4 or 8 mg Cr at 0 h. At 4 h post-feeding insulin concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in horses given 0 or 8 mg Cr than in those fed 2 or 4 mg Cr/d. Plasma glucose was affected (P < 0.05) by treatment and time, but not by treatment × time following the GTT. Mean plasma glucose (across sampling times) concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in controls than in horses fed 2 or 4 mg Cr/d. Glucose concentrations following the GTT did not differ among controls and horses given 8 mg Cr/d. Following glucose infusion, serum insulin concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in horses fed 2 or 4 mg Cr and tended to be greater in those fed 8 mg Cr/d compared with controls. The results of this study indicate that 2 or 4 mg Cr/d from Cr Prop increased insulin sensitivity in adult horses following oral carbohydrate consumption.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Publication Date: 2020-03-27 PubMed ID: 32211767PubMed Central: PMC7323256DOI: 10.1093/jas/skaa095Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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.

The research investigated the impact of dietary chromium on insulin sensitivity in horses and found that chromium propionate at doses of 2 or 4 mg per day increased insulin sensitivity in adult horses who were fed carbohydrates.

Research Methodology

The research:

  • Involved forty-eight Quarter Horse geldings aged between 3 and 8 years.
  • These horses were assorted by factors such as age, glucose response, and body condition score.
  • Each horse was assigned a random regimen consisting of 0, 2, 4, or 8 mg per day of chromium, administered as chromium propionate (Cr Prop).
  • The horses were fed a regular diet of concentrate mix and grass hay as well as the assigned chromium supplement daily.
  • Blood samples were collected prior to feeding, and at 2-hour and 4-hour intervals after feeding, at the start and the end of a 28-day period. These samples were tested for glucose, nonesterified fatty acids, and insulin.
  • A glucose tolerance test (GTT) was also scheduled on day 42. Horses were infused with glucose via a jugular vein catheter and blood samples were collected periodically for measurement of glucose and insulin levels.

Key Findings

Derived from the research, the following findings were observed:

  • Horses fed 4 mg per day of chromium had lower plasma glucose concentrations than other groups at the start of observation post-feeding.
  • At 2 hours post-feeding, horses fed 4 mg chromium had lower glucose levels than those fed either 0 or 8 mg chromium.
  • Insulin concentrations were seen to be higher in horses fed either 0 or 2 mg chromium when compared to those given 4 or 8 mg chromium.
  • Horses fed 2 or 4 mg chromium daily experienced higher insulin concentrations after glucose infusion when compared to other groups.
  • Horses given 2 or 4 mg chromium daily demonstrated increased insulin sensitivity following oral consumption of carbohydrates.

Implications and Conclusion

The results of the study suggest that:

  • Daily intake of 2 or 4 mg chromium in the form of chromium propionate can influence insulin sensitivity in horses after consuming carbohydrates.
  • The effect of chromium supplementation appears to depend on the dose, with an optimum effect reached at a dosage of between 2 to 4 mg daily.
  • These findings could have implications for dietary interventions in horses, especially those with insulin resistance or other metabolic disorders. It indicates a potential avenue for dietary supplementation to improve the metabolic health of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Spears JW, Lloyd KE, Siciliano P, Pratt-Phillips S, Goertzen EW, McLeod SJ, Moore J, Krafka K, Hyda J, Rounds W. (2020). Chromium propionate increases insulin sensitivity in horses following oral and intravenous carbohydrate administration. J Anim Sci, 98(4), skaa095. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa095

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 98
Issue: 4
PII: skaa095

Researcher Affiliations

Spears, Jerry W
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Lloyd, Karen E
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Siciliano, Paul
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Pratt-Phillips, Shannon
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Goertzen, Ellen W
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
McLeod, Sarah J
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Moore, Jennifer
  • Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
Krafka, Kristi
  • Kemin AgriFoods North America, Inc., Des Moines, IA.
Hyda, Jill
  • Kemin AgriFoods North America, Inc., Des Moines, IA.
Rounds, Whitney
  • Kemin AgriFoods North America, Inc., Des Moines, IA.

MeSH Terms

  • Administration, Intravenous / veterinary
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Body Weight
  • Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / blood
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
  • Horses / physiology
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Male
  • Propionates / administration & dosage
  • Propionates / pharmacology

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Badawy AA, Guillemin GJ. Species Differences in Tryptophan Metabolism and Disposition.. Int J Tryptophan Res 2022;15:11786469221122511.
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  2. Hamidi O, Chamani M, Ghahri H, Sadeghi AA, Malekinejad H, Palangi V. Effects of Supplemental Chromium Nanoparticles on IFN-γ expression of Heat Stress Broilers.. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022 Jan;200(1):339-347.
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