Dietary carbohydrates and fat influence radiographic bone mineral content of growing foals.

The research study finds that the type of diet fed to growing horses, specifically the level of carbohydrates versus the fat content, impacts the mineral content of their bones. The study concluded that horses consuming a diet high in sugar and starch rather than fat and fiber showed increased bone mineral content.

Methodology

• The study was conducted over two years (1994 and 1995) with a total participation of 40 foals (20 each in 1994 and 1995).
• In each year, a set of 10 mares and their foals were fed a diet supplement rich in sugar and starch which was primarily made of corn and molasses (SS). The other set of 10 mares and their foals were fed a diet supplement rich in fat and fiber. This comprised corn oil, beet pulp, soybean hulls, and oat straw (FF).
• The researchers ensured both the diets were isocaloric (providing the same amount of calories), isonitrogenous (having the same nitrogen content), and had a balanced mineral content to complement the pasture feed and meet or exceed the National Research Council (NRC) nutritional requirements.
• Dorsopalmar (the direction from the back to the palms or soles) radiographs were taken of the left third metacarpal (a bone in the forelimb) monthly from birth till weaning, and then every other month until the foals were a year old.

Findings and Analysis

• The researchers observed that bone mineral content increased with the age of the foals and plateaued during winter seasons.
• The bone mineral content was found to be lower in the foals that were weaned and fed the diet supplement rich in fat and fiber (FF) compared to those fed the sugar and starch-rich (SS) supplements.
• Clinical evaluations suggested differences in physitis (inflammatory condition), joint effusion (accumulation of fluid in the joint), and angular as well as flexural limb deformities. These differences were attributed to the age of the foals and possibly, seasonality.
• Regression analysis showed positive relationships between the bone mineral content of the foals and various factors such as their weight, age, and other body measurements.

Conclusion

The research concluded that dietary adjustments, such as substituting carbohydrates with fat and fiber, can lead to changes in the bone mineral content in growing horses. They speculate that these changes could be due to the way nutrients and chemicals interact – for instance, fat and fiber might bind calcium, altering the availability of this vital element for bone development. Further research is needed to explore this theory.