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Dietary management of obesity and insulin resistance: countering risk for laminitis.
Abstract: Insulin resistance (IR) and hyperinsulinemia increase risk for development of laminitis in horses and ponies. Obesity also has been associated with heightened risk for laminitis, likely by means of development of IR. Dietary factors, particularly the nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) load, modulate risk for laminitis in these animals by means of exacerbation of IR or gastrointestinal disturbances that trigger the condition. Specific dietary management strategies to lessen risk for laminitis include caloric restriction to promote weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity in obese animals and strict control of dietary NSCs, with elimination of grains and sweet feeds from the ration and restricted access to pastures that may be rich in NSCs. Medical treatment with levothyroxine or metformin may be indicated in animals that do not respond to conservative dietary management.
Publication Date: 2009-03-24 PubMed ID: 19303550DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2009.02.001Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
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Summary
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This research suggests obesity and insulin resistance in horses and ponies increase the risk of laminitis, a painful condition of the feet, and advocates for a dietary approach to manage this risk, emphasizing the control of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) and weight loss strategies.
Understanding the Research
- The research paper explores the link between obesity, insulin resistance and the risk of laminitis (a severe and debilitating foot condition) in horses and ponies.
- Obesity is identified as a risk factor for laminitis due to its role in the development of insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the body’s cells cannot respond to normal levels of insulin leading to excessive production of insulin (hyperinsulinemia). This, in turn, increases the risk of developing laminitis.
Diet and Risk of Laminitis
- A key focus of the paper is the effect of dietary elements – specifically, nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) on the risk of laminitis.
- NSCs, which include sugars, starches and fructans, are suggested to increase the risk of laminitis in two ways – by exacerbating insulin resistance and by causing gastrointestinal disturbances that can trigger the onset of laminitis.
- This evidence suggests that dietary control is a significant factor in managing the risk of laminitis in horses and ponies.
Proposed Dietary Management Strategies
- The research proposes certain dietary strategies to counter the risk of laminitis. These include caloric restriction to promote weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity in obese animals.
- Equally important is strict control of dietary NSCs. This can involve eliminating grains and sweet feeds from the animal’s ration and limiting access to pastures rich in NSCs.
Medical Treatment Options
- The paper acknowledges cases where animals may not respond adequately to diet management. In these instances, medical treatment may be necessary.
- This treatment may involve drugs such as levothyroxine or metformin, which are traditionally employed in humans for managing thyroid disorders and type 2 diabetes respectively, underlining the serious nature of insulin resistance and its effects in equines.
Cite This Article
APA
Geor RJ, Harris P.
(2009).
Dietary management of obesity and insulin resistance: countering risk for laminitis.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 25(1), 51-vi.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2009.02.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences,Veterinary Medical Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. geor@cvm.msu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Foot Diseases / complications
- Foot Diseases / prevention & control
- Horse Diseases / prevention & control
- Horses
- Insulin Resistance / physiology
- Obesity / complications
- Obesity / prevention & control
- Obesity / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 17 times.- Uldahl M, Dahl J, Clayton HM. Body Condition Score in Danish Horses Related to Type, Use, and Training Level: Patterns, Risk, and Protective Factors.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 31;13(7).
- Busechian S, Turini L, Sgorbini M, Pieramati C, Pisello L, Orvieto S, Rueca F. Are Horse Owners Able to Estimate Their Animals' Body Condition Score and Cresty Neck Score?. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 3;9(10).
- Sayyar A, Oladi M, Hosseini M, Nakhaee S, Ataie Z, Farrokhfall K. Effect of red beetroot juice on oxidative status and islet insulin release in adult male rats.. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2022 Apr 23;14(1):58.
- Potter SJ, Bamford NJ, Baskerville CL, Harris PA, Bailey SR. Comparison of Feed Digestibility between Ponies, Standardbreds and Andalusian Horses Fed Three Different Diets.. Vet Sci 2021 Dec 31;9(1).
- Daradics Z, Crecan CM, Rus MA, Morar IA, Mircean MV, Cu0103toi AF, Cecan AD, Cu0103toi C. Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction in Dairy Cows and Horses: Comparison to Human Metabolic Syndrome.. Life (Basel) 2021 Dec 16;11(12).
- Vasco ACCM, Brinkley-Bissinger KJ, Bobel JM, Dubeux JCB, Warren LK, Wickens CL. Digestibility and nitrogen and water balance in horses fed rhizoma peanut hay.. J Anim Sci 2021 Nov 1;99(11).
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- Morrison PK, Newbold CJ, Jones E, Worgan HJ, Grove-White DH, Dugdale AH, Barfoot C, Harris PA, Argo CM. Effect of age and the individual on the gastrointestinal bacteriome of ponies fed a high-starch diet.. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0232689.
- Bamford NJ, Potter SJ, Baskerville CL, Harris PA, Bailey SR. Influence of dietary restriction and low-intensity exercise on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in obese equids.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan;33(1):280-286.
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- Suagee JK, Corl BA, Geor RJ. A Potential Role for Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in the Development of Insulin Resistance in Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2012 May 2;2(2):243-60.
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