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Journal of animal science2010; 89(1); 77-83; doi: 10.2527/jas.2010-3108

Dietary supplementation with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses.

Abstract: Obesity and insulin resistance are risk factors for laminitis in horses and ponies, and diet can play an important role in modulating these risk factors. Dietary supplementation with prebiotic fibers, such as short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS), has resulted in improvement of insulin sensitivity in obese dogs and rodents. Thus, we hypothesized that scFOS may reduce insulin resistance in obese horses and designed a study to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with scFOS on insulin sensitivity. Eight mature Arabian geldings (BW = 523.0 ± 56.5 kg) with an average BCS of 8 were included in a crossover study. In each period, 4 horses were provided 45 g/d per horse of maltodextrin (control) and 4 horses received the same amount of scFOS for 6 wk, with a 3-wk washout between periods. Resting plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and leptin were measured. Minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test was used to evaluate insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, acute insulin response to glucose, and disposition index. Without affecting BW and BCS, dietary supplementation with scFOS increased (P < 0.05) insulin sensitivity and reduced (P < 0.05) acute insulin response to glucose in comparison with maltodextrin but did not alter (P > 0.05) glucose effectiveness and disposition index. Resting serum insulin concentration also was reduced (P < 0.05) by scFOS supplementation but not by maltodextrin (P > 0.05). There was no effect (P > 0.05) of scFOS supplementation on plasma glucose or serum triglyceride and leptin concentrations. This study demonstrated that scFOS can moderately improve insulin sensitivity of obese horses, a finding that has potential relevance to the dietary management of obese, insulin-resistant horses at increased risk for laminitis.
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Publication Date: 2010-09-24 PubMed ID: 20870952DOI: 10.2527/jas.2010-3108Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

This research explores the effects of dietary supplementation with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) on insulin sensitivity in obese horses, discovering that scFOS can moderately improve insulin sensitivity without affecting body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS).

Study Design and Methods

  • The study involved eight mature Arabian geldings (horses) with an average Body Condition Score of 8, implying they were obese.
  • This was a crossover study, meaning each horse would receive both the treatment (scFOS) and the control (maltodextrin) at different periods, separated by a 3-week ‘washout’ period to avoid carryover effects from the previous treatment.
  • Dietary supplementation for each group of four horses was 45 grams daily per horse of either scFOS or maltodextrin, supplied for 6 weeks.

Measurement Parameters

  • Blood tests were conducted to measure resting plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and leptin.
  • The research team used a minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test to evaluate insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, acute insulin response to glucose, and disposition index.

Key Findings

  • Dietary supplementation with scFOS improved insulin sensitivity and lowered the acute insulin response to glucose compared to maltodextrin, without affecting body weight (BW) and body condition score (BCS).
  • The resting serum insulin concentration was also reduced following scFOS supplementation, which was not observed in the maltodextrin group.
  • However, scFOS supplementation did not significantly alter glucose effectiveness, leptin, and triglyceride levels, nor the disposition index.
  • The study found no significant effects of scFOS supplementation on plasma glucose concentration or serum triglyceride and leptin concentrations.

Conclusion and Relevance

  • This study indicated that short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) can improve insulin sensitivity in obese horses, which could have implications for obese, insulin-resistant horses at a higher risk for laminitis, a painful inflammatory condition of the tissues (laminae) that bond the hoof wall to the pedal (coffin) bone in the horse’s hoof.

Cite This Article

APA
Respondek F, Myers K, Smith TL, Wagner A, Geor RJ. (2010). Dietary supplementation with short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides improves insulin sensitivity in obese horses. J Anim Sci, 89(1), 77-83. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-3108

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 89
Issue: 1
Pages: 77-83

Researcher Affiliations

Respondek, F
  • SYRAL, 67390 Marckolsheim, France. Frederique.respondek@syral.com
Myers, K
    Smith, T L
      Wagner, A
        Geor, R J

          MeSH Terms

          • Animal Feed / analysis
          • Animals
          • Blood Glucose
          • Cross-Over Studies
          • Diet / veterinary
          • Dietary Supplements
          • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
          • Horses
          • Insulin / blood
          • Insulin Resistance / physiology
          • Leptin / blood
          • Male
          • Obesity / veterinary
          • Oligosaccharides / chemistry
          • Oligosaccharides / pharmacology
          • Triglycerides / blood

          Citations

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