Effect of diet on the oral glucose tolerance test in the horse.

The study investigates the impact of dietary changes over a week before conducting an oral glucose tolerance test on horses. It was observed that feeding horses with a diet of oat hay, commercial feed, and oat and alfalfa chaff resulted in noticeably lower glucose tolerance levels when compared to horses grazing on clover and kikuyu pasture.

Investigation into the Diet Effect on Glucose Tolerance Test

• The study was conducted on 7 horses to investigate how changes in diet during the week leading up to an oral glucose tolerance test could impact the results of the test. By observing any variations in oral glucose tolerance, the researchers aimed at understanding the ins and outs of small intestinal function in horses and how diet might play a role in it.

Observations and Results

• The study describes that horses which were fed a diet primarily composed of oat hay, a commercially prepared complete feed, and oat and alfalfa chaff showed considerably lower oral glucose tolerance test curves. This was in comparison to horses that were allowed to graze on clover and kikuyu pasture.
• Lower oral glucose tolerance test curves imply that horses on this specific diet had lower glucose tolerance compared to those grazing on pasture. In other words, the response to sugar intake was less optimal in these horses; they took more time or had difficulty processing the sugar compared to their counterparts.

Conclusions

• Based on the observations, the researchers drew the conclusion that when using the oral glucose tolerance test to assess small intestinal function in horses, it could be crucial to take into account the horses’ dietary history.
• The dietary regimen of the horses seems to have a significant effect on the results of the glucose tolerance test. As this test is used as a measure of how well the small intestine is functioning, especially in its role of nutrient (sugar) absorption and assimilation, the findings suggest that manipulations in the diet can have implications on the overall gut health and function.