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Effect of dietary medium chain triacylglycerols on plasma triacylglycerol levels in horses.
Abstract: The hypothesis tested was that the feeding of medium chain triacylglycerols (MCT) to horses would raise the level of plasma triacylglycerols by increasing the availability of glucose as lipogenic substrate, implying that the MCT effect would be greater with glucose in the diet instead of cellulose. A Latin square experiment was carried out with 4 horses and 4 dietary treatments. The experimental periods lasted 21 d. Blood samples were taken 16 h after feeding. The diets consisted of hay and experimental concentrates, differing in fat source (MCT or soybean oil) and carbohydrate source (corn starch plus glucose or cellulose). The dietary variables, MCT or soybean oil, provided on average 27% of total dietary net energy, while glucose plus constarch or cellulose provided 33%. The feeding of MCT versus soybean oil raised the level of plasma triacylglycerols significantly from 196.7 +/- 30.2 to 427.3 +/- 85.7 mmol/l and that of VLDL cholesterol from 0.028 +/- 0.01 to 0.069 +/- 0.01 mmol/ml. As based on analysis of variance, for the four experimental diets there was no significant effect of carbohydrate source and no fat-carbohydrate interaction. Thus, the hypothesis was rejected. When the diets contained soybean oil, cellulose versus starch plus glucose produced significantly greater increase plasma triacylglycerols. This carbohydrate effect was not seen when horses were fed the MCT diets. The experimental concentrates did not differently influence the concentrations of plasma glucose, total serum cholesterol, phospholipids, insulin, free fatty acids and the activity of post-heparin lipoprotein lipase. We suggest that the MCT-induced increase in plasma triacylglycerols is related to an increase in hepatic VLDL secretion, with the extra substrate for increased synthesis of triacylglycerols being the acetyl-CoA derived from the hepatic oxidation of medium chain fatty acids.
Publication Date: 2002-02-20 PubMed ID: 11851023DOI: 10.1080/17450390109381974Google 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.
- Journal Article
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 project aimed to establish if feeding horses medium chain triacylglycerols (MCT) would increase plasma triacylglycerol levels by enhancing the availability of glucose for fat creation. Findings demonstrated feeding horses MCT versus soybean oil did increase plasma triacylglycerol levels, however, no significant impacts were observed from the source of carbohydrates in the diets.
Research Method
This study followed a Latin Square experimental design, involving four horses and four different dietary treatments. Each experimental period lasted for 21 days. Blood samples were taken from the horses 16 hours after feeding. The diets were made up of hay and experimental concentrates which varied in fat source (either MCT or soybean oil) and carbohydrate source (either corn starch plus glucose or cellulose).
- The dietary variables, either MCT or soybean oil, accounted for around 27% of the total dietary net energy.
- The carbohydrate sources, either glucose plus corn starch or cellulose, provided 33%.
Findings
The study found that feeding MCT instead of soybean oil raised the plasma triacylglycerol levels significantly. However, results also showed that the source of carbohydrates in the diets had no significant effect. There was also no observed impact regarding the interaction between fat and carbohydrates. As a result, the initial hypothesis of the study was rejected.
Specific Results
- Feeding horses a diet containing soybean oil paired with cellulose instead of starch plus glucose produced a greater increase in plasma triacylglycerols.
- This carbohydrate effect was not observed when horses were fed MCT diets.
The researchers found that the experimental concentrates did not significantly impact the levels of other elements in the horses’ blood such as glucose, total serum cholesterol, phospholipids, insulin, and free fatty acids, as well as the activity of post-heparin lipoprotein lipase.
Potential Explanation for the Results
The researchers suggest that the MCT-induced increase in plasma triacylglycerols could be due to an increase in hepatic VLDL secretion, with additional substrate for increased synthesis of triacylglycerols coming from the acetyl-CoA derived from the hepatic oxidation of medium chain fatty acids.
Cite This Article
APA
Hallebeek JM, Beynen AC.
(2002).
Effect of dietary medium chain triacylglycerols on plasma triacylglycerol levels in horses.
Arch Tierernahr, 54(2), 159-171.
https://doi.org/10.1080/17450390109381974 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.152, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands. halleb@vet.uu.nl
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Cellulose / metabolism
- Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
- Dietary Fats / metabolism
- Female
- Horses / metabolism
- Lipid Metabolism
- Male
- Triglycerides / administration & dosage
- Triglycerides / blood
Citations
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