Effect of feeding glucose, fructose, and inulin on blood glucose and insulin concentrations in normal ponies and those predisposed to laminitis.

The research studied the insulin and blood glucose responses in normal ponies and those prone to laminitis disease, through feeding them with glucose, fructose, and inulin. The results suggest that monitoring peak insulin levels 2 hours after feeding ponies a single dose of glucose may aid in identifying those at a higher risk of developing laminitis, especially when they are adapted to eating fall pasture.

Research Topic

• The research focuses on identifying ponies that are at a higher risk for developing a disease called Laminitis.
• Insulin resistance, which is related to blood glucose control, has been suggested as a possible factor to identify such individuals.

Methodology

• The study involved seven normal ponies and five ponies that had previously had laminitis.
• These ponies were fed with the water-soluble carbohydrates glucose, fructose, and inulin for three days, and were also sometimes given no supplementary WSC (control).
• The experiment was conducted in both spring and fall, after a seven day period of allowing the ponies to adapt to a pasture or hay diet.
• Blood samples were taken over a 12 hour period after feeding, and readings were taken for glucose and insulin concentrations.
• Statistical analysis was undertaken using linear mixed models.

Results

• Peak glucose and insulin levels differed significantly after glucose feeding, especially between the normal and previously laminitic pony groups.
• These peaks were mostly observed 2 to 4 hours after feeding.
• Insulin levels were observed to be more variable and higher during the fall season, particularly amongst the ponies that had previously had laminitis and were adapted to fall pasture.
• However, basic glucose and insulin levels were not higher amongst the previously laminitic ponies than the normal ponies.
• Ponies that had laminitis showed higher insulin levels in response to the glucose and fructose feeding compared to normal ponies.

Conclusions

• The effects on blood glucose and insulin levels were lesser when the ponies were fed fructose rather than glucose.
• Feeding ponies inulin led to minimal changes in the glucose and insulin levels.
• The paper concludes by suggesting that tracking insulin levels two hours after feeding ponies a single dose of glucose could serve as an effective way of identifying ponies with a heightened risk of laminitis before they show clinical signs of the disease.