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Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in horses and ponies fed a high fat diet, with or without a once daily high glycaemic meal.
Abstract: The relative influences of obesity and adaptation to high glycaemic diets on the development of insulin dysregulation in equids are unclear. Objective: To determine whether increased adiposity per se is responsible for the decreased insulin sensitivity often observed in obese horses or whether a dietary glycaemic response is critically important. Methods: Randomised controlled trial. Methods: Eighteen horses and ponies were studied over a 20-week period. They received ad libitum hay plus either a high fat (low glycaemic) diet (FAT; n = 6) or a similar (isocaloric) diet containing 1.5 g/kg bwt once daily glucose (GLU; n = 6) to induce obesity. A third group received a control ration (CON; n = 6). Adiposity was monitored using body condition score (BCS) and total body fat mass percentage (TBFM) determined using a deuterium oxide dilution technique. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using a frequently sampled i.v. glucose tolerance test. Plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and serum amyloid A (SAA) were measured. Results: The FAT and GLU groups became obese (BCS ≥7) whereas the CON group maintained moderate condition (BCS ≤6). Total body fat mass and leptin concentrations were increased in the FAT and GLU groups than in the CON group (P<0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively). Values for both insulin-dependent (SI) and insulin-independent (Sg) glucose disposal were higher in the GLU group compared with the FAT and CON groups (P = 0.006 and P = 0.03, respectively). There were no differences in adiponectin, TNF-α or SAA between groups (all P≥0.4). Conclusions: Increased adiposity did not reduce insulin sensitivity in either the FAT or the GLU diet groups, suggesting that obesity per se might not be responsible for the lower SI values reported in previous studies. Contrary to expectations, once daily glucose appeared to increase insulin sensitivity. Further work is required into the dietary causes of insulin resistance in equids.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-05-13 PubMed ID: 25726948DOI: 10.1111/evj.12434Google 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
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study explores the impact of obesity and high-glycaemic diets on horses’ insulin regulation. The research found that increased body fat as a result of a high-fat diet didn’t significantly reduce insulin sensitivity, suggesting other factors may contribute to insulin dysregulation in equines.
Study Design and Methods
- This experiment was a Randomised controlled trial, a type of scientific experiment known for producing high-quality evidence due to its design.
- Held over a span of 20-weeks, 18 horses and ponies participated.
- Three separate feedings were administered. The first was a high-fat low glycaemic diet (FAT), the second was the same but with added daily glucose (GLU), and the third acted as a control ration (CON).
- Assessment of adiposity, which is the level of fat accumulation in the body, was done using body condition score (BCS) and total body fat mass percentage (TBFM) determined by deuterium oxide dilution technique.
- Insulin sensitivity was gauged through a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.
- Various plasma concentrations were measured including glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and serum amyloid A (SAA).
Results of The Study
- The FAT and GLU groups became obese while the CON group maintained a moderate condition.
- Comparatively, total body fat mass and leptin concentrations were increased in the FAT and GLU groups than in the CON group.
- The pace of glucose disposal, both insulin-dependent (SI) and insulin-independent (Sg), was higher in the GLU group compared to the FAT and CON groups, indicating an increased insulin sensitivity.
- No substantial differences were noted in concentrations of adiponectin, TNF-α, or SAA across the groups.
Conclusions Drawn from the Study
- The research reveals that increased adiposity did not lower insulin sensitivity in either group fed with high fat (FAT) diet or the diet with added daily glucose (GLU). This suggests that obesity itself might not lead to decreased insulin sensitivity as previously believed.
- Additionally, surprisingly, a once-daily glucose intake seemed to enhance insulin sensitivity.
- The research encourages further studies focusing on dietary causes of insulin resistance in horses and ponies.
Cite This Article
APA
Bamford NJ, Potter SJ, Harris PA, Bailey SR.
(2015).
Effect of increased adiposity on insulin sensitivity and adipokine concentrations in horses and ponies fed a high fat diet, with or without a once daily high glycaemic meal.
Equine Vet J, 48(3), 368-373.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12434 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
- Equine Studies Group, WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Melton Mowbray, UK.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Adipokines / genetics
- Adipokines / metabolism
- Adiposity / drug effects
- Adiposity / physiology
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Blood Glucose
- Diet / veterinary
- Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
- Dietary Fats / adverse effects
- Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
- Glycemic Index
- Horses / metabolism
- Insulin Resistance / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Akinniyi OO, Sackey AKB, Ochube GE, Mshelia PW, Musa FA, Elijah MO, Jolayemi KO. Occurrence of equine metabolic syndrome, clinical manifestations, and associated risk factors in Nigeria.. J Equine Sci 2023 Jun;34(2):29-35.
- Kinsella HM, Hostnik LD, Snyder HA, Mazur SE, Kamr AM, Burns TA, Mossbarger JC, Toribio RE. Comparison of insulin sensitivity between healthy neonatal foals and horses using minimal model analysis.. PLoS One 2022;17(1):e0262584.
- Hicks GR, Fraser NS, Bertin FR. Changes Associated with the Peri-Ovulatory Period, Age and Pregnancy in ACTH, Cortisol, Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Mares.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 20;11(3).
- Delarocque J, Frers F, Huber K, Feige K, Warnken T. Weight loss is linearly associated with a reduction of the insulin response to an oral glucose test in Icelandic horses.. BMC Vet Res 2020 May 24;16(1):151.
- d' Fonseca NMM, Gibson CME, van Doorn DA, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E. Effect of long-term overfeeding of a high-energy diet on glucose tolerance in Shetland pony mares.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 May;34(3):1339-1349.
- Norton E, Schultz N, Geor R, McFarlane D, Mickelson J, McCue M. Genome-Wide Association Analyses of Equine Metabolic Syndrome Phenotypes in Welsh Ponies and Morgan Horses.. Genes (Basel) 2019 Nov 6;10(11).
- Horn R, Bertin FR. Evaluation of combined testing to simultaneously diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and insulin dysregulation in horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2249-2256.
- Fitzgerald DM, Anderson ST, Sillence MN, de Laat MA. The cresty neck score is an independent predictor of insulin dysregulation in ponies.. PLoS One 2019;14(7):e0220203.
- Watts MR, Hegedus OC, Eades SC, Belknap JK, Burns TA. Association of sustained supraphysiologic hyperinsulinemia and inflammatory signaling within the digital lamellae in light-breed horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1483-1492.
- Durham AE, Frank N, McGowan CM, Menzies-Gow NJ, Roelfsema E, Vervuert I, Feige K, Fey K. ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):335-349.
- Robles M, Nouveau E, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lagofun B, Aubriu00e8re MC, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Viguiu00e9 C, Wimel L, Bouraima-Lelong H, Serteyn D, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age.. PLoS One 2018;13(1):e0190309.
- Frank N, Walsh DM. Repeatability of Oral Sugar Test Results, Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Measurements, and Serum High-Molecular-Weight Adiponectin Concentrations in Horses.. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Jul;31(4):1178-1187.
- Banse HE, Holbrook TC, Frank N, McFarlane D. Relationship of skeletal muscle inflammation with obesity and obesity-associated hyperinsulinemia in horses.. Can J Vet Res 2016 Jul;80(3):217-24.
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