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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / Effect of long-term overfeeding of a high-energy diet on glu...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(3); 1339-1349; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15788

Effect of long-term overfeeding of a high-energy diet on glucose tolerance in Shetland pony mares.

Abstract: Overfeeding is associated with obesity and insulin dysregulation (ID), which are both risk factors for equine metabolic syndrome. How chronic overfeeding affects development of these factors is poorly understood. Objective: To examine the influence of long-term high-energy diet provision on body condition and ID. Methods: Eleven Shetland pony mares. Methods: In a 3-phase study, the high-energy group (n = 7) was fed 200% of net energy (NE) requirements (hay; concentrate: 36% sugar and starch, 13% fat) for 24 weeks, followed by 17 weeks hay-only feeding before resuming the high-energy diet (n = 4) for an additional 29 weeks. Mares were weighed weekly. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed 3 to 4 times per dietary period. Results were compared with those of a control group (phase 1, n = 4; phases 2 and 3, n = 6) that received 100% NE requirements, using a general linear mixed model with post hoc Bonferroni testing. Results: The mean body weight of the high-energy group increased by 27% per high-energy feeding period. During both feeding periods, area under the curve (AUC) for plasma glucose concentration decreased (P < .01), whereas AUC for plasma insulin concentration increased. Mean basal plasma glucose concentration and peak plasma insulin concentrations were higher (P < .05) in the high-energy group than in the control group. Conclusions: Feeding a high-energy diet to healthy nonobese Shetland pony mares led to more efficient glucose metabolism within 5 weeks, followed by significant hyperinsulinemia and obesity. Hyperinsulinemic status was reversed during 17 weeks of hay-only feeding, regardless of body condition, but returned rapidly after restarting the high-energy diet.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-05-06 PubMed ID: 32374454PubMed Central: PMC7255650DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15788Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research investigates the effect of continuously feeding a high-energy diet to Shetland pony mares, observing that it leads to increased weight and altered glucose metabolism, potentially contributing to equine metabolic syndrome.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The main purpose of this research was to study the influence of prolonged provision of a high-energy diet on the body condition and insulin dysregulation of Shetland pony mares, both of which are risk factors for equine metabolic syndrome.
  • The study employed a three-phase protocol. A high-energy group of seven mares was fed twice the normal energy requirements for 24 weeks, followed by 17 weeks of hay-only feed. Subsequently, they resumed the high-energy diet for another 29 weeks.
  • Each mare was weighed weekly and subjected to oral glucose tolerance tests three to four times per dietary period.
  • The data collected from the high-energy group was compared to a control group of ponies who were fed a diet that met 100% of their energy requirements. Statistical analysis was performed using a general linear mixed model with post hoc Bonferroni testing.

Results Summary

  • Significant increase in weight and alterations in glucose metabolism were observed in the high-energy group. On average, the body weight in this group increased by 27% per high-energy feeding period.
  • The area under the curve (AUC) for plasma glucose concentration decreased in the high-energy group; however, the AUC for plasma insulin concentration increased, indicating efficient glucose metabolism but a heightened insulin response.
  • Baseline plasma glucose and peak plasma insulin concentrations were significantly higher in the high-energy group than in the control group.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that providing a high-energy diet to healthy non-obese Shetland pony mares resulted in more efficient glucose metabolism within five weeks. It was followed by significant obesity and hyperinsulinemia, which is an excess of insulin in the blood.
  • Interestingly, the hyperinsulinemic status was reversed during the 17 weeks of hay-only feeding, indicating a potential mitigation strategy.
  • However, the hyperinsulinemia returned swiftly when the high-energy diet was restarted, suggesting that continuous overfeeding can have long-term detrimental effects on the health and metabolism of Shetland pony mares.

Cite This Article

APA
d' Fonseca NMM, Gibson CME, van Doorn DA, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E. (2020). Effect of long-term overfeeding of a high-energy diet on glucose tolerance in Shetland pony mares. J Vet Intern Med, 34(3), 1339-1349. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15788

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 3
Pages: 1339-1349

Researcher Affiliations

d' Fonseca, Nicky M M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Gibson, Charlotte M E
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
van Doorn, David A
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
  • Division of Nutrition, Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
de Ruijter-Villani, Marta
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Stout, Tom A E
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Roelfsema, Ellen
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Feed / analysis
  • Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose
  • Body Weight
  • Diet / adverse effects
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Female
  • Glucose / metabolism
  • Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Hyperinsulinism / veterinary
  • Insulin / blood
  • Obesity / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • 317146 / FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions
  • PAVO

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Lopes A, Huber L, Durham AE. The Seasonality of Serum Insulin Concentrations in Equids and the Association With Breed, Age, and Sex. J Vet Intern Med 2025 May-Jun;39(3):e70089.
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  2. Pratt-Phillips S. Effect of Exercise Conditioning on Countering the Effects of Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Horses-A Review. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 26;14(5).
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  3. 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.
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  4. Hallman I, Karikoski N, Kareskoski M. The effects of obesity and insulin dysregulation on mare reproduction, pregnancy, and foal health: a review. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1180622.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1180622pubmed: 37152686google scholar: lookup
  5. Pratt-Phillips S, Munjizun A. Impacts of Adiposity on Exercise Performance in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Feb 14;13(4).
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  6. D' Fonseca NMM, Gibson CME, van Doorn DA, Roelfsema E, de Ruijter-Villani M, Stout TAE. Effect of Overfeeding Shetland Pony Mares on Embryonic Glucose and Lipid Accumulation, and Expression of Imprinted Genes. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 26;11(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11092504pubmed: 34573470google scholar: lookup
  7. D' Fonseca NMM, Beukers M, Wijnberg ID, Navas de Solis C, de Ruijter-Villani M, van Doorn DA, Stout TAE, Roelfsema E. Effect of a long-term high-energy diet on cardiovascular parameters in Shetland pony mares. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Sep;35(5):2427-2436.
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  8. D'Fonseca NMM, Gibson CME, Hummel I, van Doorn DA, Roelfsema E, Stout TAE, van den Broek J, de Ruijter-Villani M. Overfeeding Extends the Period of Annual Cyclicity but Increases the Risk of Early Embryonic Death in Shetland Pony Mares. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 1;11(2).
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