Effects of exercise training on adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and plasma hormone and lipid concentrations in overweight or obese, insulin-resistant horses.
Abstract: To determine effects of exercise training without dietary restriction on adiposity, basal hormone and lipid concentrations and glucose and insulin dynamics in overweight or obese, insulin-resistant horses. Methods: 12 overweight or obese (body condition score > or = 7), insulin-resistant (insulin sensitivity < or = 1.2 x 10(-4) L/min/mU) geldings. Methods: 4 horses remained sedentary, and 8 horses were exercised for 4 weeks at low intensity and 4 weeks at higher intensity, followed by 2 weeks of detraining. Prior to and after each training period, frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance tests with minimal model analysis were performed and baseline plasma insulin, glucose, triglycerides, non-esterified fatty acids, and leptin concentrations were analyzed. Adiposity was assessed by use of morphometrics, ultrasonic subcutaneous fat thickness, and estimation of fat mass from total body water (deuterium dilution method). Results: Body weight and fat mass decreased by 4% (mean +/- SD, 20 +/- 8 kg) and 34% (32 +/- 9 kg), respectively, compared with pre-exercise values, with similar losses during low- and higher-intensity training. There was no effect of exercise training on subcutaneous fat thickness, plasma hormone and lipid concentrations, or minimal model parameters of glucose and insulin dynamics. Conclusions: Results suggested that moderate exercise training without concurrent dietary restriction does not mitigate insulin resistance in overweight or obese horses. A more pronounced reduction in adiposity or higher volume or intensity of exercise may be necessary for improvement in insulin sensitivity in such horses.
Publication Date: 2010-03-02 PubMed ID: 20187833DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.71.3.314Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper focuses on the impact of exercise training, without any dietary changes, on aspects such as fatness, hormone levels, and insulin sensitivity in overweight or insulin-resistant horses.
Objective and Methodology
- The objective of this research paper was to investigate the effects of exercise training on different factors, such as the level of fatness, baseline hormone and lipid concentrations, and the dynamics of glucose and insulin in overweight or obese and insulin-resistant horses. The purpose was to judge whether physical training can improve the condition of such horses.
- 12 overweight or obese geldings with an insulin sensitivity measure less than or equal to 1.2 x 10-4 L/min/mU were selected for this study. 4 horses remained sedentary to serve as a control group, while the other 8 horses underwent a training routine:
- The training was divided into two phases. The first 4 weeks consisted of low-intensity exercises while the following 4 weeks comprised higher-intensity activities. After eight weeks of training, they were rested for two weeks.
- Before and after each training period, IV glucose tolerance tests were performed, and baseline insulin, glucose, triglycerides, non-binding fatty acids, and leptin levels were analyzed. Measurements were also taken regarding the horse’s body shape, the thickness of subcutaneous fat, and estimation of the total body fat.
Findings
- The results showed that there was around a 4% decrease in body weight and about a 34% reduction in fat mass compared to the pre-exercise values. The losses were similar during both the low- and high-intensity training phases.
- However, the exercise training did not show any significant effect on the thickness of subcutaneous fat, plasma hormone and lipid concentrations, or glucose and insulin dynamics.
Conclusions
- The research concluded that moderate exercise training alone, without any concurrent dietary restrictions, does not mitigate insulin resistance for overweight or obese horses.
- The paper suggests that combining the exercise with a more pronounced reduction in adiposity (fatness), or resorting to a higher volume or intensity of exercise might be necessary to improve insulin sensitivity in such horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Carter RA, McCutcheon LJ, Valle E, Meilahn EN, Geor RJ.
(2010).
Effects of exercise training on adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and plasma hormone and lipid concentrations in overweight or obese, insulin-resistant horses.
Am J Vet Res, 71(3), 314-321.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.71.3.314 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech and University of Maryland, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. carterre@vet.upenn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Adipose Tissue / anatomy & histology
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / metabolism
- Body Weight
- Hormones / blood
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Insulin / blood
- Insulin Resistance / physiology
- Lipids / blood
- Longitudinal Studies
- Male
- Neck / anatomy & histology
- Obesity / rehabilitation
- Obesity / veterinary
- Orchiectomy
- Overweight / rehabilitation
- Overweight / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / methods
- Weight Loss / physiology
Citations
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