Effects of low-dose oligofructose treatment administered via nasogastric intubation on induction of laminitis and associated alterations in glucose and insulin dynamics in horses.

The research investigates whether laminitis in horses can be introduced by administering oligofructose and assesses the changes in glucose and insulin levels before and after the treatment.

Study Overview

The study involved 19 adult horses treated with oligofructose (OF) in doses of either 5.0 g/kg or 7.5 g/kg of body weight. The treatment was delivered via nasogastric intubation, where a tube is inserted through the nose and into the stomach.

• The horses were divided into two groups. In Group A, eight horses were given 5.0 g/kg OF, and in Group B, four horses were given 7.5g/kg OF. Eight other horses were given water alone as a control.
• In order to gauge the glucose and insulin dynamics before and after treatment, the researchers took measurements of plasma glucose and serum insulin at different intervals. They also performed IV glucose tolerance tests and used the results to generate two measures: the Area under the glucose curve (AUCg) and Area under the Insulin curve (AUCi).

Study Findings

Findings illustrate that the administration of OF did indeed induce laminitis. Specifically, three out of eight horses in Group A and all four horses in Group B developed laminitis. Furthermore, significant treatment-time effects were detected with regard to resting plasma glucose concentrations and AUCg.

• The mean AUCg values at 24 and 48 hours were 34% and 32% higher, respectively, than at 0 hours in horses in group A. This indicates that their glucose levels grew significantly after the treatment.
• While changes in glucose dynamics were detected, there were no similar changes detected when it came to insulin dynamics. Neither resting serum insulin concentration nor AUCi showed any significant difference between the treatment groups.

Conclusion of the Study

The study found that laminitis in horses can indeed be induced by administering OF via nasogastric intubation. This administration also affected glucose dynamics in these horses, although it did not seem to have a similar impact on insulin dynamics.