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Equine veterinary journal2023; 56(2); 253-263; doi: 10.1111/evj.13983

Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed-breed cohort of ponies.

Abstract: Serum insulin concentration at 60 min (InsulinT60) during an oral sugar test (OST) indicates future laminitis risk and insulin dysregulation (ID). Associations between InsulinT60 and physical and owner-reported variables may help clinicians select individuals for ID testing. Associations between InsulinT60 and other metabolic markers may help elucidate ID pathophysiology. Objective: To describe associations between (A) season, physically-apparent and owner-reported factors and binary InsulinT60 interpretation (initial models) and (B) variables included in the initial models, other metabolic markers and continuous InsulinT60 (full models). Methods: Prospective longitudinal. Methods: Non-laminitic ponies were examined and OSTs (0.3 mL/kg Karo syrup) performed every 6 months (autumn and spring) for ≤4 years. Factors associated with InsulinT60 were determined using mixed-effects models with physical, owner-reported, season and serum/plasma markers as fixed effects and pony and premises identifiers as random effects. Autumn and spring data were analysed separately for full models. Results: One thousand seven hundred and sixty-three OSTs from 367 ponies were included. High-risk InsulinT60 (>153 μIU/mL) was independently associated with (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval [CI]): age (1.36, 1.16-1.60), body condition score (BCS) (2.38, 1.21-4.69), and bulging supraorbital fatpads (7.25, 2.1-24.98). However, the initial models provided little explanatory power (Nakagawa R2  = 0.1-0.27). LoginsulinT60 was independently associated with (effect estimate, 95% CI): age (0.02, 0.01-0.04), Welsh/Welsh X breed (0.22, 0.05, 0.39), sex (gelding = -0.2, -0.34 to 0.06), BCS (0.16, 0.08-0.23), plasma adiponectin (-0.02, -0.02 to 0.01) and basal insulin (0.01, 0.01-0.01) in spring, and: age (0.03, 0.02-0.04), BCS (0.17, 0.08-0.26), bulging supraorbital fatpads (0.37, 0.2-0.54), turnout score (0.05, 0.02-0.09), plasma adiponectin (-0.01, -0.02 to 0.01), ACTH (per 10 pg/mL) (0.01, 0.00-0.01), triglycerides (0.28, 0.07-0.49) and InsulinT0 (0.01, 0.01-0.01) in autumn. Conclusions: Only non-laminitic ponies in one region were included. Conclusions: Owner-reported and physically-apparent data were limited InsulinT60 predictors. InsulinT60 is a complex trait, independently associated with numerous variables, some with seasonal interactions.
© 2023 Mars Horsecare and The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-22 PubMed ID: 37606314DOI: 10.1111/evj.13983Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The study explores the factors linked to insulin responses to oral sugars in ponies, with a focus on serum insulin concentration at 60 minutes. Identifying these factors aids clinicians in selecting individuals for testing of insulin dysregulation and understanding its pathophysiology.

Research Design and Methods

  • The researchers carried out a prospective longitudinal study on non-laminitic ponies for as long as four years.
  • These ponies were examined and subjected to oral sugar tests (OSTs) every six months – during the autumn and spring seasons.
  • Research variables including physical characteristics, owner-reported data, seasonality, and serum/plasma markers were used as fixed effects in mixed-effects models.
  • Pony and premises identifiers were used as random effects.

Findings and Results

  • A total of 1,763 OSTs from 367 ponies were analysed.
  • Risk-insulin concentration (InsulinT60 >153 μIU/mL) was associated independently with the ponies’ age, their body condition score (BCS), and the presence of bulging supraorbital fat pads.
  • However, the initial models provided minimal explanatory power as indicated by the Nakagawa R ranging from 0.1-0.27.
  • In spring, the logarithm of insulin concentration at 60 min (LoginsulinT60) was independently associated with age, Welsh/Welsh X breed, sex, BCS, plasma adiponectin, and basal insulin.
  • In autumn, LoginsulinT60 was independently associated with age, BCS, bulging supraorbital fatpads, turnout score, plasma adiponectin, ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), triglycerides, and InsulinT0 (initial insulin concentration).

Conclusions

  • The research only included non-laminitic ponies in one region, limiting the generalisation of the results.
  • Data provided by the ponies’ owners and physically apparent characteristics were found to be limited predictors of the ponies’ insulin responses to oral sugars.
  • InsulinT60 was determined to be a complex trait associated independently with numerous variables, some of which displayed seasonal interactions.

Cite This Article

APA
Knowles EJ, Harris PA, Elliott J, Chang YM, Menzies-Gow NJ. (2023). Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed-breed cohort of ponies. Equine Vet J, 56(2), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13983

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 2
Pages: 253-263

Researcher Affiliations

Knowles, Edward J
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.
  • Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Kent, UK.
Harris, Patricia A
  • Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, UK.
Elliott, Jonathan
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Chang, Yu-Mei
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, UK.
Menzies-Gow, Nicola J
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Animals
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Sugars
  • Adiponectin
  • Prospective Studies
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Horse Diseases

Grant Funding

  • Royal Veterinary College from the Mellon Trust
  • Mars Petcare

References

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