Feeding status affects glucose metabolism in exercising horses.
Abstract: Four standardbred horses were used in a Latin square design experiment to evaluate the effects of feeding status on metabolic response to exercise. Horses were deprived of food overnight and then fed 0 (control condition), 1, 2 or 3 kg of corn grain approximately 2.5-3 h before exercise. The exercise test consisted of a warm-up phase (heart rate mean = 144 beats/min) followed by 800 m of walking and then a high intensity work bout for 1600 m (heart rate mean = 206 beats/min). All tests were conducted on a high speed equine treadmill on which the horses had been previously conditioned. During exercise, the control treatment resulted in steady plasma glucose concentrations, whereas all other treatments (1, 2 or 3 kg corn) caused a decline in plasma glucose. Liver glycogen concentration was decreased by exercise in the horses only when they received the control treatment. Plasma lactate concentration was increased by exercise but was not affected by feeding state. Plasma free fatty acid concentrations were highest when the horses received the control treatment. In addition, when horses received the control treatment, plasma free fatty acid concentrations decreased during the warm-up and high intensity phases of the test and increased during the walk phase. Free fatty acid concentrations changed in the horses receiving 1, 2 or 3 kg of corn grain only during the high intensity phase of the exercise test. Feeding status affects the metabolic response of horses to exercise thus further studies are necessary to evaluate the effect of feeding status on exercise performance.
Publication Date: 1993-12-01 PubMed ID: 8263610DOI: 10.1093/jn/123.12.2152Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research studied how feeding status impacts the metabolic response to exercise in horses, particularly their glucose metabolism. The experiment involved monitoring blood glucose levels and other metabolic changes in horses subjected to different pre-exercise feeding conditions and exercise intensities.
Study Design and Procedure
- The study involved four standardbred horses. The methodology was based on a Latin square design, a type of experimental design commonly used in studies requiring controlled conditions.
- The horses were kept without food overnight and then fed either 0 kg (control condition), 1kg, 2kg, or 3kg of corn grain approximately 2.5 – 3 hours ahead of the exercise regime.
- The workout session involved a warm-up phase, followed by an 800 m walk, and a high-intensity bout of exercise for 1600m.
- Such tests were carried out on a high-speed equine treadmill to which the horses had previously been conditioned.
Main Findings
- During the exercise, the control treatment (no food) resulted in consistent plasma glucose levels. In contrast, horses fed with any amount of corn grain saw a decrease in their plasma glucose levels during exercise.
- Exercise led to depleted liver glycogen (a form of stored glucose) concentrations, but only in horses from the control group (no pre-exercise feeding).
- Exercise also caused a rise in plasma lactate (a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism) concentration, irrespective of the feeding status.
- The plasma free fatty acid concentrations (indicator of fat metabolism) were highest amongst horses that received the control treatment. Concentrations of these fatty acids fluctuated during different exercise phases, specifically decreasing during warm-up and high-intensity phases, then increasing during the walking phase.
- These fatty acid levels changed only during the high-intensity phase in horses fed with 1, 2 or 3 kg of corn grain.
Conclusion and Need for Further Studies
- The study concluded that feeding status does impact the horse’s metabolic response to exercise, particularly glucose metabolism.
- However, to fully comprehend the implications of this impact on exercise performance, more in-depth studies are deemed necessary.
Cite This Article
APA
Lawrence L, Soderholm LV, Roberts A, Williams J, Hintz H.
(1993).
Feeding status affects glucose metabolism in exercising horses.
J Nutr, 123(12), 2152-2157.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/123.12.2152 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Science, New York State College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Dietary Carbohydrates / metabolism
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Fatty Acids / blood
- Female
- Glucose / metabolism
- Glycogen / metabolism
- Horses / metabolism
- Lactates / blood
- Liver Glycogen / metabolism
- Male
- Muscles / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Zea mays
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Yang X, Huang G, Xu MJ, Zhang C, Cheng Y, Yang Z. Cloning and functional characterization of the DA2 receptor gene in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis). PLoS One 2018;13(3):e0193999.
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