Glucose homeostasis and the enteroinsular axis in the horse: a possible role in equine metabolic syndrome.

This study closely examines the roles played by impaired glucose homeostasis and the enteroinsular axis in the manifestation of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), with a particular focus on the reciprocal relationship between hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance.

Overview of Glucose and Insulin Metabolism

• The study examines how glucose and insulin metabolism work in both normal and pathological conditions, specifically in relation to equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). EMS is characterized by hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance.
• It is an established fact that insulin resistance often precedes the onset of hyperinsulinaemia. However, the study emphasizes that hyperinsulinaemia can also lead to insulin resistance and obesity, thereby playing a crucial role in the development of EMS.

Role of Diet and the Enteroinsular Axis

• The research delves into the effects of dietary intake on the functioning of the enteroinsular axis – a physiological process that triggers insulin release in response to food ingestion.
• The study explores the role of the enteroinsular axis in the context of incretin hormone and subsequent postprandial insulin responses, and how these factors may influence EMS.

Glucose Handling by Different Body Tissues

• The paper also explores how different body tissues – such as the liver, muscles, and fat – handle glucose. This is crucial to understanding the development of insulin resistance, as the way these tissues process glucose can drastically impact insulin function.
• Impaired glucose handling by these tissues, leading to inefficient glucose use or storage, could contribute to insulin resistance and thus hyperinsulinaemia.

Understanding Insulin Production and Secretion in Relation to EMS

• Lastly, the review investigates how insulin is produced and secreted by the pancreas under both healthy and disturbed glucose homeostatic conditions.
• How the pancreas responds to changes in glucose homeostasis can provide important insights into how hyperinsulinaemia develops and its role in the onset of EMS.