Glycemic index of cracked corn, oat groats and rolled barley in horses.
Abstract: Muscle glycogen synthesis depends on glucose availability. This study was undertaken to determine the glycemic and insulinemic response of horses to equal amounts of hydrolyzable carbohydrates (starch and sugar) in the form of one of three grain meals or intragastric administration of a glucose solution. In a randomized crossover design, seven horses were fed each of three grain meals (cracked corn, steamed oat groats, or rolled barley) or were infused intragastrically with glucose solution at 2 g of hydrolyzable carbohydrate (starch plus sugar) per kilogram of BW. The quantity of hydrolyzable carbohydrate ingested was not different among all treatments (P = 0.70). Plasma glucose concentration peaked in all four treatments by 1.5 to 2 h after feeding. Plasma glucose concentration remained higher than baseline in oat groats or barley-fed horses throughout 8 h, whereas plasma glucose returned to baseline by 5 to 6 h in corn-fed horses or after glucose administration. Meal consumption was slower in oat groats-fed horses than in corn-fed ones, which may confound the glycemic and insulinemic responses observed after grain feeding. Plasma glucose area under the curve (AUC) was 63% both in corn and oat groats and 57% in barley-fed horses compared with that of horses administered glucose (P = 0.13). Serum immunoreactive insulin concentration peaked between 2 and 3 h after feeding or glucose administration, and barley-fed horses had lower serum immunoreactive insulin concentration by 3 to 4 h than corn-fed horses or after glucose administration (P < 0.05). We conclude, in horses, ingestion of oat groats, corn, and barley result in similar plasma glucose AUC and, compared with the glycemic index of 100 as the glucose reference, corn, oat groats, and barley had a glycemic index of approximately 60.
Publication Date: 2004-09-28 PubMed ID: 15446479DOI: 10.2527/2004.8292623xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research explored how different types of grains, specifically cracked corn, oat groats, and rolled barley, affect the levels of glucose and insulin in horses. It concluded that all three grains resulted in comparable levels of plasma glucose and had a similar glycemic index of around 60.
Research Methods and Findings
- The authors performed this study by observing seven horses in a randomized crossover design. The experiment involved feeding the horses each of three grain meals, namely cracked corn, steamed oat groats, and rolled barley, or giving them a glucose solution through intragastric administration. Each meal or solution contained the same amount of hydrolyzable carbohydrates.
- The results indicated that the plasma glucose concentration increased to its peak in all four treatments within 1.5 to 2 hours after the horses had been fed. However, the glucose levels remained elevated above the baseline for a longer period (up to 8 hours) in horses fed with oat groats or barley, while in corn-fed horses or those administered with glucose, the glucose levels returned to baseline by 5 to 6 hours.
- The study noted that the horses consumed the oat groats meal slower than the corn meal, which might influence the glycemic and insulinemic responses after the grain feeding.
- In terms of the area under the plasma glucose curve (AUC), both the corn and oat groats meals resulted in a 63% glucose AUC, while the barley meal led to a slightly lower glucose AUC of 57%.
- The serum immunoreactive insulin concentration peaked between 2 and 3 hours after feeding or glucose administration, with the barley-fed horses showing lower serum insulin concentrations by 3 to 4 hours than the corn-fed horses or those administered with glucose.
Conclusions and Implications
- The findings suggest that the intake of cracked corn, oat groats, and rolled barley leads to comparable plasma glucose AUCs in horses, and intersect with the glycemic index benchmark of external glucose reference, at a glycemic index of around 60.
- This research is valuable as it provides insights into the impact of different types of grains on equine metabolism and can inform decisions about horse nutrition and feeding practices to optimize performance and health.
Cite This Article
APA
Jose-Cunilleras E, Taylor LE, Hinchcliff KW.
(2004).
Glycemic index of cracked corn, oat groats and rolled barley in horses.
J Anim Sci, 82(9), 2623-2629.
https://doi.org/10.2527/2004.8292623x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Ohio State University, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Columbus 43210, USA. jose-cunilleras.1@osu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Area Under Curve
- Avena
- Biological Availability
- Blood Glucose / drug effects
- Blood Glucose / metabolism
- Cross-Over Studies
- Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
- Dietary Carbohydrates / pharmacokinetics
- Female
- Glycemic Index
- Hordeum
- Horses / metabolism
- Hydrolysis
- Insulin / metabolism
- Male
- Postprandial Period
- Random Allocation
- Zea mays
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Spears JW, Lloyd KE, Siciliano P, Pratt-Phillips S, Goertzen EW, McLeod SJ, Moore J, Krafka K, Hyda J, Rounds W. Chromium propionate increases insulin sensitivity in horses following oral and intravenous carbohydrate administration. J Anim Sci 2020 Apr 1;98(4).
- Huang X, Li Q, Li X, Li C, Li J, He L, Jing H, Yang F, Li X. Effects of different grain types on nutrient apparent digestibility, glycemic responses, and fecal VFA content in weaned foals. BMC Vet Res 2025 Apr 14;21(1):273.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
