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Equine veterinary journal2022; doi: 10.1111/evj.13910

Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse.

Abstract: Identifying intake levels of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) that limit the postprandial insulinaemic response in the insulin dysregulated (ID) horse may help reduce hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL) risk. Objective: To determine if ID horses have thresholds for pure sources of starch and sugar, above which there is an augmented insulin response. Methods: Randomised crossover experiment. Methods: Fourteen adult horses (6 ID and 8 noninsulin dysregulated, NID; matched for bodyweight) were randomly fed eight dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were formulated using a base of low-nonstructural carbohydrate pellet (LNSC; 0.04 g of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSCs)/kg bwt and 0.01 g of starch/kg bwt), to which pure sugar (dextrose) or starch (50:50 mix of waxy-maize and oat starch powder) sources were titrated to create diets with increasing amounts of either WSC (0.06-0.17 g WSC/kg bwt), or starch (0.03-0.1 g starch/kg bwt). Horses were fed each dietary treatment at a rate of 1 g/kg bwt once over 12 weeks. Serial blood samples were collected pre- and up to 240 min postprandially. Insulin was determined via RIA and diet analytes were determined via wet chemistry. Statistical analysis was performed with a mixed effect model. Positive incremental area under the curve for insulin (IAUCi) was calculated for all horses and dietary treatments. Results: There was no significant effect of diet in NID horses but diets with NSC >0.1 g/kg bwt produced an augmented response in ID horses compared with the LNSC (p 0.1 g/kg (p  0.1 g/kg Körpergewicht führte zu einer verstärkten Reaktion bei ID-Pferden im Vergleich zu LNSC (p  0.1 g/kg (p < 0.04). Offensichtliche Schwellenwerte für den Zusatz von Zucker und Stärke variierten. Unassigned: Ausgehend von dieser Studie, bei der zusätzliche reine Stärke- und Zuckerquellen verwendet wurden, scheinen ID-Pferde einen offensichtlichen Schwellenwert für NSV von etwa 0.1 g/kg Körpergewicht/Mahlzeit zu haben, oberhalb dessen im Vergleich zu NID-Pferden eine deutlich erhöhte Insulinreaktion zu beobachten ist.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-20 PubMed ID: 36537847DOI: 10.1111/evj.13910Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article explores the relationship between the intake of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) and insulin responses in horses, particularly insulin-dysregulated (ID) horses. The goal is to identify a threshold for starch and sugar intake in these ID horses, beyond which insulin responses are significantly increased. The results show that ID horses seem to have a threshold of about 0.1 grams of NSC per kilogram of body weight per meal.

Research methodology

  • The research was conducted via a randomized crossover experiment on 14 adult horses, 6 of which were insulin-dysregulated (ID) and 8 of which were non-insulin dysregulated (NID).
  • The horses were randomly fed eight dietary treatments which consisted of increasing amounts of either water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) or starch. This was formulated using a low-nonstructural carbohydrate pellet (LNSC) with added pure sugar (dextrose) or a 50:50 mix of waxy-maize and oat starch powder.
  • Data was collected over a period of 12 weeks, with horses being fed each dietary treatment at a rate of 1g/kg of body weight once.
  • Blood samples were collected both before and after meal intake, up to 240 minutes postprandially (after meal).

Research findings

  • For the non-insulin dysregulated (NID) horses, there wasn’t a significant effect of the diet on their insulin response.
  • However, for the insulin dysregulated (ID) horses, diets with NSC greater than 0.1 g/kg of body weight produced a considerably augmented response when compared with the LNSC diet.
  • The incremental area under the curve for insulin (IAUCi) of the ID horses was also significantly different to all NID IAUCi for diets with NSC greater than 0.1 g/kg.
  • Trends in the data also suggested that the apparent thresholds for the addition of sugar and starch in the diet varied.

Conclusion

  • The study reveals that insulin-dysregulated (ID) horses show a considerably higher insulin response when the NSC content of their diet exceeds approximately 0.1 g/kg of body weight per meal.
  • This suggests that maintaining NSC levels below this threshold could be an effective strategy in managing insulin dysregulation in horses and reducing the risk of conditions like hyperinsulinaemia-associated laminitis (HAL).

Cite This Article

APA
Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Caldwell Barker A, Adams A. (2022). Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13910

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Macon, Erica Lyn
  • 108 M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Harris, Patricia
  • Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, UK.
Bailey, Simon
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Caldwell Barker, Ashley
  • College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee, USA.
Adams, Amanda
  • Mars Equestrian™ Fellow, Department of Veterinary Science, M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Grant Funding

  • 3048113252 / MARS Horsecare

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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    doi: 10.3390/ani15091316pubmed: 40362130google scholar: lookup
  2. Palmer AT, Watts MR, Timko KJ, Pinnell EF, Keefer KA, Gorman O, Hostnik LD, Burns TA. Corticosteroid Administration Enhances the Glycemic, Insulinemic, and Incretin Responses to a High-Protein Mixed Meal in Adult Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e17305.
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  4. Michanek P, Bröjer J, Lilliehöök I, Fjordbakk CT, Löwgren M, Hedeland M, Bergquist J, Ekstrand C. Pharmacokinetics and Alterations in Glucose and Insulin Levels After a Single Dose of Canagliflozin in Healthy Icelandic Horses. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2025 Jan;48 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):41-49.
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