Improved insulin sensitivity in hyperinsulinaemic ponies through physical conditioning and controlled feed intake.
Abstract: Ten hyperinsulinaemic ponies divided into conditioned (N = 5) and rested (N = 5) groups were evaluated for their insulin and glucose response following oral glucose administration at Weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6. All ponies received a controlled intake of a pelleted ration during the study. In both groups body weight had decreased from baseline by Week 4 and remained low. After 2 weeks of exercise, ponies in the conditioned group had significantly decreased insulin and glucose indices, including peak insulin response, area under the insulin curve from 0 to 210 min (TIS), and the TIS value: area under the glucose curve from 0 to 210 min. By Week 4 of conditioning, although the insulin and glucose indices continued to decrease in the exercised ponies, there was no significant difference between the groups. Over the first 6 weeks of the study all ponies improved their insulin sensitivity accompanied by a loss of body weight. The conditioned ponies were further evaluated during deconditioning at Weeks 8, 10 and 12. The improved insulin sensitivity was maintained during deconditioning.
Publication Date: 1992-05-01 PubMed ID: 1606931DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02812.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research study explored the effect of physical conditioning and controlled feed intake on insulin sensitivity in hyperinsulinemic ponies. It concluded that both exercise and weight loss enhanced insulin sensitivity, which was sustained even during phases of deconditioning.
Study Design and Participants
- The study was comprised of ten hyperinsulinemic ponies. Hyperinsulinemia is a condition marked by high levels of insulin in the blood, which can lead to insulin resistance over time.
- These ponies were equally divided into two groups: a ‘conditioned’ group that underwent physical exercise training and a ‘rested’ group that did not engage in any exercise.
Methods
- All the ponies, regardless of the group, were served a pelleted ration in a controlled manner throughout the study.
- The study determined the insulin and glucose responses of these ponies following the administration of oral glucose. This evaluation was done regularly – at the beginning of the study (Week 0), and then at Weeks 2, 4, and 6.
Findings
- In both groups (the conditioned and the rested), a decrease in body weight was observed by Week 4 from the baseline and remained consistently low.
- After Week 2 of exercise conditioning, the trained ponies exhibited a significant decrease in their insulin and glucose indices. These include peak insulin response; total insulin secreted over time, represented by area under the insulin curve from 0 to 210 min (TIS); and the ratio of TIS to the area under the glucose curve from 0 to 210 min.
- However, by Week 4, despite the consistent decrease in insulin and glucose indices in the exercised ponies, there was no significant difference between both groups.
- By the 6th week of the study, regardless of being conditioned or rested, all ponies showed improved insulin sensitivity. This improvement was marked by a loss of body weight.
Additional Observations
- The study further evaluated the conditioned ponies during a ‘deconditioning’ phase at Weeks 8, 10, and 12, wherein they weren’t exposed to any physical exercise.
- Interestingly, the enhanced insulin sensitivity that was observed following the exercise conditioning was maintained even during this period of deconditioning.
Cite This Article
APA
Freestone JF, Beadle R, Shoemaker K, Bessin RT, Wolfsheimer KJ, Church C.
(1992).
Improved insulin sensitivity in hyperinsulinaemic ponies through physical conditioning and controlled feed intake.
Equine Vet J, 24(3), 187-190.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02812.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Body Weight
- Eating
- Female
- Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Hyperinsulinism / therapy
- Hyperinsulinism / veterinary
- Insulin / blood
- Insulin / metabolism
- Insulin Secretion
- Male
- Nutritional Status
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Lykkjen S, Stenbakk LK, Holmøy IH. Prevalence and risk factors for laminitis within the Norwegian pony breed Nordlandshest/Lyngshest. Acta Vet Scand 2023 Jun 16;65(1):22.
- Walshe N, Cabrera-Rubio R, Collins R, Puggioni A, Gath V, Crispie F, Cotter PD, Brennan L, Mulcahy G, Duggan V. A Multiomic Approach to Investigate the Effects of a Weight Loss Program on the Intestinal Health of Overweight Horses. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:668120.
- Dunkel B, Knowles EJ, Chang YM, Menzies-Gow NJ. Correlation between l-lactate and glucose concentrations and body condition score in healthy horses and ponies. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Sep;33(5):2267-2271.
- Meier A, de Laat M, Reiche D, Fitzgerald D, Sillence M. The efficacy and safety of velagliflozin over 16 weeks as a treatment for insulin dysregulation in ponies. BMC Vet Res 2019 Feb 26;15(1):65.
- Durham AE, Frank N, McGowan CM, Menzies-Gow NJ, Roelfsema E, Vervuert I, Feige K, Fey K. ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):335-349.
- Bamford NJ, Potter SJ, Baskerville CL, Harris PA, Bailey SR. Influence of dietary restriction and low-intensity exercise on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in obese equids. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan;33(1):280-286.
- Meier A, Reiche D, de Laat M, Pollitt C, Walsh D, Sillence M. The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor velagliflozin reduces hyperinsulinemia and prevents laminitis in insulin-dysregulated ponies. PLoS One 2018;13(9):e0203655.
- Morgan R, Keen J, McGowan C. Equine metabolic syndrome. Vet Rec 2015 Aug 15;177(7):173-9.
- Johnson PJ, Wiedmeyer CE, Messer NT, Ganjam VK. Medical implications of obesity in horses--lessons for human obesity. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2009 Jan;3(1):163-74.
- Pratt-Phillips S. Effect of Exercise Conditioning on Countering the Effects of Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Horses-A Review. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 26;14(5).
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