Insulin sensitivity and glucose dynamics during pre-weaning foal development and in response to maternal diet composition.
Abstract: Nutritional management of animals during pregnancy can affect glucose and insulin dynamics in the resulting offspring through influences on fetal development. Additionally, high starch feeding in mature horses is associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and an increased risk for diseases such as obesity and laminitis. However, no study has yet evaluated the effect of feeding a high starch diet to pregnant mares on glucose and insulin dynamics in their offspring. Twenty late-gestation mares maintained on pasture were provided two-thirds of digestible energy requirements from isocaloric, isonitrogenous low starch (LS, n=10) or high starch (HS, n=10) feed. Their foals were assessed with an insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test at 5, 40, 80, and 160 d of age. Baseline glucose concentrations, insulin sensitivity, and insulin-independent glucose clearance in 5-d foals were all greater than values observed in mature horses and declined towards mature values as foals reached 160 d of age. Baseline glucose concentrations were all within normal range, but higher in foals born from HS mares through 80 d of age. Insulin sensitivity was not different between dietary groups until a trend for lower insulin sensitivity in HS foals emerged at 160 d of age. These data are the first to characterize decreasing insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in Thoroughbred foals from 5 to 160 d of age. This study also presents the first data examining glucose and insulin dynamics in developing foals in response to maternal high starch diet.
Publication Date: 2009-03-28 PubMed ID: 19359126DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.01.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the effects of a mare’s starch-rich diet during late pregnancy on the development of glucose and insulin sensitivity in her foal. Results suggest that a high starch diet could lead to reduced insulin sensitivity in foals as they age, potentially increasing their risk of obesity and other health issues.
Overview of the study
- The research was primarily centered on understanding the effects of a mare’s diet on the insulin levels and glucose dynamics of her offspring.
- Previously, high starch diets have been linked to reduced insulin sensitivity in mature horses, leading to weight gain and a higher likelihood of diseases including laminitis.
- To better investigate this, the researchers worked with two test groups of twenty gestating mares, feeding ten mares a low starch diet and ten a high starch (HS) diet.
- The diets were isocaloric (containing an equal number of calories) and isonitrogenous (having an equivalent nitrogen content), ensuring the only variable was the difference in starch levels.
- Post-birth, the foals’ glucose levels and insulin sensitivity were then evaluated through a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test.
Key findings
- At five days old, the foals presented higher baseline glucose concentrations, insulin sensitivity, and insulin-independent glucose clearance than mature horses, but these values gradually decreased as the foals aged.
- Developing foals with high-starch maternal diets showed higher baseline glucose concentrations prevalent until they were 80 days old.
- A trend emerged at 160 days that foals from HS diet mares had lower insulin sensitivity.
Significance of the study
- The study represents the first attempt at considering the impact of maternal diet, specifically high-starch diets, on the insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance of their offspring.
- The results suggest that the diet of a pregnant mare can influence the offspring’s insulin level and glucose dynamics, particularly foals’ sensitivity to insulin, which could have long-term health impact including an increased risk for obesity in later life.
- The study further supports the significance of dietary management in equine breeding strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
George LA, Staniar WB, Treiber KH, Harris PA, Geor RJ.
(2009).
Insulin sensitivity and glucose dynamics during pre-weaning foal development and in response to maternal diet composition.
Domest Anim Endocrinol, 37(1), 23-29.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2009.01.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0306, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Diet
- Energy Intake
- Female
- Gestational Age
- Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
- Horses / growth & development
- Insulin / blood
- Insulin / pharmacology
- Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Nutritional Requirements
- Pregnancy
- Starch / administration & dosage
- Weaning
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Hallman I, Karikoski N, Kareskoski M. The effects of obesity and insulin dysregulation on mare reproduction, pregnancy, and foal health: a review.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1180622.
- Rings LM, Swink JM, Dunbar LK, Burns TA, Toribio RE. Enteroinsular axis response to carbohydrates and fasting in healthy newborn foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Nov;33(6):2752-2764.
- Yang Y, Hu CJ, Zhao X, Xiao K, Deng M, Zhang L, Qiu X, Deng J, Yin Y, Tan C. Dietary energy sources during late gestation and lactation of sows: effects on performance, glucolipid metabolism, oxidative status of sows, and their offspring1.. J Anim Sci 2019 Nov 4;97(11):4608-4618.
- Robles M, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Peugnet P, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Camous S, Tarrade A, Wimel L, Serteyn D, Bouraima-Lelong H, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy Affects Testicular and Bone Development, Glucose Metabolism and Response to Overnutrition in Weaned Horses Up to Two Years.. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169295.
- Rogers CW, Bolwell CF, Gee EK. Proactive Management of the Equine Athlete.. Animals (Basel) 2012 Dec 19;2(4):640-55.
- Peugnet P, Robles M, Mendoza L, Wimel L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Guillaume D, Camous S, Berthelot V, Toquet MP, Richard E, Sandersen C, Chaffaux S, Lejeune JP, Tarrade A, Serteyn D, Chavatte-Palmer P. Effects of moderate amounts of barley in late pregnancy on growth, glucose metabolism and osteoarticular status of pre-weaning horses.. PLoS One 2015;10(4):e0122596.
- Lacombe VA. Expression and regulation of facilitative glucose transporters in equine insulin-sensitive tissue: from physiology to pathology.. ISRN Vet Sci 2014;2014:409547.
- George LA, Uthlaut AB, Long NM, Zhang L, Ma Y, Smith DT, Nathanielsz PW, Ford SP. Different levels of overnutrition and weight gain during pregnancy have differential effects on fetal growth and organ development.. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2010 Jun 24;8:75.
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