Insulinaemic and glycaemic responses to three forages in ponies.
Abstract: Reduction of the hyperinsulinaemic response to feeding is central to the management of insulin dysregulation (ID). The aim of this study was to compare insulinaemic and glycaemic responses to soaked hay, dry hay and haylage in ponies. Twelve ponies of mixed breeds were maintained under identical management conditions. A randomised four-way crossover trial was conducted, in which fasted animals were fed a meal of 0.25% body weight as dry matter intake soaked hay, dry hay or haylage, or administered an oral glucose test (OGT). Blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations were measured before and at 2h following OGT, and regularly for 5h following forage meals. Median and interquartile range (IQR) area under the curve (AUC) for insulin (AUC) was greater for haylage (median 6495; IQR 17352) vs. dry hay (2932; IQR 5937; P=0.019) and soaked hay (1066; IQR 1753; P=0.002), and greater for dry hay vs. soaked hay (P=0.002). The AUC for glucose (AUC) was lower for soaked hay (1021; IQR 99) vs. dry hay (1075; IQR 105; P=0.002) and haylage (1107; IQR 221; P=0.003). Six ponies were classified as having ID based on the OGT. AUC was greater in ID vs. non-ID ponies after all forages. In contrast, there was no detectable effect of ID status on AUC. On an equivalent dry matter basis, soaked hay produced the lowest insulinaemic and glycaemic responses to feeding, while haylage produced the highest responses. The insulinaemic effects of all forages were greater in ponies with ID. These data support the practice of soaking hay with water to reduce postprandial insulinaemic responses in ponies.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-04-03 PubMed ID: 29704944DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.03.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of different types of hay (soaked, dry, and haylage) on the insulin and blood sugar levels in ponies. The study indicates that soaked hay leads to the lowest levels of insulin and blood sugar, supporting the practice of soaking hay to manage insulin dysregulation in ponies.
Methodology
- The researchers carried out a randomised four-way crossover trial involving twelve ponies of mixed breeds. These ponies were all maintained under identical conditions for consistency.
- The ponies were fasted then fed a meal comprised of 0.25% of their body weight as dry matter intake soaked hay, dry hay, or haylage. In addition, an oral glucose test (OGT) was performed.
- Measurements of blood glucose and serum insulin concentrations were taken before and two hours following the OGT, and periodically for five hours following the intake of the forage meals.
Findings
- The study found that there are notable differences in the insulin response (measured through area under the curve or AUC) among the different types of hay. The insulin AUC was highest in horses that ate haylage, lower in those that ate dry hay, and lowest in those that ate soaked hay.
- Similarly, glucose AUC was significantly lower for soaked hay as compared to dry hay or haylage.
- Six of the ponies were determined to have insulin dysregulation (ID) based on the oral glucose test. In these ID ponies, the insulin AUC was higher after consumption of all types of forage.
- No significant effect was found based on ID status and glucose AUC.
Implications
- Based on this data, the practice of soaking hay appears beneficial for managing postprandial (after-eating) insulin responses in ponies, particularly those with ID.
- The soaked hay resulted in the lowest glycaemic and insulinaemic response when compared to dry hay and haylage.
- This research could inform animal management practices, particularly for ponies with insulin regulation issues, potentially improving their health and wellbeing.
Cite This Article
APA
Carslake HB, Argo CM, Pinchbeck GL, Dugdale AHA, McGowan CM.
(2018).
Insulinaemic and glycaemic responses to three forages in ponies.
Vet J, 235, 83-89.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.03.008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Cheshire, United Kingdom. Electronic address: hbc@liv.ac.uk.
- Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
- Institute of Aging and Chronic Disease, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Cheshire, United Kingdom.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / analysis
- Diet / veterinary
- Female
- Food Handling / methods
- Glucose Tolerance Test / veterinary
- Horse Diseases
- Horses / blood
- Insulin / blood
- Male
- Postprandial Period
- Water
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Clark BL, Bamford NJ, Stewart AJ, McCue ME, Rendahl A, Bailey SR, Bertin FR, Norton EM. Evaluation of an HMGA2 variant contribution to height and basal insulin concentrations in ponies. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1186-1192.
- Lindåse S, Nostell K, Bergsten P, Forslund A, Bröjer J. Evaluation of fasting plasma insulin and proxy measurements to assess insulin sensitivity in horses. BMC Vet Res 2021 Feb 15;17(1):78.
- MacLeod C. ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1123-1124.
- Durham AE, Frank N, McGowan CM, Menzies-Gow NJ, Roelfsema E, Vervuert I, Feige K, Fey K. Response to letter to editor regarding ECEIM consensus statement on equine metabolic syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1125-1126.
- 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.
- Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Metabolic and Endocrine Insights in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 10;14(4).
- Diez de Castro E, Fernandez-Molina JM. Environmental Management of Equine Asthma. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 30;14(3).
- Lindåse S, Nostell K, Forslund A, Bergsten P, Bröjer J. Short-term effects of canagliflozin on glucose and insulin responses in insulin dysregulated horses: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, study. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Nov-Dec;37(6):2520-2528.
- Ward AB, Harris PA, Argo CM, Watson CA, Burns NM, Neacsu M, Russell WR, Grove-White D, Morrison PK. Confidence does not mediate a relationship between owner experience and likelihood of using weight management approaches for native ponies. PLoS One 2023;18(10):e0292886.
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