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Laminitis and the equine metabolic syndrome.
Abstract: Although much has been written about laminitis in the context of its association with inflammatory processes, recognition is growing that most cases of laminitis examined by veterinarians in private practice are those associated with pasture grazing, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR). The term 'endocrinopathic laminitis' has been adopted to classify the instances of laminitis in which the origin seems to be more strongly associated with an underlying endocrinopathy, such as either IR or the influence of corticosteroids. Results of a recent study suggest that obesity and IR represent the most common metabolic and endocrinopathic predispositions for laminitis in horses. IR also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of laminitis that develops when some horses or ponies are allowed to graze pastures at certain times of the year. The term equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) has been proposed as a label for horses whose clinical examination results (including both physical examination and laboratory testing) suggest heightened risk for developing laminitis as a result of underlying IR.
Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-06-09 PubMed ID: 20699172DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.04.004Google 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
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Summary
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This research article looks into the connection between the medical condition laminitis in horses and the equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), with a specific focus on cases related to pasture grazing, obesity, and insulin resistance.
Understanding Laminitis and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)
The study explores laminitis, a commonly seen disease among horses, which is mostly associated with inflammatory processes. Unlike previous assumptions, the study highlights a growing recognition that most laminitis cases seen by veterinarians in private practice are associated with factors such as pasture grazing, obesity, and insulin resistance (IR).
- The term ‘endocrinopathic laminitis’ is introduced in this context to label instances of laminitis that are more likely linked with an underlying endocrinopathy – either IR or the influence of corticosteroids.
- Meanwhile, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is proposed as a marker for horses that exhibit clinical examination results suggesting a higher risk of developing laminitis due to underlying insulin resistance. EMS is characterized by regional adiposity, insulin resistance, and a predisposition to laminitis in horses.
Study Findings and Implications
The research provides significant insights into the common metabolic and endocrinopathic predispositions for laminitis in horses; it points out that obesity and Insulin Resistance (IR) are the most common reasons.
- It also draws attention to the role of IR in the development of laminitis in some horses or ponies allowed to graze freely at certain times of the year. Excessive grazing can lead to obesity and an increased risk of developing EMS, thereby leading to laminitis.
- Understanding these factors can help horse owners, veterinarians, and equine nutritionists devise strategic interventions such as altering feeding practices or implementing weight management programs, thus preventing the onset of laminitis in horses associated with EMS.
Cite This Article
APA
Johnson PJ, Wiedmeyer CE, LaCarrubba A, Ganjam VK, Messer NT.
(2010).
Laminitis and the equine metabolic syndrome.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 26(2), 239-255.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2010.04.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, 900 East Campus Drive, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. JohnsonPJ@missouri.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Foot Diseases / pathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Hoof and Claw
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Insulin Resistance
- Metabolic Diseases / complications
- Metabolic Diseases / diagnosis
- Metabolic Diseases / genetics
- Metabolic Diseases / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Garland A, van Doorn DA, van den Boom R, Roelfsema E, Jung L, Boast M, Papadakis K, Margiotta M, Wafelbakker S, Briggs M, McCrae P, Pearson W. Morphometric changes in overweight horses following 10-week weight loss programs. BMC Vet Res 2025 Oct 10;21(1):596.
- Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Piórkowska K, Ropka-Molik K. Equine Metabolic Syndrome: A Complex Disease Influenced by Multifactorial Genetic Factors. Genes (Basel) 2023 Jul 27;14(8).
- Bourebaba L, Kornicka-Garbowska K, Al Naem M, Röcken M, Łyczko J, Marycz K. MSI-1436 improves EMS adipose derived progenitor stem cells in the course of adipogenic differentiation through modulation of ER stress, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021 Feb 3;12(1):97.
- Al-Agele R, Paul E, Taylor S, Watson C, Sturrock C, Drakopoulos M, Atwood RC, Rutland CS, Menzies-Gow N, Knowles E, Elliott J, Harris P, Rauch C. Physics of animal health: on the mechano-biology of hoof growth and form. J R Soc Interface 2019 Jun 28;16(155):20190214.
- Schedlbauer C, Blaue D, Gericke M, Blüher M, Starzonek J, Gittel C, Brehm W, Vervuert I. Impact of body weight gain on hepatic metabolism and hepatic inflammatory cytokines in comparison of Shetland pony geldings and Warmblood horse geldings. PeerJ 2019;7:e7069.
- Cassimeris L, Engiles JB, Galantino-Homer H. Detection of endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response in naturally-occurring endocrinopathic equine laminitis. BMC Vet Res 2019 Jan 10;15(1):24.
- Lewis SL, Holl HM, Long MT, Mallicote MF, Brooks SA. Use of principle component analysis to quantitatively score the equine metabolic syndrome phenotype in an Arabian horse population. PLoS One 2018;13(7):e0200583.
- Pakkanen SAE, de Vries A, Raekallio MR, Mykkänen AK, Palviainen MJ, Sankari SM, Vainio OM. Changes in energy metabolism, and levels of stress-related hormones and electrolytes in horses after intravenous administration of romifidine and the peripheral α-2 adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan. Acta Vet Scand 2018 May 9;60(1):27.
- Kosolofski HR, Gow SP, Robinson KA. Prevalence of obesity in the equine population of Saskatoon and surrounding area. Can Vet J 2017 Sep;58(9):967-970.
- Marycz K, Kornicka K, Marędziak M, Golonka P, Nicpoń J. Equine metabolic syndrome impairs adipose stem cells osteogenic differentiation by predominance of autophagy over selective mitophagy. J Cell Mol Med 2016 Dec;20(12):2384-2404.
- Lancaster LS, Bowker RM. Acupuncture Points of the Horse's Distal Thoracic Limb: A Neuroanatomic Approach to the Transposition of Traditional Points. Animals (Basel) 2012 Sep 17;2(3):455-71.
- Selim S, Elo K, Jaakkola S, Karikoski N, Boston R, Reilas T, Särkijärvi S, Saastamoinen M, Kokkonen T. Relationships among Body Condition, Insulin Resistance and Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue Gene Expression during the Grazing Season in Mares. PLoS One 2015;10(5):e0125968.
- Giles SL, Nicol CJ, Rands SA, Harris PA. Assessing the seasonal prevalence and risk factors for nuchal crest adiposity in domestic horses and ponies using the Cresty Neck Score. BMC Vet Res 2015 Jan 31;11:13.
- Lacombe VA. Expression and regulation of facilitative glucose transporters in equine insulin-sensitive tissue: from physiology to pathology. ISRN Vet Sci 2014;2014:409547.
- Giles SL, Rands SA, Nicol CJ, Harris PA. Obesity prevalence and associated risk factors in outdoor living domestic horses and ponies. PeerJ 2014;2:e299.
- Johnson PJ, Wiedmeyer CE, LaCarrubba A, Ganjam VK, Messer NT 4th. Diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in horses. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2012 May 1;6(3):534-40.
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