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Lipid metabolism in equines fed a fat-rich diet.
Abstract: The hypothesis tested was that dietary fat, when compared with an isoenergetic amount of non-structural carbohydrates, stimulates lipolysis in adipose tissue and also stimulates the fatty-acid oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle from horses. Six adult horses were fed a high-fat, glucose or starch containing diet according to a 3 x 3 Latin square design with feeding periods of three weeks. The diets were formulated so that the intake of soybean oil versus either glucose or corn starch were the only variables. In accordance with previous work, whole plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) concentration decreased significantly by 58% following fat supplementation. This fat effect was accompanied by a 247% increase in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in post-heparin plasma. The dietary variables did neither significantly affect the basal in vitro lipolytic rate nor the lipolytic rate after adding noradrenaline. There was no significant diet effect on the activities of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase as indicators of glycolytic flux and citrate synthase and 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase as indicators of fatty-acid oxidative capacity. The concentrations of muscle glycogen and TAG were not affected by fat supplementation. It is concluded that our hypothesis is not supported by the present results.
Publication Date: 2000-07-07 PubMed ID: 10883408DOI: 10.1024/0300-9831.70.3.148Google 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
Summary
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The research aimed to analyze the effects of a high-fat diet on horses, specifically focusing on lipid metabolism in their adipose tissue and skeletal muscles. Contrary to the initial hypothesis, the study found that a high-fat diet does not stimulate lipolysis, nor does it increase the horses’ fatty-acid oxidative capacity.
Methodology
- The experiment was conducted following a 3×3 Latin square design and each feed period lasted three weeks.
- Six adult horses were selected and fed with diets that were high in fat, glucose, or starch.
- The diets were designed such that the only variables were the intake of soybean oil versus either glucose or corn starch.
Findings and Interpretation
- Consistent with previous studies, it was found that plasma triacylglycerol concentration dropped significantly, by 58%, after fat supplementation.
- A high-fat diet corresponded to a 247% increase in lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in post-heparin plasma.
- However, the dietary variables did not have a significant impact on the basal in vitro lipolytic rate, nor the lipolytic rate after noradrenaline was added. This indicates that a high-fat diet does not stimulate lipolysis.
- In terms of fatty-acid oxidative capacity, the study found no significant diet effect on the activities of certain enzymes: hexokinase, phosphofructokinase (indicators of glycolytic flux), citrate synthase and 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase.
- The muscle glycogen and TAG concentration were unaffected by fat supplementation.
- In conclusion, the original hypothesis that a high-fat diet stimulates lipolysis and the fatty-acid oxidative capacity in horses was not supported by the findings of this research.
Implications
- The results suggest that equines may not necessarily benefit from a high-fat diet in terms of enhanced lipid metabolism, contrary to some previous assumptions.
- More research is needed to assess the impacts of various diet compositions on horse health and performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Geelen SN, Jansen WL, Geelen MJ, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Beynen AC.
(2000).
Lipid metabolism in equines fed a fat-rich diet.
Int J Vitam Nutr Res, 70(3), 148-152.
https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831.70.3.148 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Adipose Tissue / metabolism
- Animal Feed
- Animals
- Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
- Dietary Carbohydrates / pharmacology
- Dietary Fats / administration & dosage
- Dietary Fats / pharmacology
- Female
- Glycogen / metabolism
- Horses / metabolism
- In Vitro Techniques
- Lipid Metabolism
- Lipolysis
- Lipoprotein Lipase / blood
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Triglycerides / blood
- Triglycerides / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Mrugala D, Leatherwood JL, Morris EF, Dickson EC, Latham CM, Owen RN, Beverly MM, Kelley SF, White-Springer SH. Dietary conjugated linoleic acid supplementation alters skeletal muscle mitochondria and antioxidant status in young horses. J Anim Sci 2021 Feb 1;99(2).
- Blaue D, Schedlbauer C, Starzonek J, Gittel C, Brehm W, Blüher M, Pfeffer M, Vervuert I. The influence of equine body weight gain on inflammatory cytokine expressions of adipose tissue in response to endotoxin challenge. Acta Vet Scand 2020 Apr 22;62(1):17.
- Fusaro I, Parrillo S, Buonaiuto G, Prasinou P, Gramenzi A, Bucci R, Cavallini D, Carosi A, Carluccio A, De Amicis I. Effects of hemp-based polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on membrane lipid profiles and reproductive performance in Martina Franca jacks. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1553218.
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