FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Meal size and starch content affect gastric emptying in hors...
Equine veterinary journal2004; 36(5); 436-440; doi: 10.2746/0425164044868468

Meal size and starch content affect gastric emptying in horses.

Abstract: Feeding practices have been associated with colic in horses. If meal size and composition have an effect on gastric emptying, this could be one of the mechanisms by which feeding practices are related to the occurrence of colic. Objective: To evaluate the effect of meal size and starch content on solid phase gastric emptying. Methods: Solid phase gastric emptying of 3 different radiolabelled meals, small low-starch (SmLS), small high-starch (SmHS) and large high-starch (LgHS) meals, was measured in 5 horses by scintigraphy using 99mTc-disofenin. Data were compared among meals using nonlinear mixed-effects models and paired t tests. Results: On a percentage basis, SmHS emptied significantly faster than LgHS and SmLS emptied significantly faster than SmHS meals. However, when meals of unequal size were compared by emptying rate in g/min and Kcal/min, LgHS emptied significantly faster than SmHS. Conclusions: Meal size and composition affect gastric emptying. Conclusions: Further work needs to be performed in order to substantiate the possibility of a relationship between digestive functions and occurrence of colic and gastric ulcers.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2004-07-16 PubMed ID: 15253086DOI: 10.2746/0425164044868468Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates how the size and starch content of meals affect the speed at which the stomach empties in horses, and whether this could potentially link dietary habits to colic.

Research Purpose

  • The main goal of this study was to understand if there is a relationship between the size and composition of a horse’s meal and the rate at which it is processed through the stomach. This is important as it could help explain why certain feeding practices are associated with instances of horse colic, a common and serious digestive disorder in these animals.

Methods

  • Researchers used three different meal types: Small Low-Starch (SmLS), Small High-Starch (SmHS), and Large High-Starch (LgHS). These meals were radiolabeled, so they could be tracked as they moved through the horse’s digestive system.
  • The study was conducted on five horses, which were fed these meals apart from their regular diet. The movement of the meals was traced using a technique called scintigraphy, which uses a radioactive substance (99mTc-disofenin) for imaging.
  • The researchers compared the resulting data between meals using nonlinear mixed-effect models and paired t-tests.

Results

  • When analysing the results on a percentage basis, it was found that the SmHS meal was digested quicker than the LgHS meal. The SmLS meal also emptied out of the stomach faster than the SmHS.
  • However, when comparing meals of different sizes based on their emptying rate measured in grams per minute and Kcal per minute, it was discovered that the LgHS meal emptied faster than SmHS meals.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that both the size and composition of a meal can impact how quickly it is processed through a horse’s stomach. Larger and high-starch meals seem to empty quicker than smaller, less starchy meals.
  • However, the researchers believe more work is required to validate and further understand the potential links between colic, gastric ulcers, and the size and starch content in meals given to horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Métayer N, Lhôte M, Bahr A, Cohen ND, Kim I, Roussel AJ, Julliand V. (2004). Meal size and starch content affect gastric emptying in horses. Equine Vet J, 36(5), 436-440. https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044868468

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 36
Issue: 5
Pages: 436-440

Researcher Affiliations

Métayer, N
  • Nutrition et Santé Digestive Herbivores, ENESAD, Dijon BP 87999, 21079, France.
Lhôte, M
    Bahr, A
      Cohen, N D
        Kim, I
          Roussel, A J
            Julliand, V

              MeSH Terms

              • Animal Feed
              • Animals
              • Eating / physiology
              • Gastric Emptying / drug effects
              • Gastric Emptying / physiology
              • Horses / physiology
              • Male
              • Radionuclide Imaging
              • Random Allocation
              • Starch / administration & dosage
              • Stomach / diagnostic imaging
              • Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin

              Citations

              This article has been cited 8 times.
              1. Kranenburg LC, Reinke KS, van den Broek J, Zaal EA, van den Boom R, van Doorn DA. Free Plasma Amino Acid Concentrations in Horses Fed Different Dosing Regimens of Hydrolysed Collagen. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 3;15(21).
                doi: 10.3390/ani15213195pubmed: 41227525google scholar: lookup
              2. Irving J, Pineau V, Shultz S, Ter Woort F, Julien F, Lambey S, van Erck-Westergren E. Impact of Low-Starch Dietary Modifications on Faecal Microbiota Composition and Gastric Disease Scores in Performance Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 28;15(13).
                doi: 10.3390/ani15131908pubmed: 40646806google scholar: lookup
              3. Jensen RB, Walslag IH, Marcussen C, Thorringer NW, Junghans P, Nyquist NF. The effect of feeding order of forage and oats on metabolic and digestive responses related to gastric emptying in horses. J Anim Sci 2025 Jan 4;103.
                doi: 10.1093/jas/skae368pubmed: 39656737google scholar: lookup
              4. Thane K, Sonntag J, Warnken T, Reiche D, Uricchio C, Frank N. Comparison of a customized glycemic pellets challenge with the oral sugar test to measure glycemic and insulinemic responses in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Nov-Dec;38(6):3281-3287.
                doi: 10.1111/jvim.17191pubmed: 39463160google scholar: lookup
              5. Julliand S, Buttet M, Hermange T, Hillon P, Julliand V. Effect of diet composition on glandular gastric disease in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2023 Jul-Aug;37(4):1528-1536.
                doi: 10.1111/jvim.16747pubmed: 37264707google scholar: lookup
              6. Song Y, Day CM, Afinjuomo F, Tan JE, Page SW, Garg S. Advanced Strategies of Drug Delivery via Oral, Topical, and Parenteral Administration Routes: Where Do Equine Medications Stand?. Pharmaceutics 2023 Jan 4;15(1).
                doi: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15010186pubmed: 36678815google scholar: lookup
              7. Thorringer NW, Weisberg MR, Jensen RB. The effects of processing barley and maize on metabolic and digestive responses in horses. J Anim Sci 2020 Dec 1;98(12).
                doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa353pubmed: 33150365google scholar: lookup
              8. Passantino A, Giannetto C, Passantino L, Piccione G. Trotter welfare's protection: A legislative perspective. Vet World 2015 Mar;8(3):427-31.
                doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2015.427-431pubmed: 27047109google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,383 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.