Metabolic and inflammatory responses to the common sweetener stevioside and a glycemic challenge in horses with equine metabolic syndrome.
Abstract: Extracts derived from the leaves of the stevia plant (stevioside) are commonly used as sweeteners for humans and horses. Stevioside appears to be safe for human consumption, including for individuals with insulin dysregulation. In the horse, the safety or metabolic effects of stevioside on normal animals or on those with metabolic dysfunction are unknown. Furthermore, the inflammatory response to a glycemic challenge or to stevioside in horses is not well defined. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure the effects of stevioside and a glycemic challenge on insulin, glucose, and inflammatory responses in horses with a common metabolic dysfunction (equine metabolic syndrome or EMS) compared with non-EMS controls. To accomplish this, 15 horses were selected; 8 EMS and 7 age-matched controls. An oral sugar test was performed using Karo corn syrup (karo) or stevioside in a random crossover design. Horses were given 0.15 mL/kg body weight of karo or its equivalent grams of sugar in stevia dissolved in water. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture before administration of either stevia or karo and at 60 and 240 min after administration. Serum was used for glucose and insulin determination and plasma for isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) for inflammatory cytokine analysis via flow cytometry and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Stevia appeared to stimulate lower glycemic and insulinemic responses when compared to karo, in particular in EMS horses. EMS and control horses had inverse inflammatory responses to administration of either stevia or karo with EMS horses having a proinflammatory response (P ≤ 0.05). These data provide evidence as to why horses with EMS may be predisposed to developing laminitis, potentially as a result of an exaggerated inflammatory response to glycemic and insulinemic responses. Furthermore, the data provide new avenues for exploring mechanisms behind the syndrome, in particular when using a glycemic challenge.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2017-02-04 PubMed ID: 28254632DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2017.01.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study explores the impact of the sweetener stevioside and a glycemic challenge on metabolic and inflammatory responses in horses, particularly those suffering from equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). It found that stevioside leads to lower glycemic and insulinemic responses than Karo corn syrup, especially in EMS horses, who also demonstrate a proinflammatory response to either sweetener.
Study Objective
- The primary objective of this research was to analyze the metabolic and inflammatory responses in horses following the consumption of stevioside (a sweetener extracted from the leaves of the Stevia plant) and a glycemic challenge.
- The researchers aimed to establish the safety of stevioside consumption in horses, especially those with metabolic dysfunctions such as equine metabolic syndrome (EMS).
Methodology
- A total of 15 horses participated in the study. Eight of these horses were diagnosed with EMS whereas the remaining seven, all of the same age as the EMS group, served as the control group.
- The researchers conducted an “oral sugar test,” wherein horses were given either Karo corn syrup or stevioside in a randomized crossover design.
- Blood samples were collected from the horses before and at two intervals after they consumed the sweeteners to measure glucose and insulin levels as well as the inflammatory responses.
Findings
Implications and Future Directions
- The results provide clues as to why horses affected by EMS are more susceptible to developing laminitis, a painful and potentially crippling disease that affects the hooves of horses. An exaggerated inflammatory response to glycemic challenges might be a contributing factor.
- This research opens up new avenues for further investigations into the mechanisms behind EMS, especially regarding the use of a glycemic challenge.
- This data might contribute to the development of dietary guidelines and strategies for horses suffering from EMS.
Cite This Article
APA
Elzinga SE, Rohleder B, Schanbacher B, McQuerry K, Barker VD, Adams AA.
(2017).
Metabolic and inflammatory responses to the common sweetener stevioside and a glycemic challenge in horses with equine metabolic syndrome.
Domest Anim Endocrinol, 60, 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2017.01.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA. Electronic address: s.elzinga@yahoo.com.
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee, USA.
- AHDC Endocrinology Laboratory, NYSCVM Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
- M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / drug effects
- Case-Control Studies
- Diterpenes, Kaurane / adverse effects
- Diterpenes, Kaurane / pharmacology
- Glucosides / adverse effects
- Glucosides / pharmacology
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horses
- Inflammation / drug therapy
- Inflammation / veterinary
- Insulin / blood
- Metabolic Syndrome / blood
- Metabolic Syndrome / veterinary
- Sweetening Agents / adverse effects
- Sweetening Agents / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Berryhill EH, Urbina NS, Marton S, Vernau W, Alonso FH. Validation and method comparison for a point-of-care lateral flow assay measuring equine whole blood insulin concentrations.. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023 Mar;35(2):124-131.
- Younes M, Aquilina G, Engel KH, Fowler P, Frutos Fernandez MJ, Fürst P, Gürtler R, Gundert-Remy U, Husøy T, Manco M, Mennes W, Moldeus P, Passamonti S, Shah R, Waalkens-Berendsen I, Wölfle D, Wright M, Degen G, Giarola A, Rincon AM, Castle L. Safety of a proposed amendment of the specifications for steviol glycosides (E 960) as a food additive: to expand the list of steviol glycosides to all those identified in the leaves of Stevia Rebaudiana Bertoni.. EFSA J 2020 Apr;18(4):e06106.
- Rojas E, Bermúdez V, Motlaghzadeh Y, Mathew J, Fidilio E, Faria J, Rojas J, de Bravo MC, Contreras J, Mantilla LP, Angarita L, Sepúlveda PA, Kuzmar I. Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni and Its Effects in Human Disease: Emphasizing Its Role in Inflammation, Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Syndrome.. Curr Nutr Rep 2018 Jul 11;.
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