Metabolic Profile Changes in Mangalarga Marchador Horses Subjected to A Hypercaloric Diet Evaluated by Proton NMR Spectroscopy.

The research article focuses on the metabolic changes in Mangalarga Marchador horses subjected to a high-calorie diet, exploring the possible biomarkers for metabolic syndrome in horses with induced obesity, using Proton NMR Spectroscopy as the primary tool of analysis.

Objective and Methodology

• The primary objective of this study was to identify potential blood biomarkers in horses who had developed metabolic changes due to induced obesity. The researchers sought to achieve this by studying the metabolic profiles of the horses subjected to a hypercaloric diet.
• For the research, nine Mangalarga Marchador horses were chosen. These horses were subjected to a high-calorie diet over five months, and their serum samples were analyzed before, during, and after the dietary period.
• To identify metabolic changes, the researchers used Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H NMR) Spectroscopy, a powerful tool that can discriminate and compare metabolic profiles in living beings. This technology was favored for its ability to provide valuable insights into the metabolic changes the horses underwent due to the high-calorie diet.

Findings

• As a result of the study, six compounds were identified—alanine, threonine, choline, α-glucose, β-glucose, and creatinine—through NMR analysis. Of these, there was a notable increase in the choline level over the assessment period in four animals.
• Significantly, the hypercaloric diet provably altered the metabolic profiles of the horses under observation. It also exhibited an individual bias concerning the time these changes occurred. Thus, it was observed that the effects of the diet varied among the subjects, with certain horses demonstrating changes to their metabolic profile at different rates.

Significance

• This study separates itself as the first of its kind, being the initial research to describe metabolomic compounds of Mangalarga Marchador horses subjected to a diet rich in non-structural carbohydrates.
• The findings from the study contribute significantly to the understanding of equine metabolic syndrome, a medical condition known to cause laminitis in horses. In this respect, the research helps to demystify the relationship between energy imbalances, genetics, and the development of this condition.