Morphometric, metabolic, and inflammatory markers across a cohort of client-owned horses and ponies on the insulin dysregulation spectrum.

The study explores the relationship between morphometric, metabolic, and inflammatory markers in horses and ponies with insulin dysregulation. The findings suggest that horses with mild-moderate signs of Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) do not have significantly different metabolic and inflammatory profiles from non-insulin dysregulated controls.

Conceptual Background and Objectives

• The investigation was based on the corresponding relationship between metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes in humans, and insulin dysregulation in horses. In the human condition, specific markers like methylglyoxal (MG), D-lactate, and various cytokines are used as biomarkers for defining metabolic and inflammatory processes. EMS in horses shares several similarities with these human conditions.
• The primary aim of the study was to compare various factors including body condition score (BCS), cresty neck score (CNS), resting insulin, MG, D-lactate, L-lactate, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) between horses showing signs of insulin dysregulation and those without, as classified via a combined glucose and insulin test (CGIT).

Methodology

• For the study, 32 client-owned horses were included. The team gathered historical and morphometric data including BCS and CNS.
• Subjects with certain abnormalities, elevated ACTH, or incomplete information were excluded from the study.
• Biomarker concentrations were tested using commercial ELISA or colorimetric assays.
• The characteristics of insulin dysregulated and insulin sensitive horses were compared using univariate analysis and forward logistic regression.

Results

• The research found that out of 32 horses, 12 (38%) were classified as insulin dysregulated.
• No significant difference between the two groups was found in age, BCS, baseline glucose, triglycerides, MG, D-lactate, L-lactate, TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1.
• Baseline insulin was significantly associated with insulin dysregulation in the univariate analysis, but this was not maintained in the final model.
• Horses with a CNS score greater or equal to 3 had 11.3 times higher odds of having insulin dysregulation.

Conclusion

• The study showed that horses with mild to moderate signs of EMS presented metabolic and inflammatory profiles similar to their non-insulin dysregulated counterparts.