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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(24); 3580; doi: 10.3390/ani12243580

Plasma Amino Acid Concentration in Obese Horses with/without Insulin Dysregulation and Laminitis.

Abstract: Laminitic horses commonly suffer from an endocrine disease such as equine metabolic syndrome. Hyperinsulinemia is considered a key factor in the pathogenesis of laminitis. Since insulin also affects protein turnover in the body, the resting plasma amino acid concentrations of obese horses that were presented for a combined glucose insulin test (CGIT) were determined. In total, 25 obese horses and two lean horses with recurrent laminitis underwent a CGIT. Of these, five were not insulin dysregulated (obese), 14 were insulin dysregulated (ID), and eight were insulin-dysregulated and laminitic (IDL). Significant differences in the resting concentrations between obese and insulin dysregulated and laminitic (citrulline p = 0.038, obese: 73.001 ± 12.661 nmol/mL, IDL: 49.194 ± 15.486 nmol/mL; GABA p = 0.02, obese: 28.234 ± 3.885 nmol/mL, IDL: 16.697 ± 1.679 nmol/mL; methionine p = 0.018, obese: 28.691 ± 5.913 nmol/mL, IDL: 20.143 ± 3.09 nmol/mL) as well as between insulin dysregulated individuals with and without laminitis (GABA p < 0.001, ID: 28.169 ± 6.739 nmol/mL) regarding three amino acids were determined. This may be an interesting approach, especially for diagnostic testing and possibly also for the feed supplements of horses at risk of developing laminitis. However, further research, including a higher number of cases, is required.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-18 PubMed ID: 36552500PubMed Central: PMC9774246DOI: 10.3390/ani12243580Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigated the plasma amino acid concentrations in obese horses suffering from insulin dysregulation and laminitis, finding notable differences in concentrations for three specific amino acids between different groups of horses.

Study Overview

  • The study involved a group of 25 obese horses alongside two lean horses, all suffering from recurrent laminitis, a painful and debilitating disease affecting horses’ hooves. All horses underwent a combined glucose insulin test (CGIT).
  • The horses were segmented into three groups for the analysis: obese horses without insulin dysregulation; horses with insulin dysregulation; and insulin-dysregulated horses also suffering from laminitis. A total of five were obese, 14 showcased insulin dysregulation, and eight were both insulin dysregulated and laminitic.

Amino Acid Concentration Differences

  • Significant variations were noted in the resting plasma amino acid concentrations between obese and insulin-dysregulated laminitic horses, specifically in the concentration of three amino acids – citrulline, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), and methionine.
  • Resting concentrations of citrulline, GABA, and methionine were markedly lower in insulin-dysregulated laminitic horses compared to those in the obese horses.
  • There was also a significant difference in the concentrations of GABA between insulin-dysregulated horses both with and without laminitis, suggesting a possible correlation between GABA levels and the incidence of laminitis in hyperinsulinemic horses.

Implications and Further Research

  • The significant difference in these amino acid concentrations raises the possibility of using such measurements as a diagnostic method for detecting insulin dysregulation and laminitis in horses, as well as for designing appropriate dietary supplements for horses at risk of developing laminitis.
  • However, the authors emphasized the need for further research, involving a larger number of cases, to validate these findings and further investigate the underlying mechanisms and potential clinical applications.

Cite This Article

APA
Stoeckle SD, Timmermann D, Merle R, Gehlen H. (2022). Plasma Amino Acid Concentration in Obese Horses with/without Insulin Dysregulation and Laminitis. Animals (Basel), 12(24), 3580. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12243580

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 24
PII: 3580

Researcher Affiliations

Stoeckle, Sabita Diana
  • Equine Clinic: Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universitaet Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Timmermann, Detlef
  • Laborservice Onken GmbH, 63584 Gruendau, Germany.
Merle, Roswitha
  • Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universitaet Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.
Gehlen, Heidrun
  • Equine Clinic: Surgery and Radiology, Freie Universitaet Berlin, 14163 Berlin, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Detlef Timmermann, who was involved in the investigation, data curation and writing (review and editing), is an employee of Laborservice Onken GmbH. All authors declare no conflict of interest with regard to the writing of this manuscript.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Reemtsma FP, Giers J, Horstmann S, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H. Concentration Changes in Plasma Amino Acids and Their Metabolites in Eventing Horses During Cross-Country Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 22;15(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15131840pubmed: 40646739google scholar: lookup
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