Plasma insulin concentration increases linearly with body condition in Icelandic horses.
Abstract: This study investigated the variation in plasma insulin concentration (PIC) in a group of Icelandic horses in training, considered to be healthy and examined possible relationships between PIC and gender, age, body size, body condition score and management factors such as feed allowance and subjective level of fitness. Results: Plasma insulin concentration ranged from 0.2 to 13.9 mU/l, body condition score from 2.3 to 4.0 and concentrate allowance from 0 to 4 kg. There was a significant effect of concentrate allowance (P = 0.0007) and body condition score (P = 0.004) on PIC. For every 1 kg increase in the concentrate allowance, log-PIC increased by 0.26 mU/l. For every 1 unit increase in body condition score, log-PIC increased by 0.45 mU/l. There was no effect of hay allowance, level of fitness, transport time, body size and age on insulin concentration. Conclusions: Owners of Icelandic horses should be aware that increased body condition elevates PIC, and thereby potentially the risk of laminitis. However, in the group of horses studied, the concentrations were within the range considered normal.
Publication Date: 2016-11-09 PubMed ID: 27829433PubMed Central: PMC5103404DOI: 10.1186/s13028-016-0258-8Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigated the relationship between plasma insulin concentration (PIC), body condition, and dietary factors in Icelandic horses. Findings demonstrated a direct correlation between body condition and PIC, with higher body conditioning leading to a rise in PIC levels.
Study Objectives and Methodology
- The primary objective of this study was to monitor PIC in a healthy group of Icelandic horses in training and explore any potential links between PIC and various factors such as age, body size, body condition score, gender, and management factors.
- By analyzing the association between these variables, the research aimed to identify possible triggers for shifts in PIC.
- Data on body condition scores, concentrate allowance, and plasma insulin concentration was collected and analyzed statistically to ascertain any existing patterns or relationships.
Key Results
- The results demonstrated significant variance in plasma insulin concentration, body condition score, and concentrate allowance among the horses studied.
- The data confirmed a substantial effect of both concentrate allowance and body condition score on PIC levels. As the concentrate allowance or body condition score rose, there was a corresponding increase in PIC.
- Interestingly, the study found no notable impact on PIC from other potential influencers including hay allowance, body size, fitness level, transport time, or age.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that horse owners should be cognizant that elevated body condition levels can lead to an increase in PIC. This, in turn, could raise the potential risk of laminitis, a painful and debilitating hoof condition common in horses.
- Despite the findings, it was noted that in the group of horses studied, all displayed PIC measurements within the range deemed normal.
- However, the results suggest that careful management of body condition and concentrate allowance could be key factors in controlling PIC levels, thereby potentially helping to mitigate health risks in Icelandic horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Jansson A, Stéfansdóttir GJ, Ragnarsson S.
(2016).
Plasma insulin concentration increases linearly with body condition in Icelandic horses.
Acta Vet Scand, 58(1), 76.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-016-0258-8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7011, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. anna.jansson@slu.se.
- Department of Equine Science, Holar University College, 551, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
- Department of Equine Science, Holar University College, 551, Sauðárkrókur, Iceland.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Feed / analysis
- Animal Feed / standards
- Animals
- Body Constitution / physiology
- Diet / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / blood
- Horses / physiology
- Insulin / blood
- Male
References
This article includes 8 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Jansson A, Gunnarsson VÞ, Ringmark S, Ragnarsson S, Söderroos D, Ásgeirsson E, Jóhannsdóttir TR, Liedberg C, Stefánsdóttir GJ. Increased body fat content in horses alters metabolic and physiological exercise response, decreases performance, and increases locomotion asymmetry. Physiol Rep 2021 Jun;9(11):e14824.
- Delarocque J, Frers F, Huber K, Feige K, Warnken T. Weight loss is linearly associated with a reduction of the insulin response to an oral glucose test in Icelandic horses. BMC Vet Res 2020 May 24;16(1):151.
- Robles M, Nouveau E, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lagofun B, Aubrière MC, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Viguié C, Wimel L, Bouraima-Lelong H, Serteyn D, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age. PLoS One 2018;13(1):e0190309.
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