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Open veterinary journal2019; 9(4); 287-293; doi: 10.4314/ovj.v9i4.2

Possible dysmetabolic hyperferritinemia in hyperinsulinemic horses.

Abstract: Hyperinsulinemia associated with equine metabolic syndrome and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction is a risk factor for laminitis. Research in other species has shown elevated body iron levels as both a predictor and consequence of insulin resistance. In humans, this is known as dysmetabolic hyperferritinemia. To explore the relationship between equine hyperinsulinemia and body iron levels. We reviewed case histories and laboratory results from an open access database maintained by the Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group Inc. (ECIR). We identified 33 horses with confirmed hyperinsulinemia and laboratory results for serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and ferritin. Pearson correlation was used to test the relationship between insulin and iron indices. Additionally, we performed a secondary analysis of a previously reported controlled trial that was originally designed to test the correlation between iron status and the insulin response in horses. Here, we used a -test to compare the mean values of insulin and ferritin between horses we categorized as normal or hyperinsulinemic based on their response to an oral challenge. Serum ferritin exceeded published reference range in 100% of the horses identified from the ECIR database. There were no statistically significant associations between insulin indices (RISQI, log insulin) and iron indices (log serum iron, log TSI%, log ferritin). There were trends for a negative association between RISQI and log iron [(31) = -0.33, = 0.058] and a positive association between age and ferritin [(30) = 0.34, = 0.054]. From the secondary data analysis of published data, we found significantly elevated ferritin ( = 0.05) in horses considered hyperinsulinemic by dynamic insulin testing compared to horses with a normal response. These results suggest the potential for iron overload in hyperinsulinemic horses, a feature documented in other species and should stimulate further study into the relationship between insulin and iron dysregulation in the horse.
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Publication Date: 2019-10-21 PubMed ID: 32042647PubMed Central: PMC6971364DOI: 10.4314/ovj.v9i4.2Google 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.

The research explores the link between high insulin levels, referred to as hyperinsulinemia, and high body iron levels in horses. The study finds that hyperinsulinemia could potentially lead to an iron overload condition similar to what is known as dysmetabolic hyperferritinemia in humans.

Study Methodology

  • The researchers utilized an open access database maintained by the Equine Cushing’s and Insulin Resistance Group Inc. (ECIR), where they reviewed case histories and lab results involving horses with hyperinsulinemia.
  • They zeroed in on 33 horses that had confirmed hyperinsulinemia and had undergone tests for serum iron, total iron binding capacity, and ferritin (a protein that stores iron).
  • Statistical tools called Pearson correlation and t-tests were used to investigate the potential links between insulin and iron levels in these horses.

Findings

  • The results showed that in all of the horses identified from the ECIR database, serum ferritin levels were higher than what is considered normal.
  • However, they found no statistically significant correlations between insulin indices and iron indices. There were some trends observed, including a negative relationship between the insulin measure RISQI and log iron, and a positive relationship between age and ferritin.
  • Reviewing previously published data, a secondary analysis revealed an uptick in ferritin levels in horses identified as hyperinsulinemic compared to those with a normal insulin level.

Conclusion

This study puts forward the possibility that hyperinsulinemia in horses may lead to dysmetabolic hyperferritinemia, an iron overload condition. However, while a relationship was noticed between increased insulin and higher ferritin levels, no significant correlation was found between insulin and iron levels. This calls for further research to fully understand the relationship between insulin and iron dysregulation in horses. The findings, if further confirmed, could have potential implications in treating conditions resulting from iron overload in horses. These could include laminitis, a condition that often affects hyperinsulinemic horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Kellon EM, Gustafson KM. (2019). Possible dysmetabolic hyperferritinemia in hyperinsulinemic horses. Open Vet J, 9(4), 287-293. https://doi.org/10.4314/ovj.v9i4.2

Publication

Open veterinary journal
ISSN: 2218-6050
NlmUniqueID: 101653182
Country: Libya
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 4
Pages: 287-293

Researcher Affiliations

Kellon, Eleanor M
  • Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group, Inc, 2307 Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA.
Gustafson, Kathleen M
  • Equine Cushing's and Insulin Resistance Group, Inc, 2307 Rural Road, Tempe, AZ 85282, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horses
  • Hyperinsulinism / complications
  • Hyperinsulinism / veterinary
  • Insulin / blood
  • Iron Overload / blood
  • Iron Overload / veterinary
  • Male

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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