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Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(3); 574-583; doi: 10.1111/evj.13474

Postprandial insulin responses to various feedstuffs differ in insulin dysregulated horses compared with non-insulin dysregulated controls.

Abstract: Controlling postprandial hyperinsulinaemia is important in insulin dysregulated (ID) horses to reduce the risk of laminitis. Objective: To evaluate postprandial insulin responses of ID versus non-insulin dysregulated (NID) horses to feedstuffs varying in nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) and crude protein (CP). Methods: Randomised crossover. Methods: Eighteen adult mixed-breed horses (13.3 ± 2.2 years; 621 ± 78.8 kg) were individually fed [~1 g/kg body weight (BW)] specific feedstuffs within two crossover studies. Eight ID and eight NID were used in Study A, and 11 ID and 5 NID in Study B. In Study A, all horses were randomly fed once: cracked corn (CC: ~74% NSC & ~9% CP), ration balancer with low protein (RB-LP: ~15% NSC & ~17% CP), ration balancer with high protein (RB-HP: ~14% NSC and ~37% CP) and 50:50 mixture of RB-LP:RB-HP (MIX-P). In Study B, horses were randomly fed once: CC, RB-HP, steam-flaked corn (SF: ~73% NSC & ~10% CP), oat groats (OG: ~64% NSC & ~14% CP) and a low NSC pellet (L-NSC: ~6% NSC & ~12% CP). Blood was collected for insulin determination [radioimmunoassay (RIA)] before and 30, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240-minute post-feeding in Study A and at 60-minute in Study B. Data were analysed via analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures after any required transformations. Results: ID horses had significantly greater insulin responses (AUCi) than NID for all diets in both studies (P < .001; ID 22 362 ± 10 298 µIU/mL/min & NID 6145 ± 1922 µIU/mL/min). No effect of diet on AUCi for NID (P = .2), but in ID, the CC (32 000 ± 13 960 µIU/mL/min) AUCi was higher than RB-LP (P = .01; 18 977 ± 6731 µIU/mL/min). ID insulin (T60) was lower for the L-NSC (57.8 ± 18.5 µIU/mL) versus all other diets (P < .02; 160.1 ± 91.5 µIU/mL). Conclusions: Small numbers of horses; no ponies. Conclusions: NSC appears to be the main driver of the postprandial insulin response. ID horses respond disproportionately to feeding even small amounts of low/moderate NSC feedstuffs. Data on possible dietary thresholds for postprandial insulin responses cannot be extrapolated from NID horses.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-08 PubMed ID: 34053111DOI: 10.1111/evj.13474Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Veterinary
  • Journal Article

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 study investigates how various feeds affect insulin responses in horses, particularly those with insulin dysregulation (ID). The result showed that ID horses had significantly greater insulin responses to all diets compared to non-ID ones, and that nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) levels appear to be the main determiner of post-meal insulin responses.

Methods

  • A total of eighteen adult horses of mixed breeds were used in the study across two separate investigations, Study A and Study B
  • Eight insulin dysregulated (ID) and eight non-insulin dysregulated (NID) horses were involved in Study A, while Study B comprised eleven ID and five NID horses
  • Different feedstuffs were used, including cracked corn (rich in NSC and moderate in crude protein), two variations of a ration balancer with low and high protein (moderate in NSC), a mixture of both ration balancers, steam-flaked corn, oat groats, and a low NSC pellet
  • Blood samples were taken at various time intervals after feeding to evaluate their insulin levels
  • Insulin determination was done using a method known as radioimmunoassay (RIA)
  • Data was analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) techniques.

Results

  • The insulin levels of ID horses were significantly higher than those of NID horses for all diets
  • Cracked corn resulted in higher insulin responses (AUCi) in ID horses compared to the low protein ration balancer
  • In ID horses, the insulin level (T60) was lower for the diet containing low NSC pellets compared to all other diets
  • The type of diet given did not significantly affect the AUCi in NID horses.

Conclusions

  • Nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) appear to be the primary driver of insulin response after feeding
  • Even a small number of ID horses respond disproportionately to feeding, particularly when the feedstuff has low to moderate NSC content
  • The researchers caution against extrapolating any identified dietary thresholds for post-meal insulin responses from NID to ID horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Macon EL, Harris P, Bailey S, Barker VD, Adams A. (2021). Postprandial insulin responses to various feedstuffs differ in insulin dysregulated horses compared with non-insulin dysregulated controls. Equine Vet J, 54(3), 574-583. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13474

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 3
Pages: 574-583

Researcher Affiliations

Macon, Erica L
  • Department of Veterinary Science, M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Harris, Patricia
  • Equine Studies Group, WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, UK.
Bailey, Simon
  • Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
Barker, Virginia D
  • Department of Veterinary Science, M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
Adams, Amanda
  • Department of Veterinary Science, M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose
  • Diet / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / metabolism
  • Horses
  • Hyperinsulinism / veterinary
  • Insulin / metabolism

Grant Funding

  • MARS Petcare UK

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Palmer AT, Watts MR, Timko KJ, Pinnell EF, Keefer KA, Gorman O, Hostnik LD, Burns TA. Corticosteroid Administration Enhances the Glycemic, Insulinemic, and Incretin Responses to a High-Protein Mixed Meal in Adult Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2025 Mar-Apr;39(2):e17305.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.17305pubmed: 40062690google scholar: lookup
  2. Michanek P, Bröjer J, Lilliehöök I, Fjordbakk CT, Löwgren M, Hedeland M, Bergquist J, Ekstrand C. Pharmacokinetics and Alterations in Glucose and Insulin Levels After a Single Dose of Canagliflozin in Healthy Icelandic Horses. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2025 Jan;48 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):41-49.
    doi: 10.1111/jvp.13476pubmed: 39113254google scholar: lookup
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