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Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.14013

Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native-breed ponies in England.

Abstract: Equine metabolic syndrome is a collection of risk factors associated with an increased risk of endocrinopathic laminitis. All affected animals display insulin dysregulation and some may show adiponectin dysregulation and/or excessive adiposity. However, the relationship between obesity and hypoadiponectinaemia in equids remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the relationship between obesity and circulating plasma total adiponectin (TA) concentrations in native-breed ponies in England. Methods: Secondary data analysis. Methods: Data collected for three previous studies were retrospectively analysed and cohorts were pooled where possible (maximum sample size: n = 734 ponies). Correlations between [TA], age, and morphometric measures were assessed using Spearman's correlation coefficient. [TA] was compared between animals of different body condition score (BCS) classification (ideal-weight, overweight, and obese), breed, and body shape using Kruskal-Wallis with Dunn's post hoc tests, and sex using Mann-Whitney U test. The proportions of obese and ideal-weight ponies with basal hyperinsulinaemia and/or hypoadiponectinaemia were compared using a Chi-square test of homogeneity and post hoc z-test. Logistic regression was used to identify factors that may discriminate ponies with hypoadiponectinaemia. Results: [TA] was weakly positively correlated with BCS, height, weight, and weight:height ratio (Spearman's ρ = 0.14-0.29, p < 0.05). There were significant differences in [TA] in ponies with different BCS group classification, body shape, and breed. A greater percentage of obese (54.6%) than ideal-weight ponies (33.1%, p < 0.001) had both normal [TA] and [basal insulin], and a greater percentage of ideal-weight (38.6%) than obese ponies (16.5%, p < 0.001) showed hypoadiponectinaemia. Weight:height and BCS group were significant variables in a logistic regression of hypoadiponectinaemia but model fit and predictive accuracy were poor. Conclusions: Retrospective study design, only native-breed ponies included. Conclusions: Morphometric measures such as BCS do not closely reflect [TA]. Circulating [TA] and [basal insulin] should be determined in all animals with predisposing factors, regardless of obesity status.
© 2023 MARS Horsecare and The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-06 PubMed ID: 37800870DOI: 10.1111/evj.14013Google 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 explored the correlation between obesity and total adiponectin levels in native-breed ponies in England, with findings suggesting that traditional measures like Body Condition Score (BCS) did not strongly reflect adiponectin levels, raising concerns about relying only on these physical measures for assessing equine health.

Research Aim and Methodology

  • The research primarily aimed to understand the relationship between obesity and concentrations of total adiponectin (TA) in native-breed ponies in England, against the backdrop of equine metabolic syndrome, a condition with risk factors like insulin and possibly adiponectin dysregulation, and excessive adiposity.
  • Using secondary data analysis, data from three previous studies were analyzed retrospectively, pooling cohorts wherever possible to reach a maximum sample size of 734 ponies.
  • Differing metrics like TA, age, and morphometric measurements were compared using Spearman’s correlation coefficients, and groups classified on the basis of Body Condition Score (BCS), breed, and body shape were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s post-hoc tests.
  • The study also compared the proportions of ideal-weight and obese ponies with basal hyperinsulinaemia and/or hypoadiponectinaemia using a Chi-square test of homogeneity with a post-hoc z-test and employed logistic regression to identify factors affecting ponies with hypoadiponectinaemia.

Findings of the Study

  • According to the results, TA was slightly positively correlated with variables like BCS, height, weight, and weight-to-height ratio.
  • Significant differences were found in TA in ponies classified based on BCS, body shape, and breed. Interestingly, a greater percentage of obese ponies had normal TA and basal insulin concentrations compared to ideal-weight ponies.
  • In contrast, a significant percentage of ideal-weight ponies exhibited hypoadiponectinaemia. Parameters like weight-to-height and BCS classification were important factors in assessing hypoadiponectinaemia, but the logistic regression model’s predictive accuracy didn’t fare well.

Conclusion

  • The study, forthright about its retrospective design and sampling only native-breed ponies, concludes that traditional physical measures like BCS do not accurately reflect TA levels in horses, indicating that relying solely on them for equine health assessment could be inadequate.
  • The authors suggest that in animals with predisposing factors, analyzing circulating TA and basal insulin levels should be part of the assessment for metabolic syndrome, irrespective of obesity status.

Cite This Article

APA
Barnabé MA, Elliott J, Harris PA, Menzies-Gow NJ. (2023). Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native-breed ponies in England. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14013

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Barnabé, Marine A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Elliott, Jonathan
  • Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Harris, Patricia A
  • Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Leics, UK.
Menzies-Gow, Nicola J
  • Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.

Grant Funding

  • Royal Veterinary College Mellon Fund
  • Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Barnabé MA, Elliott J, Harris PA, Menzies-Gow NJ. Effects of pasture consumption and obesity on insulin dysregulation and adiponectin concentrations in UK native-breed ponies. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):243-255.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14507pubmed: 40257424google scholar: lookup
  2. Menzies-Gow NJ, Knowles EJ. Sodium-glucose transport protein 2 inhibitor use in the management of insulin dysregulation in ponies and horses. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2025 Jan;48 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):31-40.
    doi: 10.1111/jvp.13470pubmed: 38984777google scholar: lookup
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