The effect of long-term exercise on glucose metabolism and peripheral insulin sensitivity in standardbred horses.
Abstract: To study the possible long-term effect of improved glucose tolerance in horses after long-term training, as the impact of exercise training on glucose metabolism is still unclear in the equine species. It is not known whether there is a direct long-term effect of training or if the measurable effect on glucose metabolism is the residual effect of the last exercise session. Objective: To determine the chronic effect on glucose metabolism and peripheral insulin sensitivity of long-term training in horses by use of the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp technique. Methods: Eleven Standardbred horses were acclimatised to running on the high-speed treadmill for 4 weeks (Phase 1) followed by training for 18 weeks with an alternating endurance (approximately 60% HRmax) high intensity training programme (approximately 80% HRmax) (Phase 2). Training frequency was 4 days/week. At the end of Phase 1, a euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamp was performed 72 h after the last bout of exercise in all horses. At the end of Phase 2, the horses were clamped 24 h or 72 h after the last bout of exercise. Results: Glucose metabolism rate did not change significantly after 18 weeks of training, measured 72 h after the last exercise bout (0.018 +/- 0.009 and 0.022 +/- 0.006 mmol/kg bwt/min, respectively). Peripheral insulin sensitivity also did not change significantly following training (7.6 +/- 5.7 x 10(-6) and 8.0 +/- 3.1 x 10(-6), respectively). The same measurements 24 h after the last bout of exercise showed no significant differences. Conclusions: Results indicated that long-term training in Standardbreds neither changed glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity 72 h after the last bout of exercise. Conclusions: The fact that the beneficial effect of increased insulin sensitivity after acute exercise diminishes quickly in horses and no long-term effects on insulin sensitivity after chronic exercise have as yet been found in horses, implies that exercise should be performed on a regular basis in horses to retain the beneficial effect of improved insulin sensitivity.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17402422DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05543.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study focuses on understanding the long-term effects of physical training on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in standardbred horses. Researchers found that chronic exercise does not seem to generate lasting changes in these factors beyond short-term, temporary improvements observed immediately after bouts of exercise.
Methodology
- The researchers used eleven Standardbred horses for this study.
- The horses were first acclimated to running on a high-speed treadmill for a four-week period.
- This process was followed by an 18-week training program carried out at two different intensity levels: endurance-based training at approximately 60% of their maximum heart rate, and high-intensity training at around 80% of their maximum heart rate.
- This training routine was performed four days a week.
- The researchers used a technique called euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic clamping to evaluate the effects of this chronic exercise on glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.
- This clamping was performed 72 hours after the last exercise session at the end of the four-week acclimation phase, and either 24 or 72 hours after the final exercise session after the 18-week training program.
Results
- No significant change in glucose metabolism rate was found 72 hours after the last exercise bout, even after 18 weeks of training.
- Similarly, the peripheral insulin sensitivity, which gives an indication of how effectively the body’s cells can use insulin, also didn’t change significantly following the training program.
- These results held true when measurements were taken 24 hours after the last bout of exercise.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that long-term training doesn’t bring about significant changes in glucose metabolism or insulin sensitivity in Standardbred horses 72 hours after the last bout of exercise.
- Moreover, the beneficial impact of acute exercise on increasing insulin sensitivity appears to fade rapidly in horses. The study suggests no significant long-term effects on insulin sensitivity following chronic exercise has yet been observed in horses.
- The researchers therefore believe that regular, consistent exercise may be necessary in horses to maintain the improved insulin sensitivity typically seen following bouts of physical activity.
Cite This Article
APA
de Graaf-Roelfsema E, van Ginneken ME, van Breda E, Wijnberg ID, Keizer HA, van der Kolk JH.
(2007).
The effect of long-term exercise on glucose metabolism and peripheral insulin sensitivity in standardbred horses.
Equine Vet J Suppl(36), 221-225.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05543.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- The Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Adaptation, Physiological
- Animals
- Blood Glucose / metabolism
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Glucose Clamp Technique / veterinary
- Horses / blood
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Insulin / metabolism
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Running / physiology
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Valigura HC, Leatherwood JL, Martinez RE, Norton SA, White-Springer SH. Dietary supplementation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product attenuates exercise-induced stress markers in young horses.. J Anim Sci 2021 Aug 1;99(8).
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