FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / The Effect of Seasonal Changes in Non-Structural Carbohydrat...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2026; 16(2); 267; doi: 10.3390/ani16020267

The Effect of Seasonal Changes in Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Pasture on the Metabolic Profile of Horses with Laminitis.

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the seasonal dynamics of non-structural carbohydrates in pasture and their relationship to metabolic indicators in horses with a history of laminitis. Thirty Hucul mares were divided into a laminitis group (LG, = 15) and a control group (CG, = 15). Insulin, glucose, fructosamines concentrations and body weight were monitored during four sampling periods (S0-S3), while pasture variables were analyzed during three periods (S1-S3). The concentration of water-soluble carbohydrates was highest in May (126.8 g/kg DM) and measured lower in October (57.9 g/kg DM), while starch concentrations measured 0.1 g/kg DM in May, 25.8 g/kg DM in July, and 24.0 g/kg DM in October. No significant differences were observed in insulin concentrations between groups ( > 0.05). Glucose was significantly higher in LG in May (LG: 5.50 mmol/L; CG: 5.09 mmol/L; < 0.05) and October (LG: 5.98 mmol/L; CG: 5.24 mmol/L; < 0.01). Fructosamine values were higher in LG throughout the season, with significance in October (LG: 120.6 μmol/L; CG: 101.1 μmol/L; < 0.05). Body weight increased in both LG and CG during grazing (S2), with mean values at S0 being 423.6 kg in LG and 424.8 kg in CG, and at S2 being 533.8 kg in LG and 535.6 kg in CG ( > 0.05 for between-group differences). These findings suggest a different glycemic response in laminitic horses in relation to WSC and starch concentrations and highlight starch as a potential predictor of glycemic instability.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2026-01-15 PubMed ID: 41594457PubMed Central: PMC12837663DOI: 10.3390/ani16020267Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Cite This Article

APA
Mlyneková E, Zaťko S, Halo M, Imrich I, Halo M. (2026). The Effect of Seasonal Changes in Non-Structural Carbohydrates in Pasture on the Metabolic Profile of Horses with Laminitis. Animals (Basel), 16(2), 267. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16020267

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
PII: 267

Researcher Affiliations

Mlyneková, Eva
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia.
Zaťko, Stanislav
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia.
Halo, Marko
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia.
Imrich, Ivan
  • Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia.
Halo, Marko
  • Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia.

Grant Funding

  • VEGA 1/0437/24 / Vedecká grantová agentúra MŠVVaM SR a SAV

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 37 references
  1. Halo M., Mlyneková E., Grácz F., Šmelko V., Hura V., Gálik B., Solár D., Chrenek P., Kubovičová E. Chov Koní. 1st ed. Slovenská Poľnohospodárska Univerzita v Nitre; Nitra, Slovakia: 2019. Pastva koní.
  2. Bott R.C., Greene E.A., Koch K., Martinson K.L., Siciliano P.D., Williams C., Trottier N.L., Burk A., Swinker A. Production and enviromental implications of equine grazing. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2013;33:1031–1043. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.05.004.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.05.004google scholar: lookup
  3. Rash K. Diagnóza Schvácení Kopyt. KoKo Produkzionsservice; Ostrava, Czech Republic: 2011. Jak nedat laminitidě šanci.
  4. Geor R.J. Metabolic predispositions to laminitis in horses and ponies: Obesity, insulin resistance and metabolic syndromes. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2008;28:753–759. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2008.10.016.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2008.10.016google scholar: lookup
  5. Thorringer N.W. Carbohydrate Digestion in Horses: Methods, Processing, and Future Perspectives. Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Ås, Norway: 2022.
  6. Harris P., Bailey S.R., Elliot J., Longland A. Countermeasures for pasture-associated laminitis in ponies and horses. J. Nutr. 2006;136:2114S–2121S. doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2114S.
    doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2114Spubmed: 16772514google scholar: lookup
  7. Hinckley K.A., Henderson I.W. The epidemiology of equine laminitis in the UK; Proceedings of the 35th Congress of the British Equine Veterinary Congress; Warwick, UK. 8–11 September 1996; p. 62.
  8. Marcato P.S., Perillo A. Equine laminitis. New insights into the pathogenesis. A review. Large Anim. Rev. 2020;26:353–363.
  9. Lane H.E., Burns T.A., Hegedus O.C., Watts M.R., Weber P.S., Woltman K.A., Geor R.J., McCutcheon L.J., Eades S.C., Mathes L.E., et al. Lamellar events related to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor signalling in two models relevant to endocrinopathic laminitis. Equine Vet. J. 2017;49:643–654. doi: 10.1111/evj.12663.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12663pubmed: 28078757google scholar: lookup
  10. Frank N., Tadros E.M. Insulin dysregulation. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:103–112. doi: 10.1111/evj.12169.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12169pubmed: 24033478google scholar: lookup
  11. Frank N., Geor R.J., Bailey S.R., Durham A.E., Johnson P.J. Equine metabolic syndrome. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2010;24:467–475. doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0503.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0503.xpubmed: 20384947google scholar: lookup
  12. Carter R.A., Treiber K.H., Geor R.J., Douglass L., Harris P.A. Prediction of incipient pasture-associated laminitis from hyperinsulinaemia, hyperleptinaemia and generalised and localised obesity in a cohort of ponies. Equine Vet. J. 2009;41:171–178. doi: 10.2746/042516408X342975.
    doi: 10.2746/042516408X342975pubmed: 19418747google scholar: lookup
  13. Dandona P., Aljada A., Bandyopadhyay A. Inflammation: The link between insulin resistance, obesity and diabetes. Trends Immunol. 2004;25:4–7. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2003.10.013.
    doi: 10.1016/j.it.2003.10.013pubmed: 14698276google scholar: lookup
  14. Frank N., Elliott S.B., Brandt L.E., Keisler D.H. Physical characteristics, blood hormone concentrations, and plasma lipid concentrations in obese horses with insulin resistance. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 2006;228:1383–1390. doi: 10.2460/javma.228.9.1383.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.228.9.1383pubmed: 16649943google scholar: lookup
  15. Hutley L., Prins J.B. Fat as an endocrine organ: Relationship to the metabolic syndrome. Am. J. Med. Sci. 2005;330:280–289. doi: 10.1097/00000441-200512000-00005.
    doi: 10.1097/00000441-200512000-00005pubmed: 16355012google scholar: lookup
  16. Muoio D.M., Newgard C.B. Mechanisms of disease: Molecular and metabolic mechanisms of insulin resistance and beta-cell failure in type 2 diabetes. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 2008;9:193–205. doi: 10.1038/nrm2327.
    doi: 10.1038/nrm2327pubmed: 18200017google scholar: lookup
  17. FEI Code of Conduct for the Welfare of the Horse. 2025. [(accessed on 22 September 2025)]. Available online: http://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/FEI%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20for%20the%20Welfare%20of%20the%20Horse.pdf.
  18. Longland A.C., Byrd B.M. Pasture nonstructural carbohydrates and equine laminitis. J. Nutr. 2006;136:2099S–2102S. doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2099S.
    doi: 10.1093/jn/136.7.2099Spubmed: 16772510google scholar: lookup
  19. Turner L.B., Humphreys M.O., Cairns A.J., Pollock C.J. Comparison of growth and carbohydrate accumulation in seedlings of two varieties of Lolium perenne. J. Plant Physiol. 2001;158:891–897. doi: 10.1078/0176-1617-00320.
    doi: 10.1078/0176-1617-00320google scholar: lookup
  20. Meyer H., Radicke S., Kienzle E., Wilke S., Kleffken D., Illenseer M. Investigations on preileal digestion of starch from grain, potato and manioc in horses. J. Vet. Med. Ser. A. 1995;42:371–381. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1995.tb00389.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.1995.tb00389.xpubmed: 7495169google scholar: lookup
  21. Potter G.D., Arnold F.F., Householder D.D., Hansen D.H., Brown K.M. Digestion of starch in the small or large intestine of the equine. Pferdeheilkunde. 1992;1:107–111.
  22. Vervuert I., Voigt K., Hollands T., Cuddeford D., Coenen M. Effect of feeding increasing quantities of starch on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in healthy horses. Vet. J. 2009;182:67–72. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.04.011.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.04.011pubmed: 18558504google scholar: lookup
  23. Knowles E.J., Withers J.M., Mair T.S. Increased plasma fructosamine concentrations in laminitic horses. Equine Vet. J. 2012;44:226–229. doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00419.x.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00419.xpubmed: 21696439google scholar: lookup
  24. Siciliano P.D., Gill J.C., Bowman M.A. Effect of sward height on pasture nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations and blood glucoce/insulin profiles in grazing horses. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2017;57:29–34. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.06.004.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.06.004google scholar: lookup
  25. Velineni S., Schiltz P., Chang K.H., Peng Y.M., Cowles B. Accuracy and validation of a point-of-care blood glucose monitoring system for use in horses. Front. Vet. Sci. 2024;11:1436714. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1436714.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1436714pmc: PMC11500461pubmed: 39450406google scholar: lookup
  26. Satué K., Marcilla M., Medica P., Cravana C., Fazio E. Temporal relationships of GH, IGF-I and fructosamine concentrations in pregnant Spanish Purebred mares: A substantial contribution from the hormonal standpoint. Theriogenology. 2018;118:164–171. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.05.040.
    doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.05.040pubmed: 29909261google scholar: lookup
  27. Schleicher E.D., Olgemöller B., Wiedenmann E., Gerbitz K.D. Specific glycation of albumin depends on its half-life. Clin. Chem. 1993;39:625–628. doi: 10.1093/clinchem/39.4.625.
    doi: 10.1093/clinchem/39.4.625pubmed: 8472356google scholar: lookup
  28. Knowles E.J., Menzies-Gow N.J., Mair T.S. Plasma fructosamine concentrations in horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction with and without laminitis. Equine Vet. J. 2014;46:249–251. doi: 10.1111/evj.12090.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12090pubmed: 23663105google scholar: lookup
  29. Murphy D., Reid S.W., Graham P.A., Love S. Fructosamine measurement in ponies: Validation and response following experimental cyathostome infection. Res. Vet. Sci. 1997;63:113–118. doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(97)90002-3.
    doi: 10.1016/S0034-5288(97)90002-3pubmed: 9429242google scholar: lookup
  30. Arfuso F., Rizzo M., Giannetto C., Giudice E., Piccione G., Fazio F., Cirincione R., Cassata G., Cicero L. Inflammatory-like status and acute stress response in horses after road transport. Sci. Rep. 2023;13:9858. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37069-1.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37069-1pmc: PMC10276830pubmed: 37330619google scholar: lookup
  31. Vick M.M., Adams A.A., Murphy B.A., Sessions D.R., Horohov D.W., Cook R.F., Shelton B.J., Fitzgerald B.P. Relationships among inflammatory cytokines, obesity, and insulin sensitivity in the horse. J. Anim. Sci. 2007;85:1144–1155. doi: 10.2527/jas.2006-673.
    doi: 10.2527/jas.2006-673pubmed: 17264235google scholar: lookup
  32. Suagee J.K., Corl B.A., Crisman M.V., Hulver M.W., McCutcheon L.J., Geor R.J. Effects of acute hyperinsulinemia on inflammatory proteins in horses. Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol. 2011;142:141–146. doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.05.001.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.05.001pubmed: 21621276google scholar: lookup
  33. Asplin K.E., Sillence M.N., Pollitt C.C., McGowan C.M. Induction of laminitis by prolonged hyperinsulinaemia in clinically normal ponies. Vet. J. 2007;174:530–535. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.07.003.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.07.003pubmed: 17719811google scholar: lookup
  34. Johnson P.J., Wiedmeyer C.E., LaCarrubba A., Ganjam V.K., Messer N.T. Diabetes, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome in horses. J. Diabetes Sci. Technol. 2012;6:534–540. doi: 10.1177/193229681200600307.
    doi: 10.1177/193229681200600307pmc: PMC3440056pubmed: 22768883google scholar: lookup
  35. Tiley H.A., Geor R.J., McCutcheon L.J. Effects of dexamethasone on glucose dynamics and insulin sensitivity in healthy horses. Am. J. Vet. Res. 2007;68:753–759. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.68.7.753.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.68.7.753pubmed: 17605611google scholar: lookup
  36. Geor R.J., Hinchcliff K.W., McCutcheon L.J., Sams R.A. Epinephrine inhibits exogenous glucose utilization in exercising horses. J. Appl. Physiol. 2000;88:1777–1790. doi: 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.5.1777.
    doi: 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.5.1777pubmed: 10797142google scholar: lookup
  37. Loos C., Castelein A., Vanzant E., Adam E., McLeod K.R. Nutraceutical Supplement Mitigates Insulin Resistance in Horses with a History of Insulin Dysregulation During a Challenge with a High-Starch Diet. Anim. J. 2024;14:3385. doi: 10.3390/ani14233385.
    doi: 10.3390/ani14233385pmc: PMC11640219pubmed: 39682351google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,034 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.