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  Discussion on Research Summary: Grain, Exercise, and Insulin Insensitivity
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Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007 - 10:57 am:

More and more it appears that diets rich in non-structurial carbohydrates (primarily grain) set up horses for equine metabolic disorder that is characterized by obesity and founder starting in middle age. Not surprisingly exercise ameliorates this effect. We have been recommending for some time now that when concentrates are needed to maintain condition feed high fat / low starch concentrates so that you do not set up your horse for this conditions later in life. I would also add to this to keep your horse closer to a 5 (moderate) on the Henneke condition scale rather than a 6 (fleshy) and make sure (s)he gets regular exercise.
DrO

Equine Vet J Suppl. 2006 Aug;(36):579-84.
Effects of dietary energy source and physical conditioning on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in standardbred horses.

Pratt SE, Geor RJ, McCutcheon LJ.
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario NIG 2W1, Canada.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is evidence that adaptation to diets rich in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC) contributes to the development of insulin resistance in horses. To date, however, no study in horses has examined the effects of physical conditioning on diet-associated alterations in insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance. OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of adaptation to concentrate feeds rich in NSC or fat on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in horses, both in the sedentary state and after a subsequent period of physical conditioning. METHODS: Fourteen mature Standardbred horses underwent both a euglycaemic-hyperinsulinaemic clamp (EHC) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after each of the following phases: Baseline - fed only forage cubes for 3 weeks; Diet horses were randomly assigned to receive either a high NSC (S) concentrate or a high fat concentrate (F) with forage cubes for 6 weeks; and Diet x Exercise - horses remained on the assigned ration and underwent a 7 week period of physical conditioning. An incremental exercise test was performed before, and after, the Diet x Exercise phase for measurement of the peak rate of oxygen consumption (VO2peak). RESULTS: In both diet groups, there was an approximately 10% increase in mean VO2peak after physical conditioning. The mean rate of glucose disposal (M) per unit of serum insulin (I) during the EHC [M/I ratio] in S horses was 30% lower (P<0.05) in the Diet phase when compared to Baseline, but not different from Baseline after physical conditioning. The S diet also resulted in a greater (P<0.05) OGTT insulin response (area under the insulin vs. time curve, AUC(INS)) in both Diet and Diet x Exercise phases when compared to Baseline. In F, insulin sensitivity (mean M/I ratio) and glucose tolerance were unchanged during the study. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Feeding a diet rich in NSC for 6 weeks resulted in decreased insulin sensitivity and impaired glucose tolerance. Physical conditioning lessened the effects of the high NSC diet on insulin sensitivity, as evidenced by the return to baseline M/I, but did not mitigate the impaired glucose tolerance. Decreased insulin sensitivity has been implicated in the development of obesity and laminitis in horses and the present findings provide support for avoidance of concentrates with high NSC in the dietary management of horses at risk for the development of these conditions.
Member:
erika

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007 - 2:57 pm:

Thanks, Doc. Very interesting.

After two laminitis episodes in one mare, I stopped feeding any grain to my horses (except a tiny bit in winter for those who had trouble keeping weight on). None of my horses seem to have suffered!
Member:
wgillmor

Posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 - 6:29 pm:

DrO,

There is a bit of a debate at our barn as to how extensively we should try to reduce NSCs. In the above abstract, it references a "high NSC (S) concentrate" diet. Does the actual article quantify how much NSC is in this diet in contrast to how much in the high fat diet?

Alternatively or in addition, do you have a recommendation as to what we should aim for? In the article, you recommend supplements with 10% fat, but you don't say how little starch (unless I missed it).

Thanks,
Wiley
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, May 29, 2008 - 7:09 am:

The problem with your discussion is it leaves out the most important component in deciding the importance of a low starch diet: the condition of the horses and does anyone have problems with Metabolic SynDrOme. You have to remember grains have been successfully used to feed horses for thousands of years and most of the problems seem to be in the recent past and usually in association with overfeeding and horses gaining too much condition. For feeding recommendations we suggest you follow that given in nutrition overview and if you want to use a low starch concentrate that is fine but I do not know of any numbers for the amount of NSC that would be considered ideal for all situations and horses. For more on this see the concentrate section of the Overview article.
DrO
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