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  Discussion on Research Summary: More Support for High Fat Diets in Exercising Horses
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Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jun 16, 2008 - 11:46 am:

From all we have read before it is not surprising that high fat diets have benefits for endurance horses. In this study horses on high fat diets showed greater flexibility in energy utilization which should help stave off exhaustion during prolonged submaximal exercise like is seen in endurance competition.
DrO

J Nutr. 2008 May;138(5):964-70.

Dietary energy source affects glucose kinetics in trained Arabian geldings at rest and during endurance exercise.

Treiber KH, Geor RJ, Boston RC, Hess TM, Harris PA, Kronfeld DS.

Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. lyradorn@hotmail.com

Advances in modeling and tracer techniques provide new perspective into glucose utilization and potential consequences to health or exercise performance. This study used stable isotope and compartmental modeling to evaluate how adaptation to a feed high in sugar and starch (SS) compared with a feed high in fat and fiber (FF) affects glucose kinetics at rest and during exercise in horses. Six trained Arabians adapted to each feed underwent similar tests at rest and while running approximately 4 m/s on a treadmill. For both tests, horses received 100 micromol/kg body weight [6,6-(2)H]glucose through a venous catheter. Circulating tracer glucose was described for 150 min by exponential decay curves and compartmental analysis. All parameters of glucose transfer increased with exercise (P < or = 0.004). Compared with FF horses, SS horses had higher circulating glucose (P = 0.022) and fractional glucose transfer rates (min(-1)) at rest (P = 0.055). Exercise increased glucose irreversible loss (mmol/min) more in SS horses (P = 0.037). Total glucose transfer during exercise tended to be greater in SS horses (0.027 +/- 0.002 mmol/min) compared with FF horses (0.023 +/- 0.002 mmol/min) (P = 0.109). This study characterized the effect of diet on glucose kinetics in resting and exercising horses using new modeling methods. Horses adapted to a fat-supplemented feed utilized less glucose during low-intensity exercise. Fat supplementation in horses may therefore promote greater flexibility in the selection of substrate to meet energy demands for optimal health and performance.
New Member:
giardina

Posted on Thursday, Jul 9, 2009 - 1:20 am:

Hi Dr. O,
I've been doing endurance for a long time, and always feed a high fat diet. I was just wondering (since I feed oil), which type is best for the horse? Right now I'm feeding both Corn and Flaxseed to try and balance out the Omega 3 and Omega 6. I always here people with differences of opinion, what would you feed?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Jul 9, 2009 - 8:55 am:

Hello Courtney,
With all things being equal in a otherwise healthy horse cost and palatibilty would be the biggest factors in my determination of which fat to use.

Currently the benefits of O-3 vs O-6 is conjectural in the horse and we have little information on the clinical benefits of feeding one over the other. It is important to remember horses are different than the human species as the dietary requirements are much lower and horses can convert the O-6 to O-3. We discuss these issues and the different forms of fats available at Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Weight Loss in Horses » Overview of Chronic Weight Loss.
DrO
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