Effect of Diet on Horses with Cushing’s Disease, Metabolic Disease and Insulin Resistance - CRF Horse Nutrition Guide
E UK21 - CRF Equine Research Trials
Effect of Diet on Horses with Cushing’s Disease, Metabolic Disease and Insulin Resistance
| CRF Horse Nutrition Guide |
|
|
| CRF Equine Research Trials |
|
|
Twelve older mares (average age of 18 years) that exhibited physical or metabolic indications of Cushing's Disease, Metabolic Syndrome or Insulin Resistance were selected for this study. The horses were divided into two groups: One group was fed a low starch (15.9% starch) pelleted feed and the other group was fed a high starch (37.2% starch) pelleted feed. Horses fed the low starch pelleted feed had significantly reduced glucose and insulin responses compared to a high starch pelleted feed to a grain meal (refer to Charts 1 & 2). These results demonstrate that a low starch pelleted feed is more effective at maintaining lower blood glucose and insulin levels in horses affected by these metabolic diseases than pelleted feeds containing higher starch levels.
What does this mean for horse owners?
Cooperative Research Farms is actively involved in equine nutrition research to find safer and more effective products to feed your horse. Older horses exhibiting symptoms of three metabolic diseases (Cushing’s Disease, Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance) that were fed a low starch pelleted feed had reduced glucose and insulin responses compared to a high starch pelleted feed to a grain meal. Symptoms of these diseases include chronic high blood glucose and insulin levels, as well as increased and prolonged blood glucose and insulin responses to a grain meal. These symptoms can result in negative health consequences for affected horses. A horse feed formulated with a lower starch level is effective at maintaining more normal blood glucose and insulin levels in response to a grain meal. This could result in better health and longevity for horses with metabolic disease.