PSXVI-5 A high protein meal affects plasma insulin concentrations and amino acid metabolism in horses with equine metabolic syndrome. (7th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Loos, C; Dorsch, S; Barnes, T; Elzinga, S; Adams, A; Urschel, K
• Is Part Of: Journal of animal science. Volume 96(2018)Supplement 3
• Page Start: 256
• Page End: 256
• Publication Date: 2018-12-07
• Subjects: EMS -- protein -- horses; Livestock -- Periodicals; Livestock; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.005
• DOI: 10.1093/jas/sky404.560
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8812

Abstract

Abstract: Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a common clinical condition characterized by a variety of metabolic abnormalities. This endocrine disease is associated with an abnormal insulin response to a glycemic challenge, but there is a paucity of data addressing the influence of dietary protein load on insulin dynamics in horses with EMS. Accordingly, our objective was to evaluate postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses to a high protein meal in healthy and EMS horses. Twelve mature, age-matched horses of mixed breeds and genders were used, six classified as EMS, and six non-EMS controls. Following an overnight fast, horses were fed 2g/kg BW of a high protein pellet (31% CP) at time 0 and 30 minutes. Blood samples collected throughout a 4-hour period were analyzed for plasma glucose, insulin, amino acid, and urea concentrations. Glucose concentrations were elevated over baseline levels in all horses after feeding (P = 0.0002), but were not different between groups (P = 0.2). Horses with EMS had a 9-fold greater insulinemic response to the consumption of a high protein meal compared with controls (P = 0.049). Most plasma amino acid concentrations were elevated over baseline levels in all horses, but postprandial levels of histidine, citrulline, tyrosine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, and ornithine were higher in EMS horses (P < 0.05). Conversely, baseline plasma glutamate, asparagine, and urea nitrogen concentrations tended to be lower in horses with EMS (0.05 < P < 0.1). With the knowledge that certain amino acids act as insulin secretagogues, these findings provide evidence that dietary protein content should be taken into consideration to avoid exacerbation of the condition. This study demonstrates that intake of a high protein meal causes a hyperinsulinemic response, and affects amino acid metabolism in horses with EMS.