INSULIN GLUCOSE LEVELS OF HORSES FED GRASS HAY DIETS

摘要

Laminitis is a costly and debilitating inflammatory condition of the equine hoof. In 2000, 13% of horse owners/operations reported having horses with laminitis, and approximately 5% of affected horses either died or were euthanized. Risk factors for laminitis include obesity (BCS 7-9/9), hyperinsulinemia, and consumption of a diet with high concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC). In 2007, Thatcher et al. evaluated a population of 300 adult horses randomly selected from the Virginia-Maryland Regional College's hospital client database and reported that 51% of horses were overweight or obese (BCS 6.5-9/9). In the same population, Geor et. al reported a positive association between plasma insulin concentrations and body condition score; The definition of hyperinsulinemia in horses depends upon the fasted or fed state; >20 mu IU/L after a 6-hour fast to >40uIU/L in non-fasted forage-fed horses. Several studies have highlighted the association between consumption of increased NSC concentrations and hyperinsulinemia or reduced insulin sensitivity.