EQUIFAT: A novel scoring system for the semi-quantitative evaluation of regional adipose tissues in Equidae

Morrison, Philippa K.; Harris, Patricia A.; Maltin, C A; Grove‐White, Dai; Argo, Caroline McG.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173753

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(51 reference statements)

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“…It is commonly recommended that dietary management, specifically minimising postprandial insulinaemic responses to feedstuffs may reduce the risk of HAL in ID horses 4 . Although lean animals may be ID and can develop HAL, the majority of EMS horses that experience HAL are of an obese phenotype 5 ; and therefore owners often 6 have to prevent weight gain or commonly encourage weight loss in their ID animals. Feeding low nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC: starch + water‐soluble carbohydrate [WSC]) fortified feedstuffs that include certain highly digestible fibre sources (e.g., soya hulls) and/or vegetable oils/fat that do not promote an insulin response may not be appropriate (as they may promote weight gain), in these cases and alternatives are needed 4,7,8 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse

Macon

Harris²,

Bailey

et al. 2023

Equine Veterinary Journal

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BackgroundIdentifying intake levels of nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) that limit the postprandial insulinaemic response in the insulin dysregulated (ID) horse may help reduce hyperinsulinaemia‐associated laminitis (HAL) risk.ObjectiveTo determine if ID horses have thresholds for pure sources of starch and sugar, above which there is an augmented insulin response.Study designRandomised crossover experiment.MethodsFourteen adult horses (6 ID and 8 noninsulin dysregulated, NID; matched for bodyweight) were randomly fed eight dietary treatments. Dietary treatments were formulated using a base of low‐nonstructural carbohydrate pellet (LNSC; 0.04 g of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSCs)/kg bwt and 0.01 g of starch/kg bwt), to which pure sugar (dextrose) or starch (50:50 mix of waxy‐maize and oat starch powder) sources were titrated to create diets with increasing amounts of either WSC (0.06–0.17 g WSC/kg bwt), or starch (0.03–0.1 g starch/kg bwt). Horses were fed each dietary treatment at a rate of 1 g/kg bwt once over 12 weeks. Serial blood samples were collected pre‐ and up to 240 min postprandially. Insulin was determined via RIA and diet analytes were determined via wet chemistry. Statistical analysis was performed with a mixed effect model. Positive incremental area under the curve for insulin (IAUCi) was calculated for all horses and dietary treatments.ResultsThere was no significant effect of diet in NID horses but diets with NSC >0.1 g/kg bwt produced an augmented response in ID horses compared with the LNSC (p < 0.05). ID horses IAUCi were also significantly different to all NID IAUCi for diets with NSC >0.1 g/kg (p < 0.04). Apparent thresholds for sugar and starch addition varied.ConclusionsBased on this study, using supplemental pure starch and sugar sources, ID horses seem to have an apparent threshold for NSC of around 0.1 g/kg bwt/meal, above which significantly increased insulin responses are seen compared with NID horses.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse

Macon

Harris²,

Bailey

et al. 2023

Equine Veterinary Journal

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“…The mean BCS was also calculated. 19,20 Obesity was defined as a mean BCS ≥7/9. 21 Blood samples were collected by jugular venepuncture into vacutainers containing sodium heparin, potassium EDTA, or sodium fluoride/potassium oxalate as an anticoagulant for the ongoing research project.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In brief, the individual descriptors used in the original Henneke score were applied to each region and the corresponding score was recorded for each region separately to account for regional fat deposition. The mean BCS was also calculated 19,20 . Obesity was defined as a mean BCS ≥7/9 21 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of endocrine disease on l‐lactate concentrations in blood of ponies

Dunkel

Knowles

Chang

et al. 2021

Veterinary Internal Medicne

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Background: Blood l-lactate concentrations are higher in people with developing or established diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance. Objectives: To investigate whether blood l-lactate concentrations are positively correlated with measures of insulin dysregulation (ID) or increased autumnal ACTH concentrations in ponies. Animals: Systemically healthy client-owned ponies (n = 101). Methods: Prospective case-control study. Blood samples were obtained from 101 clinically healthy ponies. Breed, weight, height, and subjective and objective measures of body condition were recorded. Blood l-lactate, glucose, triglyceride, total adiponectin, and ACTH concentrations were measured and an oral sugar test (OST) was carried out. Correlations between blood l-lactate and variables of endocrine health were determined.Results: Using a seasonal cutoff point of ACTH concentrations ≥47 pg/mL, 55 ponies had increased autumnal ACTH concentrations and 45 did not. Using a basal insulin concentration of >50 μiU/mL, 42 ponies were diagnosed with ID and 58 were not. Using a 60 minutes after OST cutoff point of >45 μiU/mL, 57 ponies had ID and 37 did not. Blood l-lactate concentrations were significantly lower in obese (average body condition score ≥ 7/9

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“…Ultrasonography is known to be very sensitive for assessing ventro-abdominal retroperitoneal fat deposition [60,71]. Ultrasound scanning is a useful tool in identifying horses that are lean but are diagnosed to have insulin dysregulation or showing signs of laminitis to identify TOFI horses (the acronym TOFI is applied by horse owners to horses with a lean EMS phenotype that appears Thin on the Outside but Fat on the Inside).…”

Section: Ultrasonographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Definition, Assessment, Health Consequences and Management of Equine Obesity: A Review

Akinniyi¹,

Sackey²,

Ochube³

et al. 2023

Folia Veterinaria

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Obesity is a state of abnormal or excessive fat accumulation. Obesity in horses increases the risk of developing a variety of health issues such as: insulin dysregulation (ID), reduced athleticism, colic, abnormal reproductive performance, laminitis, endotoxaemia, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipaemia, impaired thermoregulation, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, and osteochondrosis. Obesity is a significant health and welfare issue in horses that may go unreported or unnoticed due to a caregiver’s (owner) neglect. Weight gain occurs when a horse’s energy consumption exceeds his or her physical energy needs. Obesity is best assessed via necropsy or upon in vivo assessment with deuterium oxide administration, although this is not feasible in a clinical environment. In practice, obesity is assessed by: body condition scoring, cresty neck scoring, ultrasono graphic assessment, morphometric measurements, or biochemical indicators in the blood. Dietary and exercise programs are the primary means of controlling equine obesity. Pharmacologic assistance (levothyroxine sodium and metformin hydrochloride), being a secondary approach, may be effective in some cases. Management involves a long-term plan that requires the horse’s caregiver’s effort and discipline, as well as the support and supervision of their veterinarian. This paper outlines the assessment, health consequences, and management of equine obesity.

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EQUIFAT: A novel scoring system for the semi-quantitative evaluation of regional adipose tissues in Equidae

Cited by 12 publications

References 43 publications

Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse

Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse

Influence of endocrine disease on l‐lactate concentrations in blood of ponies

Definition, Assessment, Health Consequences and Management of Equine Obesity: A Review

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