Effects of dietary energy source and physical conditioning on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance in Standardbred horses

Abstract

Feeding a diet rich in NSC for 6 weeks resulted in decreased insulin sensitivity and impaired glucose tolerance. Physical conditioning lessened the effects of the high NSC diet on insulin sensitivity, as evidenced by the return to baseline M/I, but did not mitigate the impaired glucose tolerance. Decreased insulin sensitivity has been implicated in the development of obesity and laminitis in horses and the present findings provide support for avoidance of concentrates with high NSC in the dietary management of horses at risk for the development of these conditions.