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Pratt-Phillips S. Effect of Exercise Conditioning on Countering the Effects of Obesity and Insulin Resistance in Horses-A Review. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:727. [PMID: 38473112 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is an important health concern in horses, along with humans and companion animals. Adipose tissue is an inflammatory organ that alters the insulin-signaling cascade, ultimately causing insulin dysregulation and impaired glucose metabolism. These disruptions can increase the risk of metabolic disease and laminitis in horses and may also impact energy metabolism during exercise. A single bout of exercise, along with chronic exercise conditioning, increases insulin sensitivity and glucose disposal via both contraction- and insulin-mediated glucose uptake pathways. Regular exercise also increases calorie expenditure, which can facilitate weight (as body fat) loss. This paper explores the metabolic pathways affected by adiposity, as well as discusses the impact of exercise on insulin metabolism in horses.
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Robles M, Rousseau-Ralliard D, Dubois C, Josse T, Nouveau É, Dahirel M, Wimel L, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Obesity during Pregnancy in the Horse: Effect on Term Placental Structure and Gene Expression, as Well as Colostrum and Milk Fatty Acid Concentration. Vet Sci 2023; 10:691. [PMID: 38133242 PMCID: PMC10748288 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10120691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In horses, the prevalence of obesity is high and associated with serious metabolic pathologies. Being a broodmare has been identified as a risk factor for obesity. In other species, maternal obesity is known to affect the development of the offspring. This article is a follow-up study of previous work showing that Obese mares (O, n = 10, body condition score > 4.25 at insemination) were more insulin resistant and presented increased systemic inflammation during pregnancy compared to Normal mares (N, n = 14, body condition score < 4 at insemination). Foals born to O mares were more insulin-resistant, presented increased systemic inflammation, and were more affected by osteoarticular lesions. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of maternal obesity on placental structure and function, as well as the fatty acid profile in the plasma of mares and foals, colostrum, and milk until 90 days of lactation, which, to our knowledge, has been poorly studied in the horse. Mares from both groups were fed the same diet during pregnancy and lactation. During lactation, mares were housed in pasture. A strong heat wave, followed by a drought, occurred during their 2nd and 3rd months of lactation (summer of 2016 in the Limousin region, France). In the present article, term placental morphometry, structure (stereology), and gene expression (RT-qPCR, genes involved in nutrient transport, growth, and development, as well as vascularization) were studied. Plasma of mares and their foals, as well as colostrum and milk, were sampled at birth, 30 days, and 90 days of lactation. The fatty acid composition of these samples was measured using gas chromatography. No differences between the N and O groups were observed for term placental morphometry, structure, or gene expression. No difference in plasma fatty acid composition was observed between groups in mares. The plasma fatty acid profile of O foals was more pro-inflammatory and indicated an altered placental lipid metabolism between birth and 90 days of age. These results are in line with the increased systemic inflammation and altered glucose metabolism observed until 18 months of age in this group. The colostrum fatty acid profile of O mares was more pro-inflammatory and indicated an increased transfer and/or desaturation of long-chain fatty acids. Moreover, O foals received a colostrum poorer in medium-chain saturated fatty acid, a source of immediate energy for the newborn that can also play a role in immunity and gut microbiota development. Differences in milk fatty acid composition indicated a decreased ability to adapt to heat stress in O mares, which could have further affected the metabolic development of their foals. In conclusion, maternal obesity affected the fatty acid composition of milk, thus also influencing the foal's plasma fatty acid composition and likely participating in the developmental programming observed in growing foals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Robles
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
- Institut Polytechnique Unilasalle, 76130 Mont-Saint-Aignan, France
| | - Delphine Rousseau-Ralliard
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Cédric Dubois
- Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, 19370 Chamberet, France (L.W.)
| | - Tiphanie Josse
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Émilie Nouveau
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Michele Dahirel
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Laurence Wimel
- Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation, Station Expérimentale de la Valade, 19370 Chamberet, France (L.W.)
| | - Anne Couturier-Tarrade
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- BREED, Domaine de Vilvert, Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; (D.R.-R.); (A.C.-T.)
- BREED, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d’Alfort, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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Ward AB, Harris PA, Argo CM, Watson CA, Burns NM, Neacsu M, Russell WR, Grove-White D, Morrison PK. Confidence does not mediate a relationship between owner experience and likelihood of using weight management approaches for native ponies. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0292886. [PMID: 37824555 PMCID: PMC10569591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0292886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Native ponies are at increased risk of obesity and metabolic perturbations, such as insulin dysregulation (ID), a key risk factor for endocrinopathic laminitis. Management and feeding practices can be adapted to maintain healthy body condition and support metabolic health, but owners may inadvertently provide their ponies with inappropriate management leading to obesity and exacerbating risk of metabolic disease. Adoption of preventative weight management approaches (WMAs), including regular monitoring of body condition, providing appropriate preserved forage, promoting seasonal weight loss, and using exercise accordingly, are key in supporting native ponies' metabolic health. The factors influencing the adoption of WMAs, such as owners' experience and confidence, require exploration. The aim of the current study was to understand factors influencing owners' likelihood to undertake certain WMAs, to develop our understanding of suitable intervention targets. A total of 571 responses to an online cross-sectional questionnaire were analysed. Mediation analysis revealed that whilst long term (≥20 years) experience caring for native ponies was associated with owners increased, self-reported confidence in identifying disease and managing their native ponies, this did not translate to an increased likelihood of implementing WMAs. Conversely, respondents who managed ponies with dietary requirements related to obesity, laminitis, or equine metabolic syndrome were more likely to use WMAs related to feeding, seasonal weight management and exercise. Owner confidence was assessed and rejected as a mediator of the relationship between experience and WMA use. These results highlight the need for further work that elucidates the pathways leading owners to undertake action against obesity without the need for ponies to develop overt disease, as well as suggesting a need for long term managers of native ponies to update management practices with preventative care as the focus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley B. Ward
- Scotland’s Rural College, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia A. Harris
- Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Leicestershire, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Neil M. Burns
- Department of Rural Economy, Environment and Society, Scotland’s Rural College, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Madalina Neacsu
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy R. Russell
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Dai Grove-White
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, Wirral, United Kingdom
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Impacts of Adiposity on Exercise Performance in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040666. [PMID: 36830453 PMCID: PMC9951652 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
There is ample research describing the increased risk of health concerns associated with equine obesity, including insulin dysregulation and laminitis. For athletes, the negative effect of weight carriage is well documented in racing thoroughbreds (i.e., handicapping with weight) and rider weight has been shown to impact the workload of ridden horses and to some degree their gait and movement. In many groups of competitive and athletic horses and ponies, obesity is still relatively common. Therefore, these animals not only are at risk of metabolic disease, but also must perform at a higher workload due to the weight of their adipose tissue. Excess body weight has been documented to affect gait quality, cause heat stress and is expected to hasten the incidence of arthritis development. Meanwhile, many equine event judges appear to favor the look of adiposity in competitive animals. This potentially rewards horses and ponies that are at higher risk of disease and reinforces the owner's decisions to keep their animals fat. This is a welfare concern for these animals and is of grave concern for the equine industry.
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