Effect of feeding increasing quantities of starch on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses in healthy horses.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of increasing the intake of starch on the glycaemic and insulinaemic responses of horses. A cross-over study design was used in which four horses were fed increasing amounts of a compound feed (0.5-3.5 kg) to provide 0.3, 0.6, 0.8, 1.1, 1.4 and 2 starch/kg bodyweight (BW)/meal. The glycaemic response increased with starch intake (P<0.05), while feeding <1.1 g starch/kg BW resulted in a lowered response, compared to when 1.1-2 g starch/ kg BW was fed (P<0.01). The results suggested that insulin responses may be more appropriate to define the effect of feeding different starch levels than glycaemic responses. A starch intake of <1.1g/kg BW/meal produced only moderate glucose and insulin responses, even though highly processed cereals were used. It is therefore recommended that a starch intake of <1.1 g/kg BW/meal or a meal size of 0.3 kg/100 kg BW (starch content of 30-40%) is used for horses.
Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, D-04159 Leipzig, Germany. Ingrid.Vervuert@vetmed.uni-leipzig.de
Ingrid
I
Vervuert
Katrin
K
Voigt
Teresa
T
Hollands
Derek
D
Cuddeford
Manfred
M
Coenen
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004063:Digestion; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D038321:Glycemic Index; D006736:Horses / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D019518:Postprandial Period; D013213:Starch / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013213:Starch