Comparative Anti-inflammatory Effects of Insulin and Flunixin on Acute-Phase Responses and Cardiovascular Biomarkers During Inflammatory Phase in Miniature Donkeys.
Authors: Samimi Amir Saeed, Samimi Kamyab, Karimiafshar Marzieh, Tajik Javad
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers induced acute inflammation in 24 miniature donkeys using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to compare the anti-inflammatory efficacy of insulin at two doses (1.5 and 3 IU kg⁻¹) against the conventional NSAID flunixin (2.2 mg kg⁻¹), measuring physiological variables, acute-phase proteins, and cardiovascular biomarkers over 24 hours post-treatment. Both the higher insulin dose and flunixin significantly improved inflammatory markers including tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, haptoglobin, serum amyloid A, and cardiac troponin I, whilst also normalising haematological variables such as white blood cell count and packed cell volume. The lower insulin dose (1.5 IU kg⁻¹) proved ineffective, suggesting a threshold effect for insulin's anti-inflammatory action. For equine and donkey practitioners managing acute systemic inflammatory conditions—particularly those where NSAIDs may be contraindicated or in cases of concurrent endocrine concerns—insulin at higher doses warrants consideration as an adjunctive or alternative anti-inflammatory strategy, though further investigation into optimal dosing protocols and long-term safety profiles would strengthen clinical application in equine medicine.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Insulin at 3 IU/kg may offer an alternative anti-inflammatory approach to NSAIDs like flunixin in donkeys experiencing systemic inflammation, potentially useful when NSAID use is contraindicated
- •Dosing matters: the higher insulin dose (3 IU/kg) was necessary for therapeutic anti-inflammatory effect; lower doses may be insufficient
- •This represents a novel application of insulin outside its traditional glucose-regulatory role; further clinical validation in naturally occurring inflammatory conditions would be needed before routine practice adoption
Key Findings
- •Insulin at 3 IU/kg and flunixin at 2.2 mg/kg both improved physiological variables and reduced inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IFN-γ, haptoglobin, SAA) by 24 hours post-treatment
- •Insulin at 3 IU/kg was effective at improving cardiovascular biomarkers (cardiac troponin I, hemocysteine) and hematological variables (WBC, PCV) comparable to flunixin
- •Insulin at 1.5 IU/kg was less effective than the higher dose, suggesting a dose-dependent response
- •Both treatments normalized acute-phase protein responses in miniature donkeys during LPS-induced inflammatory challenge