The cresty neck score is an independent predictor of insulin dysregulation in ponies.
Authors: Fitzgerald Danielle M, Anderson Stephen T, Sillence Martin N, de Laat Melody A
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Whilst generalised obesity is commonly associated with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), regional fat deposition—particularly in the crest of the neck—may be a more specific indicator of insulin dysregulation than overall body condition. Fitzgerald and colleagues studied 26 ponies using body condition scoring, cresty neck scoring, morphometric measurements, and oral glucose tolerance testing (0.75g dextrose/kg bodyweight), with basal and post-prandial blood sampling for insulin, glucose, triglycerides, leptin, and high-molecular-weight adiponectin. Ponies with a high cresty neck score (≥3) had five times greater odds of insulin dysregulation and demonstrated significantly elevated post-prandial insulin responses compared to those with normal to fleshy body condition, despite not being obese; notably, body condition score alone was less predictive of insulin dysregulation than cresty neck score. Additionally, basal high-molecular-weight adiponectin concentrations were negatively correlated with post-prandial insulin (r = −0.5) and were lower in high-cresty-neck animals compared to obese ones, suggesting adiponectin may serve as an independent biomarker of metabolic dysfunction. For equine practitioners, these findings suggest that careful assessment of cervical fat deposition warrants priority in EMS screening protocols, particularly in seemingly non-obese animals, and that targeted management of regional adiposity may be more relevant to metabolic health than addressing generalised weight alone.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Assess cresty neck appearance as a key screening tool for insulin dysregulation in ponies — it's more reliable than general body condition score alone
- •Ponies with obvious neck crests warrant metabolic testing and management intervention even if overall body condition appears normal, as they have 5-fold increased risk of insulin dysfunction
- •Regional fat distribution (neck crest) matters more than total body fat for identifying metabolic risk in ponies; focus management strategies on reducing regional adiposity
Key Findings
- •Cresty neck score (CNS) was a stronger independent predictor of insulin dysregulation than body condition score (BCS) in ponies
- •Ponies with CNS ≥3 had 5 times greater odds of being insulin-dysregulated compared to those with CNS ≤2
- •Post-prandial serum insulin was positively associated with CNS (P<0.035) and CNS ≥3 group showed greater insulin response to oral glucose test than normal/fleshy group (P=0.006)
- •Basal HMW adiponectin was negatively correlated with post-prandial insulin (r=-0.5, P=0.009) and decreased in high CNS group compared to obese group (P=0.05)