Oligosaccharide feed supplementation reduces plasma insulin in geldings with Equine Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Alexandra Von Münchow, Sarah Torp Yttergren, R. R. Jakobsen, N. Luthersson, A. K. Hansen, F. Lindenberg
Journal: Frontiers in Microbiomes
Summary
Von Münchow and colleagues investigated whether oligosaccharide supplementation could ameliorate insulin dysregulation in horses with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, given emerging evidence that these feed additives enhance short-chain fatty acid production and modify the microbial ecosystem in ways that favour metabolic health. Their cross-over design compared oligosaccharide supplementation against a placebo (calcium carbonate) in 15 horses, measuring plasma insulin, glucose, inflammatory markers and faecal microbiota composition before and after each 8-week treatment period. Significantly, oligosaccharide supplementation reduced plasma insulin concentrations in geldings (p = 0.02), though this benefit was not observed in mares, suggesting sex-based differences in metabolic response that warrant further investigation. Whilst dominant bacterial populations remained relatively stable, horses with insulin concentrations exceeding 60 mIU/L demonstrated greater microbial diversity and distinct community structures compared to metabolically healthier individuals, and similar dysbiotic patterns were evident in horses with a history of laminitis. For practitioners managing insulin-dysregulated horses, these findings suggest oligosaccharide supplementation warrants consideration as part of a dietary strategy—particularly for geldings—though standardised dosing protocols and larger controlled trials will be needed before definitive clinical recommendations can be made.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider oligosaccharide supplementation as a potential dietary intervention for geldings with Equine Metabolic Syndrome and insulin dysregulation, particularly as a laminitis prevention strategy
- •Be aware that treatment response may differ between geldings and mares; this sex-dependent effect warrants further investigation before applying to all horses
- •Recognize that gut microbiota composition and diversity correlate with insulin status and laminitis history, suggesting microbiome assessment may help identify at-risk horses
Key Findings
- •Oligosaccharide supplementation significantly reduced plasma insulin in geldings (p = 0.02) but not mares, suggesting sex-dependent response
- •Horses with insulin concentrations >60 mIU/L showed significantly greater within-sample bacterial diversity compared to those <60 mIU/L
- •Horses with previous laminitis and high insulin concentrations demonstrated significantly greater beta diversity in gut microbiota
- •Oligosaccharide supplementation showed a tendency to reduce obesity-associated bacteria, though dominant bacterial populations did not change significantly