The effect of exercise on plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers in normal and previously laminitic ponies.
Authors: Menzies-Gow, Wray, Bailey, Harris, Elliott
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Chronic inflammation is suspected to play a role in pasture-associated laminitis, particularly in ponies with a history of the disease, and physical inactivity may worsen this inflammatory state. Menzies-Gow and colleagues conducted a controlled trial comparing six normal and six previously laminitic (non-obese) ponies, measuring inflammatory markers including tumour necrosis factor-alpha, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin, insulin, adiponectin and fibrinogen before and after a two-week programme of low-intensity exercise (15 minutes daily). The results revealed that whilst adiponectin remained persistently low in previously laminitic ponies regardless of exercise, SAA concentrations dropped significantly in all ponies after 14 days of regular work, and haptoglobin levels—which were elevated in the laminitis-prone group at baseline—normalised to match healthy controls. Additionally, insulin response to exercise became more stable over the fortnight, suggesting improved metabolic regulation. For practitioners managing laminitis-susceptible animals, these findings support the prescription of consistent, low-intensity exercise as a practical anti-inflammatory intervention, though the persistently reduced adiponectin in affected ponies indicates that exercise alone may not fully reverse all metabolic alterations associated with previous laminitis.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Regular low-intensity exercise (walking and trotting) appears beneficial for previously laminitic ponies by reducing systemic inflammation markers
- •Even mild exercise programs may help normalize inflammatory profiles in ponies with laminitis history, potentially reducing relapse risk
- •Previously laminitic ponies show persistently altered inflammatory markers at rest; exercise offers a practical management tool to address this
Key Findings
- •Previously laminitic ponies had significantly lower adiponectin (2.4 ng/l vs 4.03 ng/l) and higher haptoglobin than normal ponies before exercise
- •Fourteen days of low-intensity exercise significantly reduced serum amyloid A concentrations in all ponies (P=0.00001)
- •Exercise reduced haptoglobin in previously laminitic ponies to levels similar to normal ponies after 14 days
- •Low-intensity exercise had no effect on TNF-α or fibrinogen, but normalized insulin response patterns within 14 days