Lower plasma trans-4-hydroxyproline and methionine sulfoxide levels are associated with insulin dysregulation in horses.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Metabolic markers and equine insulin dysregulation Insulin dysregulation—characterised by elevated blood insulin and peripheral insulin resistance—represents a significant metabolic challenge in horses, frequently precipitating laminitis and severe hoof pathology. Kénéz and colleagues employed targeted metabolomics analysis following oral glucose tolerance testing to identify specific metabolic pathway disturbances that might explain the pathophysiology of this condition. Their findings revealed that horses with insulin dysregulation exhibited notably lower plasma concentrations of trans-4-hydroxyproline and methionine sulfoxide compared with insulin-sensitive controls, suggesting compromised collagen metabolism and oxidative stress handling. These metabolite signatures point towards impaired connective tissue turnover and antioxidant capacity as potential mechanisms underlying insulin dysregulation and its associated laminitis risk. For practitioners managing at-risk horses, these biomarkers may eventually offer diagnostic utility, whilst the mechanistic insights suggest that nutritional strategies targeting collagen synthesis and oxidative balance warrant investigation as adjunctive management approaches.

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Key Findings

• •Lower plasma trans-4-hydroxyproline levels are associated with insulin dysregulation in horses
• •Lower plasma methionine sulfoxide levels are associated with insulin dysregulation in horses
• •Metabolomic profiling identifies novel metabolites linked to equine insulin dysregulation and hyperinsulinemia
• •Oral glucose testing reveals dynamic metabolic differences between insulin-sensitive and insulin-dysregulated horses

Conditions Studied

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