Exploring relationships between body condition score, body fat, activity level and inflammatory biomarkers.
Authors: Pearson W, Wood K, Stanley S, MacNicol J
Journal: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Summary
# Editorial Summary Obesity in horses is poorly understood despite its prevalence, yet in humans the link between excess adiposity and joint pathology is well established. This Canadian field study examined 54 horses across body condition categories (thin through obese) to determine whether elevated body condition scores correlate with systemic and local joint inflammation, measuring body composition via multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, lameness grades, and inflammatory markers (prostaglandin E2 and glycosaminoglycans) in both plasma and synovial fluid. Body condition score showed significant positive correlation with plasma PGE2 levels and body weight, with the effect compounded by activity level, suggesting that heavier horses—particularly those in moderate to heavy work—may experience heightened systemic inflammation regardless of lameness presentation. Synovial fluid biomarkers did not show equivalent elevation, indicating that systemic inflammation may precede or develop independently of established intra-articular joint disease, though the mechanisms linking adiposity to degenerative joint disease in horses remain incompletely characterised. For practitioners managing athletic horses, these findings support the clinical rationale for condition management as a preventative strategy, though individualised assessment of activity level alongside body composition assessment appears necessary to stratify inflammatory risk.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Overweight and obese horses (BCS ≥6/9) show elevated inflammatory markers; weight management may reduce joint disease risk and lameness incidence
- •Both absolute body weight and body condition score correlate with systemic inflammation (plasma PGE2); consider both metrics when assessing joint disease risk
- •Activity level modulates the inflammatory effect of excess body fat; investigate whether controlled exercise programs can mitigate obesity-related joint inflammation in your clients' horses
Key Findings
- •Body condition score was positively correlated with body weight, fat mass, fat percentage, activity level, and plasma PGE2 (inflammatory marker)
- •Body weight was significantly positively correlated with plasma PGE2
- •BCS of 8-9/9 (obese horses; n=11) and 6-7/9 (overweight; n=19) comprised 56% of the 54-horse study population
- •Activity level and body condition appear to have combined effects on inflammatory biomarkers in synovial fluid and plasma