-Dr. P. Quimby<\/p>\n
What is insulin resistance in the horse?<\/strong>\u00a0 <\/span><\/h3>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/nouvelleresearch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/shutterstock_274896428-300x253.jpg\" "\\"The")
The Metabolic Horse and Insulin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nInsulin resistance is in simple terms, a state in which the insulin receptor on the surface of the cell is not working properly.\u00a0 As a result, not only can insulin not bind to this dysfunctional receptor, but it cannot therefore shuttle glucose or sugar into the cell for the purposes of energy generation.\u00a0 Insulin levels then begin to rise in the blood or serum and are detectable, due to not binding to the receptor properly.\u00a0 In most cases, based on human research which is applicable to equine health, the insulin receptor becomes dysfunctional or altered as a result of oxidative stress damage, which is really secondary to chronic inflammation in the horse.<\/p>\n
What is the big deal and how does this impact your horse?<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nInsulin serves the main function of shuttling glucose or sugar into the cell for energy or ATP production.\u00a0 This energy is not just physical energy as in stamina, but is cellular energy needed for other biochemical pathways in the body including hormone production, digestive enzyme production, neurotransmitter function, organ function, circulation, overall tissue health, and endogenous (internal) antioxidant production. This is a pretty important concept to wrap your head around as a horse owner, mainly because this rise in insulin is NOT just a number on a laboratory form, but equates to an improperly functioning body and cellular structure.<\/p>\n
The rise in insulin, due to inability to bind to the receptor in the horse, can create a multitude of issues, including:<\/p>\n
\n- Impaired sugar\/carbohydrate metabolism<\/li>\n
- Impaired digestive health<\/li>\n
- Impaired circulation<\/li>\n
- Impaired tissue and joint health<\/li>\n
- Impaired immune function<\/li>\n
- Impaired performance and stamina<\/li>\n
- Impaired cardiac and lung function (nitric oxide inhibition)<\/li>\n
- Impaired antioxidant production in the body<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As horse owners, and even veterinarians, we are all trained just to ‘see’ that insulin number, then assign a diagnosis of insulin resistance in the horse.\u00a0 In reality, we are missing the bigger picture and trying to make something really simple out of a very complex topic.<\/p>\n
In order to truly see the problem of insulin resistance in the horse, you have to see the problem on a much bigger scale.\u00a0 Based on human research, which is applicable in the horse, insulin dysfunction is secondary to oxidative stress damage, which is involved with chronic inflammation.\u00a0 This chronic inflammation stems or originates from many locations, but one main area of focus is the digestive tract.\u00a0 The topic of digestive health<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and diet in the horse has been discussed in many other articles.<\/p>\nThe reality is that oxidative stress damage is not just impacting the insulin receptor, but many other aspects of cellular health in the horse.\u00a0 This is evident in many insulin resistant horses as a high percentage also develop leptin resistance, which again is more oxidative stress damage<\/a><\/strong> to yet another receptor.\u00a0 This problem of oxidative stress damage goes much further, outside of these two hormones and includes generalized mitochondrial dysfunction, which means your horse’s cells in general are not working optimally.\u00a0 This then leads to the many issues mentioned above.<\/p>\nJust look at the average metabolic or insulin resistant horse.\u00a0 Connect the dots and see past just a number representing insulin on a piece of paper.\u00a0 Most of these horses are not just overweight, which is impaired metabolism, but many also have:<\/p>\n
\n- Excess body weight<\/li>\n
- Poor hoof condition<\/li>\n
- Thrush\/white line disease<\/li>\n
- Tendon complaints<\/li>\n
- Allergies<\/li>\n
- Digestive upset<\/li>\n
- Uveitis<\/li>\n
- Non-healing wounds or injuries<\/li>\n
- Heat intolerance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are all linked in with altered cellular function, either impacting the immune response or tissue health by itself.<\/p>\n
The bottom line….Your Horse is More Than Just an Insulin Reading or Number!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nInsulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in the Horse<\/span><\/h3>\nOxidative stress and damage from chronic inflammation is at the root of most problems in the average metabolic horse.\u00a0 This oxidative stress damage is ongoing in every horse, to various degrees, and impacts health and soundness.\u00a0 In many, the damage is reflected in normal cellular function, which includes insulin receptivity and glucose metabolism.<\/p>\n
Oxidative stress damage occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. This can happen either in an excess or deficiency situation, which will be explained and presented in the next article.\u00a0 Free radicals are produced by your horse every time they take a breath, digest food, pump blood, or exercise.\u00a0 This is a natural part of their well-being and in reality, these free radicals produced naturally help to keep the body healthy, the immune response stimulated, and the horse’s body in balance.<\/p>\n
Excess free radicals, in relation to antioxidant defenses, are the main problem.\u00a0 These excess free radicals can be secondary to excessive stress, exercise, improper diet, medications, unhealthy water sources, and even unhealthy forage or pasture.\u00a0 Pesticides, herbicides, pollutants, and even excess heavy metal levels in water and forage are key contributors.\u00a0 Medications also top the list, including vaccines, which are all considered xenobiotics and foreign to the body.<\/p>\n
Pretty bad news, right?\u00a0 Well, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.\u00a0 In this case, the good news is that the horse’s body, just like ours, naturally produces antioxidants internally to help buffer the ‘bad’ aspects of free radicals.\u00a0 The horse can produce vitamin C, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and many other antioxidant-like chemicals internally, as long as nutrition and cellular health are optimal. In addition, many horse owners may supplement exogenous or external supplements with antioxidants which may range from vitamin C or E, to various herbs including Curcumin or others which tout antioxidant benefits.\u00a0 All good right??\u00a0 Not really, unfortunately.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nThe average metabolic horse owner, and even the veterinarian, may recognize that inflammation and oxidative stress are at play in this condition, then feel that use of a plain antioxidant supplement or high doses of Vitamin E is sufficient.\u00a0 While this may be a good step in the right direction, it could actually turn around and be a bad thing.\u00a0 At the least, although it is a good effort, it likely is not sufficient to tackle the full problem.\u00a0 The concept of vitamin E usage<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>was discussed in another article.<\/p>\nOxidative Stress Damage, Insulin Resistance and Beyond in the Horse<\/span><\/h3>\nWhen I evaluate a metabolic and insulin resistant horse, I dig much deeper and beyond just<\/em> an insulin or even a leptin level reading.\u00a0 In my facility, which is available to any horse owner nationwide remotely, I perform fecal cultures to evaluate the health of the microbiome.\u00a0 I also evaluate their blood to determine free radical and antioxidant loads.\u00a0 What is seen now, in 2019, versus 8 years ago in our pilot research, is a little concerning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nIn light of the above information, most of us would expect a horse with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome to demonstrate high free radicals (d-ROM) and maybe normal or slightly low antioxidant levels (PAT).\u00a0 Seems logical, but for most, this is not the case.\u00a0 In fact, what we are seeing in our data is a below normal free radical (d-ROM) and also below normal antioxidant level (PAT), often very below normal levels.\u00a0 This situation, where both are low, is termed in the research community as “generalized cellular hyporeactivity<\/em><\/strong>“.<\/p>\nThis situation is concerning, at least to me as a veterinarian and researcher, because it signifies significant cellular dysfunction.\u00a0 The cells in the body are not producing energy properly, not fueling pathways correctly, not producing natural free radicals that stimulate health, and are also not producing the natural antioxidants (GSH, SOD etc.) that help to protect the body.\u00a0 That then explains the other health ailments that many horses have, including immune compromise issues, tendon, joint and even hoof health problems.\u00a0 Cells are just not working properly and it leaves the horse’s body very vulnerable to many health and lameness problems.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nSo, there you have it.\u00a0 A major problem and this lack of properly functioning cells is due to chronic inflammatory damage inflicted over months and years of time.\u00a0 In order to restore health, this cellular function needs to be restored.\u00a0 This is what is behind the insulin resistance in the horse and takes it to a totally different degree and level.<\/p>\n
Fixing the Cellular Problem in the Metabolic Horse<\/span><\/h3>\nThe instant fix that pops into most veterinarians and horse owners’ minds is that supplementation with antioxidants will remedy the problem.\u00a0 While this seems logical, it is not always the answer, at least in its simplest form.\u00a0 You have to remember two things here:<\/p>\n
\n- The cells are damaged and not producing energy properly (ATP) and are not producing internal antioxidant defenses<\/li>\n
- Most external sourced antioxidants (isolated form) require re-energizing by the body’s natural defenses to keep them from becoming free radicals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Insulin resistance is in simple terms, a state in which the insulin receptor on the surface of the cell is not working properly.\u00a0 As a result, not only can insulin not bind to this dysfunctional receptor, but it cannot therefore shuttle glucose or sugar into the cell for the purposes of energy generation.\u00a0 Insulin levels then begin to rise in the blood or serum and are detectable, due to not binding to the receptor properly.\u00a0 In most cases, based on human research which is applicable to equine health, the insulin receptor becomes dysfunctional or altered as a result of oxidative stress damage, which is really secondary to chronic inflammation in the horse.<\/p>\n
What is the big deal and how does this impact your horse?<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\nInsulin serves the main function of shuttling glucose or sugar into the cell for energy or ATP production.\u00a0 This energy is not just physical energy as in stamina, but is cellular energy needed for other biochemical pathways in the body including hormone production, digestive enzyme production, neurotransmitter function, organ function, circulation, overall tissue health, and endogenous (internal) antioxidant production. This is a pretty important concept to wrap your head around as a horse owner, mainly because this rise in insulin is NOT just a number on a laboratory form, but equates to an improperly functioning body and cellular structure.<\/p>\n
The rise in insulin, due to inability to bind to the receptor in the horse, can create a multitude of issues, including:<\/p>\n
\n- Impaired sugar\/carbohydrate metabolism<\/li>\n
- Impaired digestive health<\/li>\n
- Impaired circulation<\/li>\n
- Impaired tissue and joint health<\/li>\n
- Impaired immune function<\/li>\n
- Impaired performance and stamina<\/li>\n
- Impaired cardiac and lung function (nitric oxide inhibition)<\/li>\n
- Impaired antioxidant production in the body<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As horse owners, and even veterinarians, we are all trained just to ‘see’ that insulin number, then assign a diagnosis of insulin resistance in the horse.\u00a0 In reality, we are missing the bigger picture and trying to make something really simple out of a very complex topic.<\/p>\n
In order to truly see the problem of insulin resistance in the horse, you have to see the problem on a much bigger scale.\u00a0 Based on human research, which is applicable in the horse, insulin dysfunction is secondary to oxidative stress damage, which is involved with chronic inflammation.\u00a0 This chronic inflammation stems or originates from many locations, but one main area of focus is the digestive tract.\u00a0 The topic of digestive health<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and diet in the horse has been discussed in many other articles.<\/p>\nThe reality is that oxidative stress damage is not just impacting the insulin receptor, but many other aspects of cellular health in the horse.\u00a0 This is evident in many insulin resistant horses as a high percentage also develop leptin resistance, which again is more oxidative stress damage<\/a><\/strong> to yet another receptor.\u00a0 This problem of oxidative stress damage goes much further, outside of these two hormones and includes generalized mitochondrial dysfunction, which means your horse’s cells in general are not working optimally.\u00a0 This then leads to the many issues mentioned above.<\/p>\nJust look at the average metabolic or insulin resistant horse.\u00a0 Connect the dots and see past just a number representing insulin on a piece of paper.\u00a0 Most of these horses are not just overweight, which is impaired metabolism, but many also have:<\/p>\n
\n- Excess body weight<\/li>\n
- Poor hoof condition<\/li>\n
- Thrush\/white line disease<\/li>\n
- Tendon complaints<\/li>\n
- Allergies<\/li>\n
- Digestive upset<\/li>\n
- Uveitis<\/li>\n
- Non-healing wounds or injuries<\/li>\n
- Heat intolerance<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are all linked in with altered cellular function, either impacting the immune response or tissue health by itself.<\/p>\n
The bottom line….Your Horse is More Than Just an Insulin Reading or Number!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nInsulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in the Horse<\/span><\/h3>\nOxidative stress and damage from chronic inflammation is at the root of most problems in the average metabolic horse.\u00a0 This oxidative stress damage is ongoing in every horse, to various degrees, and impacts health and soundness.\u00a0 In many, the damage is reflected in normal cellular function, which includes insulin receptivity and glucose metabolism.<\/p>\n
Oxidative stress damage occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. This can happen either in an excess or deficiency situation, which will be explained and presented in the next article.\u00a0 Free radicals are produced by your horse every time they take a breath, digest food, pump blood, or exercise.\u00a0 This is a natural part of their well-being and in reality, these free radicals produced naturally help to keep the body healthy, the immune response stimulated, and the horse’s body in balance.<\/p>\n
Excess free radicals, in relation to antioxidant defenses, are the main problem.\u00a0 These excess free radicals can be secondary to excessive stress, exercise, improper diet, medications, unhealthy water sources, and even unhealthy forage or pasture.\u00a0 Pesticides, herbicides, pollutants, and even excess heavy metal levels in water and forage are key contributors.\u00a0 Medications also top the list, including vaccines, which are all considered xenobiotics and foreign to the body.<\/p>\n
Pretty bad news, right?\u00a0 Well, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.\u00a0 In this case, the good news is that the horse’s body, just like ours, naturally produces antioxidants internally to help buffer the ‘bad’ aspects of free radicals.\u00a0 The horse can produce vitamin C, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and many other antioxidant-like chemicals internally, as long as nutrition and cellular health are optimal. In addition, many horse owners may supplement exogenous or external supplements with antioxidants which may range from vitamin C or E, to various herbs including Curcumin or others which tout antioxidant benefits.\u00a0 All good right??\u00a0 Not really, unfortunately.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nThe average metabolic horse owner, and even the veterinarian, may recognize that inflammation and oxidative stress are at play in this condition, then feel that use of a plain antioxidant supplement or high doses of Vitamin E is sufficient.\u00a0 While this may be a good step in the right direction, it could actually turn around and be a bad thing.\u00a0 At the least, although it is a good effort, it likely is not sufficient to tackle the full problem.\u00a0 The concept of vitamin E usage<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>was discussed in another article.<\/p>\nOxidative Stress Damage, Insulin Resistance and Beyond in the Horse<\/span><\/h3>\nWhen I evaluate a metabolic and insulin resistant horse, I dig much deeper and beyond just<\/em> an insulin or even a leptin level reading.\u00a0 In my facility, which is available to any horse owner nationwide remotely, I perform fecal cultures to evaluate the health of the microbiome.\u00a0 I also evaluate their blood to determine free radical and antioxidant loads.\u00a0 What is seen now, in 2019, versus 8 years ago in our pilot research, is a little concerning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nIn light of the above information, most of us would expect a horse with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome to demonstrate high free radicals (d-ROM) and maybe normal or slightly low antioxidant levels (PAT).\u00a0 Seems logical, but for most, this is not the case.\u00a0 In fact, what we are seeing in our data is a below normal free radical (d-ROM) and also below normal antioxidant level (PAT), often very below normal levels.\u00a0 This situation, where both are low, is termed in the research community as “generalized cellular hyporeactivity<\/em><\/strong>“.<\/p>\nThis situation is concerning, at least to me as a veterinarian and researcher, because it signifies significant cellular dysfunction.\u00a0 The cells in the body are not producing energy properly, not fueling pathways correctly, not producing natural free radicals that stimulate health, and are also not producing the natural antioxidants (GSH, SOD etc.) that help to protect the body.\u00a0 That then explains the other health ailments that many horses have, including immune compromise issues, tendon, joint and even hoof health problems.\u00a0 Cells are just not working properly and it leaves the horse’s body very vulnerable to many health and lameness problems.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nSo, there you have it.\u00a0 A major problem and this lack of properly functioning cells is due to chronic inflammatory damage inflicted over months and years of time.\u00a0 In order to restore health, this cellular function needs to be restored.\u00a0 This is what is behind the insulin resistance in the horse and takes it to a totally different degree and level.<\/p>\n
Fixing the Cellular Problem in the Metabolic Horse<\/span><\/h3>\nThe instant fix that pops into most veterinarians and horse owners’ minds is that supplementation with antioxidants will remedy the problem.\u00a0 While this seems logical, it is not always the answer, at least in its simplest form.\u00a0 You have to remember two things here:<\/p>\n
\n- The cells are damaged and not producing energy properly (ATP) and are not producing internal antioxidant defenses<\/li>\n
- Most external sourced antioxidants (isolated form) require re-energizing by the body’s natural defenses to keep them from becoming free radicals.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
As horse owners, and even veterinarians, we are all trained just to ‘see’ that insulin number, then assign a diagnosis of insulin resistance in the horse.\u00a0 In reality, we are missing the bigger picture and trying to make something really simple out of a very complex topic.<\/p>\n
In order to truly see the problem of insulin resistance in the horse, you have to see the problem on a much bigger scale.\u00a0 Based on human research, which is applicable in the horse, insulin dysfunction is secondary to oxidative stress damage, which is involved with chronic inflammation.\u00a0 This chronic inflammation stems or originates from many locations, but one main area of focus is the digestive tract.\u00a0 The topic of digestive health<\/a><\/strong><\/span> and diet in the horse has been discussed in many other articles.<\/p>\n The reality is that oxidative stress damage is not just impacting the insulin receptor, but many other aspects of cellular health in the horse.\u00a0 This is evident in many insulin resistant horses as a high percentage also develop leptin resistance, which again is more oxidative stress damage<\/a><\/strong> to yet another receptor.\u00a0 This problem of oxidative stress damage goes much further, outside of these two hormones and includes generalized mitochondrial dysfunction, which means your horse’s cells in general are not working optimally.\u00a0 This then leads to the many issues mentioned above.<\/p>\n Just look at the average metabolic or insulin resistant horse.\u00a0 Connect the dots and see past just a number representing insulin on a piece of paper.\u00a0 Most of these horses are not just overweight, which is impaired metabolism, but many also have:<\/p>\n These are all linked in with altered cellular function, either impacting the immune response or tissue health by itself.<\/p>\n The bottom line….Your Horse is More Than Just an Insulin Reading or Number!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Oxidative stress and damage from chronic inflammation is at the root of most problems in the average metabolic horse.\u00a0 This oxidative stress damage is ongoing in every horse, to various degrees, and impacts health and soundness.\u00a0 In many, the damage is reflected in normal cellular function, which includes insulin receptivity and glucose metabolism.<\/p>\n Oxidative stress damage occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants. This can happen either in an excess or deficiency situation, which will be explained and presented in the next article.\u00a0 Free radicals are produced by your horse every time they take a breath, digest food, pump blood, or exercise.\u00a0 This is a natural part of their well-being and in reality, these free radicals produced naturally help to keep the body healthy, the immune response stimulated, and the horse’s body in balance.<\/p>\n Excess free radicals, in relation to antioxidant defenses, are the main problem.\u00a0 These excess free radicals can be secondary to excessive stress, exercise, improper diet, medications, unhealthy water sources, and even unhealthy forage or pasture.\u00a0 Pesticides, herbicides, pollutants, and even excess heavy metal levels in water and forage are key contributors.\u00a0 Medications also top the list, including vaccines, which are all considered xenobiotics and foreign to the body.<\/p>\n Pretty bad news, right?\u00a0 Well, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.\u00a0 In this case, the good news is that the horse’s body, just like ours, naturally produces antioxidants internally to help buffer the ‘bad’ aspects of free radicals.\u00a0 The horse can produce vitamin C, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and many other antioxidant-like chemicals internally, as long as nutrition and cellular health are optimal. In addition, many horse owners may supplement exogenous or external supplements with antioxidants which may range from vitamin C or E, to various herbs including Curcumin or others which tout antioxidant benefits.\u00a0 All good right??\u00a0 Not really, unfortunately.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The average metabolic horse owner, and even the veterinarian, may recognize that inflammation and oxidative stress are at play in this condition, then feel that use of a plain antioxidant supplement or high doses of Vitamin E is sufficient.\u00a0 While this may be a good step in the right direction, it could actually turn around and be a bad thing.\u00a0 At the least, although it is a good effort, it likely is not sufficient to tackle the full problem.\u00a0 The concept of vitamin E usage<\/a> <\/strong><\/span>was discussed in another article.<\/p>\n When I evaluate a metabolic and insulin resistant horse, I dig much deeper and beyond just<\/em> an insulin or even a leptin level reading.\u00a0 In my facility, which is available to any horse owner nationwide remotely, I perform fecal cultures to evaluate the health of the microbiome.\u00a0 I also evaluate their blood to determine free radical and antioxidant loads.\u00a0 What is seen now, in 2019, versus 8 years ago in our pilot research, is a little concerning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n In light of the above information, most of us would expect a horse with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome to demonstrate high free radicals (d-ROM) and maybe normal or slightly low antioxidant levels (PAT).\u00a0 Seems logical, but for most, this is not the case.\u00a0 In fact, what we are seeing in our data is a below normal free radical (d-ROM) and also below normal antioxidant level (PAT), often very below normal levels.\u00a0 This situation, where both are low, is termed in the research community as “generalized cellular hyporeactivity<\/em><\/strong>“.<\/p>\n This situation is concerning, at least to me as a veterinarian and researcher, because it signifies significant cellular dysfunction.\u00a0 The cells in the body are not producing energy properly, not fueling pathways correctly, not producing natural free radicals that stimulate health, and are also not producing the natural antioxidants (GSH, SOD etc.) that help to protect the body.\u00a0 That then explains the other health ailments that many horses have, including immune compromise issues, tendon, joint and even hoof health problems.\u00a0 Cells are just not working properly and it leaves the horse’s body very vulnerable to many health and lameness problems.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n So, there you have it.\u00a0 A major problem and this lack of properly functioning cells is due to chronic inflammatory damage inflicted over months and years of time.\u00a0 In order to restore health, this cellular function needs to be restored.\u00a0 This is what is behind the insulin resistance in the horse and takes it to a totally different degree and level.<\/p>\n The instant fix that pops into most veterinarians and horse owners’ minds is that supplementation with antioxidants will remedy the problem.\u00a0 While this seems logical, it is not always the answer, at least in its simplest form.\u00a0 You have to remember two things here:<\/p>\n\n
Insulin Resistance and Oxidative Stress in the Horse<\/span><\/h3>\n
Oxidative Stress Damage, Insulin Resistance and Beyond in the Horse<\/span><\/h3>\n
Fixing the Cellular Problem in the Metabolic Horse<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n