Influence of dietary restriction and low-intensity exercise on weight loss and insulin sensitivity in obese equids.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The importance of including exercise with dietary modification for the management of obese equids is not clearly understood.

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of a practical low-intensity exercise regimen, in addition to dietary restriction, on indices of insulin sensitivity (SI) and plasma adipokine concentrations in obese equids.

Animals

Twenty-four obese (body condition score [BCS]???7/9) horses and ponies.

Methods

Over a 12-week period, animals received either dietary restriction only (DIET) or dietary restriction plus low-intensity exercise (DIET+EX). All animals were provided with a restricted ration of grass hay at 1.25% body weight (BW) on a dry matter basis, providing 82.5% estimated digestible energy requirements. The DIET+EX group undertook low-intensity exercise 5 days per week on an automated horse walker. Before and after weight loss, total body fat mass (TBFM) was determined, indices of SI were calculated using minimal model analysis of a frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance test, and adipokines plus inflammatory biomarkers were measured using validated assays.

Results

Decreases in BCS, BW, and TBFM were similar between groups (all P?>?.05). After weight loss, animals in both groups had decreased basal insulin and leptin concentrations, and increased adiponectin concentrations (all P?Conclusions and clinical importanceRegular low-intensity exercise provided additional health benefits compared with dietary restriction alone in this population of obese equids.

SUBMITTER: Bamford NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6335535 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature