Effect of dietary fructans and dexamethasone administration on the insulin response of ponies predisposed to laminitis

Abstract

Objective-To determine whether pasture, and specifically the addition of fructan carbohydrate to the diet, induces exaggerated changes In serum insulin concentration In laminitis-predisposed (LP) ponies, compared with ponies with no history of the condition, and also to determine insulin responses to the dexamethasone suppression test. Design-Prospective study. Animals-10 LP and 11 control adult nonobese mixed-breed ponies. Procedures-Insulin-modified IV glucose tolerance tests were performed (5 ponies/group). In diet studies, ponies were kept on pasture and then changed to a hay diet (10 ponies/group). Second, ponies were maintained on a basal hay diet (4 weeks) before being fed a hay diet ..