Temporal variation in incretin and insulin secretion in ponies in association with dietary macronutrients.

GIP may regulate lipid metabolism in ponies; further studies warranted in metabolic dysfunction.

This study investigated temporal variations in incretin hormones and insulin secretion in ponies over a 24-hour period in relation to dietary macronutrients. Eight healthy ponies were fed a high-fibre ration with forage, and blood samples were analyzed for glucose, triglycerides, GLP-1, GIP, and insulin concentrations. Results demonstrated that all analytes fluctuated significantly, with peak concentrations occurring in the postprandial state. Blood glucose, GLP-1, and insulin showed strong positive synchronous correlations, while GIP demonstrated unique behavior by peaking in the unfed state and correlating with triglyceride levels. These findings were validated in a larger cohort of 30 ponies using archived samples. The data suggest that GIP plays a physiological role in lipid clearance and fat metabolism in equines, similar to other species. Given that obesity is a significant component of equine metabolic syndrome and insulin dysregulation predisposes horses to laminitis, understanding GIP's metabolic functions has important clinical implications for managing equine metabolic disorders.

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