Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diet starch and fat effects on muscle enzyme in horses with PSSM
By Ribeiro, W P et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2004·Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: The effect of varying dietary starch and fat content on serum creatine kinase activity and substrate availability in equine polysaccharide storage myopathy.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Four Quarter Horse-related mares with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) were studied to see how different diets high or low in starch and fat affected their muscle health. The mares were fed various diets over six weeks while exercising, and their blood was tested for glucose, insulin, and muscle enzymes. The results showed that a diet with less than 5% starch and more than 12% fat helped reduce muscle damage during exercise. This suggests that adjusting their diet could help manage symptoms and improve their overall muscle function.
People also search for: horse PSSM diet · Quarter Horse muscle problems · equine rhabdomyolysis treatment
Abstract
The effect of dietary starch and fat content on serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and substrate availability was evaluated in 4 mares of Quarter Horse-related breeds with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Four isocaloric diets ranging in digestible energy (DE) from 21.2% (diet A), 14.8% (B), 8.4% (C), to 3.9% (D) for starch, and 7.2% DE (diet A), 9.9% (B), to 12.7% DE (diet C and D) for fat were fed for 6-week periods (4 weeks with exercise) using a 4 X 4 Latin square design. Postprandial glucose and insulin responses were measured, and 4 hours postexercise, serum CK activity, glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), and beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HBA) were analyzed. Glycogen, glucose-6-phosphate, citrate synthase, 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase as well as abnormal polysaccharide and lipid content were measured in middle gluteal muscle samples. Postprandial insulin and glucose response was higher for diet A versus D. Log CK activity was higher with diets A, B, and C versus D. Daily insulin was higher and FFA lower on diet A versus B, C, and D, whereas glucose varied only slightly with diet. Muscle oxidative capacity and lipid stores were low in PSSM horses and muscle glycogen and abnormal polysaccharide content high on both diets A and D. Individual variation occurred in the response of PSSM horses to diets differing in starch and fat content. However, for those horses with clinical manifestations of PSSM, a diet with <5% DE starch and >12% DE fat can reduce exertional rhabdomyolysis, potentially by increasing availability of FFA for muscle metabolism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15638274/