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The repeatability of an oral glucose test in ponies
Author(s) -
de Laat M. A.,
Sillence M. N.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12579
Subject(s) - repeatability , insulin , zoology , palatability , meal , basal (medicine) , bran , breed , analysis of variance , repeated measures design , glycemic , food science , biology , endocrinology , medicine , chemistry , mathematics , chromatography , raw material , ecology , statistics
Summary Reasons for performing study Insulin dysregulation can be difficult to diagnose from basal insulin and glucose concentrations, so a field‐based oral glucose test ( OGT ) is preferred. However, the repeatability of this test has not been reported. Objectives To determine the repeatability of an in‐feed OGT in ponies and examine some factors affecting the palatability of the test meal. Study design A repeated measures, longitudinal study. Methods An in‐feed OGT was performed at 08.00 h on 3 consecutive occasions under controlled conditions in 8 mixed breed ponies. d ‐glucose (0.75 g/kg bwt) was dissolved in water and combined with wheat bran and lucerne chaff. Blood samples were taken before and 90, 120, 180 min and 24 h after d ‐glucose. The repeatability of the test was analysed with repeated measures ANOVA . Insulin and glucose responses to d ‐glucose were also compared to an equivalent dose of dietary carbohydrate provided with a commercial grain mixture. Results The overall insulin responses to the OGT s did not differ between tests. Individual insulin responses were more variable (P<0.05) than glucose responses. There was no difference in insulin concentration in post d ‐glucose samples over time. Insulin and glucose responses to grain and d ‐Glucose were not different. Conclusions An OGT is reasonably repeatable in ponies. The currently recommended post‐glucose sampling time point of 2 h is acceptable, with sampling at 90 min also likely to produce a consistent result. The use of an alternative carbohydrate source to d ‐glucose, such as a commercial grain‐based product, may be a viable and more palatable option for the test.