A question we get asked a lot by customers is whether glucosamine is safe for horses and ponies with conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and Insulin Resistance (IR). Glucosamine is not in any way a medicine or treatment for horses and ponies who have been diagnosed with EMS and/or IR, however, it is an ingredient often found in feed and supplements designed to support the joints of older horses and ponies. As EMS and IR can affect older equines there is often a crossover between those who would benefit from additional joint support. In this population, there is concern that, because glucosamine is principally glucose with an amino group, it could enter glucose pathways in the body and influence insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake into cells.
When consumed orally it’s thought that only 1% of the glucosamine is broken down into glucose which would raise blood glucose concentrations by such a small degree that it would be almost undetectable (0.6mmol/l) in standard blood tests. Interference with blood glucose kinetics and metabolism would only be expected to occur at concentrations between 2-50mmol/l ; several hundred- to a thousand-fold greater than plasma concentrations that would typically be achieved through oral doses in a feed or supplement. Achieving a dose that could influence glucose metabolism would require doses 100-200 times higher than would be provided in an oral supplement and would have to be administered intravenously.
Glucosamine structure
In humans, oral supplementation even at high levels doesn’t seem to have any effect on blood glucose or insulin sensitivity, even in those with type 1 or 2 diabetes.
In conclusion horses are highly unlikely to consume enough glucosamine through feed or supplements to reach sufficiently high blood concentrations to interfere with glucose metabolism or induce insulin resistance. Based on this, Glucosamine is a very safe ingredient to feed to horses and ponies with metabolic issues such as EMS and IR and will have no adverse effect on their sugar levels or the Metabolic Issues that they have.
For any advice or questions you may have, please don't hestiate to reach out to our expert nutrition team. You can call 0800 585525 Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm. Email [email protected], or send us a DM on social media.
References
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