There is currently growing concern about starch levels in horses' diets. This concern is justified by the increasing diagnosis of conditions that benefit from a diet low in non-structural carbohydrates (starch and sugars).
Starch intake
For example, from a gastrointestinal (GI) point of view, the ingestion of large quantities of concentrated feed is, in general, associated with a decrease in the amount of forage ingested.
Since the fibrous component should be the main component in the horse's diet, limitations in its intake contribute to the appearance of gastrointestinal disorders, such as Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS). In addition to this, there is a decrease in gastric pH after ingestion of concentrated feed, which also contributes to the aforementioned Syndrome.
Implications of starch intake
Horses have a limited capacity to digest starch in the small intestine (with individual variability). Therefore, when we provide a large amount of starch in a single meal, or low digestibility starch (unprocessed grains), a significant amount of this starch may not be digested in the small intestine, reaching the cecum.
Diarrhea, intestinal acidosis, colic
This starch will be fermented at the cecal level, with the consequent release of lactic acid. This fermentation process may result in significant changes in the intestinal flora – intestinal dysbiosis (diarrhea) – compromising the effective digestion of the forage component, and a decrease in intestinal pH – intestinal acidosis. Intestinal acidosis can justify changes in behavior, loss of performance and abdominal pain (colic).
Insulin resistance, laminitis, rhabdomyolysis
In some horses, we also see insulin resistance, which results in a failure of the tissues to respond to circulating insulin and consequently difficulty in controlling blood glucose. These horses are more prone to problems such as laminitis (“watering”) and limiting starch intake is one of the strategies used to increase insulin sensitivity.
Some myopathies, such as rhabdomyolysis due to polysaccharide accumulation or recurrent exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, also benefit from a limitation in the intake of starch and sugars.
Temperamental or excitable horses
Temperamental or easily excitable horses appear to benefit from some limitation of non-structural carbohydrates in the diet, with high sugar levels being associated with increased dopamine secretion. Here again, individual variability is enormous.
It is important to bear in mind that using a commercial food low in starch may be beneficial for some animals and improve their performance. However, completely excluding this energy source may not be the most appropriate strategy, as glycogen reserves are so important in certain sports, particularly those in which anaerobic activity is more important. Discover Intacol foods with a low starch content.
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