Salmon oil for Insulin Resistance (IR)
In previous blogs, we have indicated what insulin resistance is and that this is often the cause of rubbing in horses and ponies. For horses and ponies with Insulin Resistance, the most important thing is to adjust the ration to a limited intake of sugars. But did you know that salmon oil can also have a positive effect on insulin resistance?
Insulin resistance
Salmon oil
1 May '20 • 1 min reading time
Salmon oil lowers the glucose level in the blood
American researchers have discovered that horses fed salmon oil not only have a lower heart rate during exercise, but that the cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood were also lower than in horses that did not receive salmon oil.
Because salmon oil has a positive effect on the glucose level, salmon oil is very suitable for horses with Insulin Resistance.
Salmon oil reduces inflammation
A horse with Insulin Resistance often rubs the mane as a reaction to an excess of sugars. This causes small inflammatory reactions under the skin. These inflammations cause new itching and irritation, so the itch cycle is not broken. Salmon oil is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, which helps reduce inflammation in the body. Salmon oil also has a positive effect on horses with IR that rub themselves. It is important to use a fly/rug blanket when rubbing excessively to prevent the horse from being bitten and/or rubbing itself further.
Conclusion:
Salmon oil has a positive effect on the glucose level in the blood, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties. These 2 properties of salmon oil make it very suitable as a supplement for horses with insulin resistance.