LEVOTHYROXINE AS A TREATMENT FOR EQUINE METABOLIC SYNDROME

• Sponsoring Institution: Cooperating Schools of Veterinary Medicine
• Project Status: ACTIVE
• Funding Source: STATE
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0211789
• Project Start Date: Apr 1, 2007
• Project End Date: Mar 31, 2009
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
2621 MORGAN CIR
KNOXVILLE,TN 37996-4540

Performing Department
LARGE ANIMAL CLINICAL SCIENCES

Non Technical Summary
This project will examine the problem of insulin resistance in horses and treatment of this condition. The purpose of this study is to evaluate levothyroxine sodium as a treatment for insulin resistance in horses.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

100%

Developmental

(N/A)

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
305	3810	1010	100%

Knowledge Area
305 - Animal Physiological Processes;

Subject Of Investigation
3810 - Horses, ponies, and mules;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism;

Keywords

levothyroxine

horses

obesity

insulin resistance

Goals / Objectives
To determine whether levothyroxine sodium induces weight loss and improves insulin sensitivity in obese insulin resistant horses.

Project Methods
Levothyroxine sodium will be administered in the feed for 24 weeks and insulin sensitivity will be measured at 0, 12, 24 weeks.