Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is a common condition that puts horses at risk of painful and potentially devastating laminitis. While it is well known that high insulin levels are the key trigger for laminitis in EMS, we don’t fully understand why some horses develop high insulin and others do not.

Our research explores a new and exciting area: the role of bile acids—natural compounds made by the liver and involved in digestion—in controlling insulin levels. In other species, bile acids are known to influence metabolism and blood sugar, and our early work suggests they may play a similar role in horses.

By studying how bile acids interact with the liver and insulin, and mapping their effects on individual liver cells using cutting-edge technologies, we hope to uncover the role bile acids play in why some horses become insulin dysregulated. This could lead to new ways to detect EMS earlier and open the door to innovative treatments that help regulate insulin levels and prevent laminitis.

For horse owners, the potential benefits are significant: better tools for diagnosis, improved therapies, and ultimately healthier, laminitis-free horses.