Gut bacteria could affect weight loss

THE amount of weight ponies lose when dieting could be linked to individual gut bacteria, research has indicated.

A two-year study carried out by researchers at Liverpool and Aberystwyth universities plus Scotland’s Rural College, with Spillers and the Waltham equine studies group, aimed to establish if the microbiome may have an impact on equine weight loss.

Faeces was collected and evaluated during the same 11week period from 15 obese Welsh mountain pony mares fed the same forage, with eight ponies studied in year one and seven in year two.

The results showed significant variation in how much weight was lost, with an “almost two-fold difference” in the percentage achieved by the mares losing the greatest and least amount. The research also showed associations between the abundance of specific bacteria that aid in fibre digestion, and weight loss.

A spokesman for Spillers said dietary restriction is recognised as the most effective way to achieve weight loss, but research has previously shown not all equines lose weight at the same rate.

“This study adds important information to our obesity prevention toolbox,” said Spillers marketing, research and development director Clare Barfoot. “Identifying that faecal microbiome may have a role in the capacity for ponies to lose weight gives us a baseline for future research, our ultimate aim being to effectively predict weight loss success and instigate appropriate management programmes.”