Fermentative Gases in Breath Indicate that Inulin and Starch Start to Be Degraded by Microbial Fermentation in the Stomach and Small Intestine of the Horse in Contrast to Pectin and Cellulose

Effect of period, water temperature and agitation on loss of water‐soluble carbohydrates and protein from grass hay: implications for equine feeding management

“…However, fructose from other sources could contribute to the free fructose pool, for example, hydrolysis of sucrose in the foregut, would augment ingested levels of free fructose. Furthermore, indirect studies suggest some degradation of inulin-type fructan in the equid foregut (Coenen and others 2006), and in vitro studies suggest restricted depolymerisation of native grass fructan when treated with foregut digesta (Ince and others 2013). Thus, depolymerisation of fructan to fructose and glucose in the foregut could further add to the pool of diet-derived free fructose.…”

Effect of dietary fructans and dexamethasone administration on the insulin response of ponies predisposed to laminitis

“…Periods of high pasture nonstructural carbohydrate content (which includes simple sugars, starches, and fructans) appear to correlate with peak periods of laminitis incidence. 10,11 Fructose has recently been implicated in the metabolic syndrome of humans, where its metabolism may contribute to insulin resistance and hypertension. 10,11 Fructose has recently been implicated in the metabolic syndrome of humans, where its metabolism may contribute to insulin resistance and hypertension.…”

Fructokinase, Fructans, Intestinal Permeability, and Metabolic Syndrome: An Equine Connection?

“…The horse is distinct in having large numbers of anaerobic bacteria in the small intestine (which amounts to 70 feet in length), with equal numbers of bacteria in both the small and large intestine [40]. When fructans (such as from Jersualem artichokes) are administered to horses, there is the rapid degradation of fructans in the small bowel [41]. Thus, the administration of fructans is expected to result in fructose generation in the gut of horses that have fructan-degrading bacteria.…”