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Categorical Data. Calming Agents. Tryptophan, B-vitamins, Mg, herbs (Valerian root), lecithin Tryptophan → serotonin Hypothesis: would have calming effects. Calming Agents – Claims. Decreases anxiety, aids nervous horses
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Calming Agents • Tryptophan, B-vitamins, Mg, herbs (Valerian root), lecithin • Tryptophan → serotonin • Hypothesis: would have calming effects
Calming Agents – Claims • Decreases anxiety, aids nervous horses • “Increases calming type hormone secretions, sooths irritated nerves, allows relief from stress and anxiety” • “Why not give your horse that comfortable feeling of peace, relaxation and contentment without dulling his senses, causing drowsiness or slowing down reflexes”
Calming Agents • More tryptophan not necessarily more serotonin • Valerian root – mild sedative activity, relieves anxiety in humans
Calming Agents • Lecithins • Reduced aggressiveness in dogs • (Harless, 1998) • Reduced reactivity in horses • (Holland et al., 1996)
Energy Enhancers • B-vitamins, calcium pantothenate, L-carnitine, creatine, DMG (dimethylglycine), Coenzyme Q • Hypothesis: increase ability to generate energy for exercise
Energy Enhancers • B-vitamins are important to energy metabolism • But, any effect if not deficient?
DMG – Dimethylglycine • Also called Vit B15, or pangamic acid • Derivative of amino acid glycine • Hypothesis: ↑ O2, ↓ lactate in muscle, ↑ immune system, ↑ endurance
DMG – Dimethylglycine • Human studies – ↑ immune system • Equine studies • Standardbreds & QHs – ↓ lactate in blood • Thoroughbreds – no benefit on performance
Coenzyme Q – Ubiquinone • Involved in production of ATP (electron transport chain) • Also acts as antioxidant • Hypothesis: ↑ energy production
Coenzyme Q – Ubiquinone • Human studies – low levels seen in heart disease • Some benefit in heart disease
Coenzyme Q – Ubiquinone • Equine studies • No evidence of uptake from gut • No effect on heart rate, lactate metabolism, no benefit in muscle tissue • (Harris & Harris, 2005)
Carnitine • AA, involved in use of fatty acids for energy in muscle • Hypothesis: ↑ muscle function & endurance by sparing glycogen • Human studies – no benefit in healthy people, but did see benefit when impaired O2 supply
Carnitine • In horses – already high in muscle • ↑’d plasma levels 30x normal • No ↑ in muscle carnitine • (Harris et al., 1995)
Carnitine • 12 g/day – saw benefits • Improved exercise-related blood parameters (lactic acid in trotters) • “Improved availability of lipids to aerobic muscle fibers in intense exercise” • But no relation to performance • (Falaschini and Trombetta, 2001)
Creatine • Creatine phosphate provides energy in muscle for contraction • Hypothesis: ↑ performance – intense, short-term exercise
Creatine • Human studies – 4 to 6x daily ↑ high intensity exercise performance • Widely used in human athletes • Equine studies – race horses, no benefit