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The three branched chain amino acids
Valine, Leucine, and Isoleucine make up one third of all
muscle
protein. This group of amino acids help to maintain
muscle tissue; they also are needed during times of physical stress and
intense exercise.
These aminos, especially valine,
are used in large amounts during intense exercise and are needed for the maintenance of muscle tissue and
anecdotal evidence suggests that they assist in preserving
muscle stores of glycogen. Exercise increases muscle activity resulting in significant
losses of these three branched chain amino acids. Supplementing with
Branch Paste after exercise helps replace these losses and optimise
muscle repair maximising muscle building.
Supplementation may be useful in
prolonging endurance performance in the heat.
Leucine:
Regulation of protein turnover
and energy metabolism. Maintains muscle strength especially during
times of physical stress and intensive exercise
Inhibits
the breakdown of muscle proteins that may occur after trauma or severe
stress, and stimulates insulin release .
Isoleucine:
Antioxidant
– supports the cell-protecting action of vitamin E by detoxifying
peroxides Necessary
for growth and fertility in animals
Aids
in the prevention of white muscle disease.
Valine:
Improves
energy metabolism and protein synthesis (NRC, 1989). Maintains muscle strength especially during times of
physical stress and intensive exercise.
Selenium:
Antioxidant
– supports the cell-protecting action of vitamin E by detoxifying
peroxides Necessary
for growth and fertility in animals
Aids
in the prevention of white muscle disease
An
80g dose of Branch Paste provides: Selenium 2.16mg, L-Leucine 13.008g,
L-Isoleucine 9.56g, L-Carnitine HCL 0.4656g, L-Glutamine 0.752g,
L-Valine 9.56g.
Active Constituents:
Each 80g dose provides;
Selenium (Selplex 50) 2.16mg
L-Leucine 13,008mg
L-Isoleucine 9,560mg
L-Valine 9,560mg
L-Carnitine hydrochloride 456.6mg
L-Glutamine 752mg
Directions For Use:
Administer 80mL (full syringe) Branch Paste over the back of the tongue
as soon as practicable after hard exercise. May also be administered
prior to hard exercise.
Pack Size:
80mL oral dosing syringe
Witholding period: Ranvet Branch Paste does not contravene the rules of
racing in any jurisdiction and has no withholding period
Technical Issues:
Amino acids are the building blocks of all protein, and as such they are
essential for the synthesis of structural proteins, enzymes, some
hormones and neurotransmitters, as well as being essential in many
metabolic pathways that affect exercise metabolism. Some amino acids are
classed as “essential”, because they are not manufactured by the horse,
but are required in the diet regularly for growth and tissue
maintenance.
The three Branch Chain amino acids – valine, leucine and isoleucine are
all classed as “essential” amino acids. These three amino acids are most
plentiful in muscle tissue – making up over one third of the volume of
muscle protein. As muscles burn up available BCAA’s during exertion,
they begin to break down muscle tissue to provide these essential BCAA’s
to fuel more activity. Muscle cell damage results in reduced ability to
contract and relax during extreme exertion, with resultant muscle
fatigue, lactic acidosis, loss of performance and delayed recovery as
muscle tissue repairs itself.
After water, protein is the most plentiful substance in the body, and
roughly one third of horse protein is found in muscle. While all protein
is made up of amino acids, all proteins are not the same, though they
are all manufactured using different combinations of the same 22 amino
acids. They have different functions, and work in many different areas
of the body.
The three branch chain amino acids (BCAA’s) are particularly important
for muscle synthesis, muscle growth and muscle repair. These BCAA’s are
constantly damaged during hard physical exercise, and constantly require
replenishment as horses recover from hard work.
In addition, the BCAA’s, particularly leucine, also seem to spare muscle
from being broken down to provide energy during exercise, so
pre-competition administration of BRANCH PASTE may be useful in
preserving muscle tissue. The BCAA’s also reduce muscle enzyme release
when muscle tissue is damaged.
During endurance exercise, the BCAA’s are actually taken up directly by
the muscle tissue, not broken down by normal energy production pathways.
Research conducted in horses confirms that serum leucine, isoleucine and
valine levels decrease after exercise, and can take up to 48 hours to
return to normal.
The effect of Branch Paste administered immediately after hard work is
to maximise the recovery of muscle tissue after hard exercise, while the
effect of administration prior to hard exercise may be more to spare
muscle tissue from breakdown during hard work.
Conditioning horses for hard competition requires hard workouts. By
introducing BCAA’s into the training program, their use before and after
heavy training provides the levels of BCAA’s required, without breaking
down excess muscle tissue, and without requiring long recovery periods.
BCAA’s are a normal component of food, and they are rapidly absorbed
from paste administration; ready to be used to fuel muscle activity as
required. Adequate levels of circulating BCAA’s in the blood mean less
lactic acid is produced in muscle tissue during heavy exertion.
Glutamine, another amino acid, also promotes muscle growth, and is also
vital as a fuel for white blood cells, so reduced glutamine levels can
contribute to immune suppression after exercise. By supplementing
glutamine in Branch Paste, both immune status and muscle health are
maintained under the stress of heavy work.
L-Carnitine has an important
essential role in the transportation of fats into cells for energy
production. This is important in performance horses, as muscle glycogen
(carbohydrate) stores can be conserved until periods of maximum exertion
require carbohydrates for rapid anaerobic energy production. (fats are
not able to fuel maximal anaerobic work, as fats require more complex
breakdown processes before they are available to produce ATP. Only
carbohydrates fuel maximum exertion).
Selenium is a potent antioxidant trace mineral helping reduce free
radical damage to muscle cells when hard physical work is conducted. The
presentation as Selplex 50 ensures maximum bioavailability and
absorption.
Summary
The branch chain amino acids are essential for the growth, maintenance
and repair of muscle tissue in horses. They are heavily damaged during
hard exertion, and require constant replenishment.
As the three BCAA’s leucine, isoleucine and valine are essential amino
acids, they are not manufactured by the horse, and must be obtained from
the diet, or from supplementation.
The BCAA’s play an important role in sparing the breakdown of muscle
tissue, delaying onset of lactic acidosis and muscle fatigue, as well as
in muscle repair during recovery.
Supplementation with BCAA’s will help preserve muscle tissue and
maximise recovery.
Features: Benefits:
1. Supplies the essential BCAA’s Essential to prevent muscle tissue
breakdown during hard exercise, and to maximise recovery and muscle
repair after hard work.
2. Supplies the amino acid glutamine Critical to maintaining immune
status during hard training and work
3. Supplies the amino acid L-Carnitine Essential in conversion of fats
into energy, thus sparing muscle glycogen stores.
4. Use prior to hard exercise BCAA’s help spare muscle tissue from
breakdown and maintain maximum muscle function, with less lactic acid
production.
5. Use immediately after hard exercise Muscle repair commences
immediately after exercise stops to maximise repair & recovery.
6. Single dose oral syringe Portable, easy oral doing. Fast absorption.
Combining supplements for maximum recovery
Branch Paste given orally prior to hard work will help prevent muscle
breakdown.
Administer as soon as possible after hard work to make sure maximum
BCAA’s are available for muscle tissue to repair during the recovery
period that commences within 30 minutes of completion of hard exercise.
Ensure adequate electrolyte balance at all times by supplementing feed
daily with Salkavite.
When travelling in endurance events, or in hot, humid weather, use
Ranvet Electropaste to rapidly
replenish electrolytes and restore fluid balance after hard work or
travelling
Muscle Problems?
If horses tend to develop muscle fatigue, cramping and poor performance,
supplement with Ranvet Neutrolene Plus
after any hard exercise, to reduce acidosis.
Potassium Plus supplements the
often deficient mineral potassium, vital to normal muscle contraction.
Potassium is lost in large amounts during hard exercise, particularly in
heavy sweating horses.
Directions for
use:
To Assist in Recovery half or
full 80g syringe,
depending on severity, within 30 minutes after strenuous work.
Training: 80g syringe, depending on
intensity, 30-60 minutes pre-exertion and the same again within 30
minutes, post-exertion.
After layoffs, when increasing intensity of
training, endurance and fitness: half or full 80g syringe depending on intensity of
work, 30-60 minutes pre-exertion and repeat within 30 minutes, after
strenuous work.
Pre-exertion - half or full 80g syringe, depending on
intensity, as close as possible to the event, but ideally 30-60minutes
before strenuous exertion.
References
(Lininger et al. 1998).(NRC,
1989).(Ensminger,
1990) .(Howell,
1983).(NRC
1988).
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