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Nutritional Influences on
Muscular Development and Fat Metabolism
by J.E. Grogan for Show Feeds, Inc.™

Page 7 of 8
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Antioxidants:
Any increase in metabolism, an increase in fat burning or fat metabolism and especially exercise increases the use of oxygen and can increase the formation of free radicals. These are toxic byproducts of oxygen metabolism that can extensively damage cellular structure and function. Free radical damage includes damage to the muscle cells and a subsequent decrease in the metabolism of the mitochondria (where most energy production occurs including the burning of fat). These toxic free radicals are detoxifies or neutralized by the body made (endogenous) antioxidants such as super oxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione. They are also detoxified by nutritional antioxidants (exogenous) including the vitamins E, C, A, betecarotene, the minerals zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and a multitude of plant compounds OPC's, hesperidin, other bioflavinoids, carotenoids and a variety of plant pigments.

Vitamins:
The vitamins can be broken down into two classifications:

1. The water soluble

2. The fat soluble

The water soluble vitamins are the B-complex and vitamin C. The fat soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K (including beta carotene).

The B-complex are involved in a variety of functions including:

• The burning of carbohydrates and fats for energy

• Increasing cellular energy production by improving mitochondrial efficiency

• Increase the use of glycogen for energy

• Involved in protein and amino acid metabolism

• Involved in the formation of fatty acids and glucose

• Involved in the formation of steroid hormones and all new proteins including red blood cells, bone marrow cells, the lining of the intestinal tract and hemoglobin

• Involved in the formation of all new cells

Vitamin C functions as a primary dietary antioxidant protecting tissue from the effects of toxic free radicals. It is crucial for the formation of the connective protein collagen. With few exceptions mammals produce their own vitamin C. The use of additional dietary vitamin C to augment natural synthesis is controversial but may have some benefit. The use of vitamin C in specified feed formulations can act as a effective antioxidant to protect the feed and supplement quality.

The fat soluble vitamins also have numerous functions including:

• Essential for vision, cellular growth, the health of skin, mucous membranes and normal immune function

• Essential for bone health and mineral balance

• Involved in the normal clotting processes of the blood

• Act as antioxidants in fatty tissue and other fats

• Compliments vitamin C as an antioxidant

Minerals:
Calcium: about 99% of all calcium is stored in the bones and occurs in about a 2:1 ration with phosphorus. The other 1% of calcium serves a multitude of metabolic functions - among them:

1. Required for normal blood clotting

2. Controls the excitability of nerves and muscles

3. Stabilizes cell membranes

4. Involved in the regulation of hormone release

5. Regulates cell division

Calcium levels are controlled both hormonally and nutritionally. Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin exert the primary influences on calcium. Vitamin D activates the calcium binding protein for calcium absorption. Blood is the transport medium for calcium and as such calcium blood levels stay relatively constant. The hormonal controls for calcium stabilize the blood levels. It is possible however for the tissue and the bone levels of calcium to be low sometimes critically low even if the blood levels are in the normal range.

As the percentage of calcium in the diet increases the relative proportion of calcium absorbed decreases. If dietary calcium is inadequate bone calcium will be mobilized to maintain a normal blood calcium. Calcium can increase work performance in a hard working animal and because of the multitude of hormonal interactions associated with calcium absorption, metabolism and utilization a variety of endocrine functions can be affected by calcium.