phytate blocker for horses

For Immediate Release Brisbane, Australia. December 21 2012:
Australian company finds Phytates and lack of sunlight in stabled racehorses are effecting performance.
World First Breakthrough Race Technology by Australians.

Effects of Phytates believed to be negating the uptake of Iron by up to 90% which in turn is affecting Red Blood Cell production in racehorses.
In what may be the most important discovery for horse racing in decades, researchers from a Australian Equine Biotech company recently found evidence in a scientific trial on 26 racehorses suggesting that the effect of Phytates (carried by Grains and Lucerne/Legume hays) are actively blocking the up-take of Iron given to horses to increase RBC production.
Natural occurring, Phytates are found on grains and Lucerne (hexaphosphoric acid esters) and diminish iron absorption in racehorses by up to 90%
Equine Ergogenics Australia Nutritionist, Ms. Sarah Mottram Bsc said “What has been discovered is that when feeding grains, which all race horse trainers do, the grains actively block the absorption of iron and therefore oxygen. Horses need iron to increase red blood cell and hemoglobin activity and Red blood cells combined with hemoglobin carry oxygen which makes horses run faster and further”
‘In a nutshell by feeding grains for energy, trainers are in fact to some extent stopping the horse running faster’
“This is not new science, in that Phytates are well known to block absorption of iron and other vitamins and minerals in humans as well, what is new is that we have seen the effect of just how much the provision of grains and lucerne are contributing to block red blood cell production.
Once they realized what was going on between our control arms, the scientists immediately set out to formulate a blocking technology that in effect blocks or inhibits the action of Phytates. So a blocker to block the Blockers. They now have a supplement known as Phytate X Max that is delivered with TPM® technology that can mitigate the naturally occurring action of Phytates.
Mr. Rob Neely CEO of Equine Ergogenics said “We are proud to say that we first company in the world to develop this Phytate Blocking Technology for race horses. Pyhtates are well understood in other animals and blocking technologies are readily available, however as horses have such a simple gut and quick action from mouth to passing, the issue was to obtain a quick release formulation to block the Phytates in the gut and gastrointestinal tract. I am confident as are leading trainers that this kind of technology will see better track performances. The Singapore Turf Club gave its approval for use in November and I can confirm its now in use at 2 of the top three stables in that country.”
Ms Mottram said “In my professional opinion using this new TPM® formulation to block Phytates will revolutionize racehorse management globally. The product has already been licensed in 10 Asian countries, and has a cost of only $1.00 a day per horse.” The formulation is a strict trade secret, and the product is to be manufactured only in Australia in a GMP facility.
Lack of Sunlight, Grain and poor quality hay are causing further Vitamin deficiencies in racehorses continually stabled.
In a further development the company has determined that confining racehorses to stables exacerbates the Vitamin D metabolism issue and the provision of low quality hay can lead to a defficiency of vitamin A. This can occur when horses do not have access to good quality green hay. Hay which has been stored for long periods will have significantly lower vitamin A levels than are required.
Vitamin D acts by increasing the intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphorus, and it can be deficient where dietary intake is low, as when horses are fed poor quality hay, or when little direct sunlight is allowed to reach the horse’s skin, e.g. stabled horses, winter conditions, etc. Deficiency of vitamin D will exacerbate an existing imbalance in calcium and phosphorus. A Vitamin A deficiency leads directly to loss of bone strength and thinning of the bone cortex.
The company points to a recent study of radiolabelled 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in humans consuming just 60 grams of wheat bran daily for 30 days clearly demonstrated an enhanced elimination of 25(OH)D3 in the intestinal lumen. The mechanism by which cereal grain consumption influences vitamin D is unclear. Some investigators have suggested that cereal grains may interfere with the enterohepatic circulation of vitamin D or its metabolites, whereas others have shown that calcium deficiency increases the rate of inactivation of vitamin D in the liver.
( 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) is produced in response to secondary hyperparathyroidism, which promotes hepatic conversion of vitamin D to polar inactivation products which are excreted in bile. Consequently, the low Ca/P ratio of cereal grains has the ability to elevate PTH which in turn stimulates increased production of 1,25(OH)2D which causes an accelerated loss of 25-hydroxyvitamin D.)
Equine Ergogenics Australia nutritionists are now formulating a TPM® Powered Supplement that will add a source of Encapsulated Vitamin D and ß Carotene for horses that are confined to stables such as those around metropolitan racetracks.
Ms Mottram said “We believe this to be the first supplement of its kind, in that its expressly formulated at the RDI required for in work thoroughbred racehorses confined to stables like those in Singapore and Hong Kong. Several studies have suggested that 25-hydroxyvitamin (25[OH]D) deficiency is an unrecognized contributor to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). 1,25(OH)2D) affects the renin-angiotensin system, is associated with cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, and has anti-inflammatory effects, all of which may influence CVD risk. In addition, low 25(OH)D levels have been associated with multiple CVD risk factors in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) population as well as with hypertension, congestive heart failure cancer, and diabetes mellitus.”
She added “If there is any risk that we may see the same issues arise in racehorses the industry needs to be aware of those risks, as we need to have the heart functioning to its fullest ability in these high performance animals.”
Contact: Rob Neely, CEO Equine Nutrition Australia. 0429 88 44 01 or [email protected]