Rebound EQ: Whole Food Equine Recovery Supplement

The result of this stress can cause digestive upset, muscle fatigue, inflammation, lowered resistance to bacteria and viruses, an over-stimulated immune system, and oxidative stress.

Excessive or constant stresses in athletes can cause a triad of trauma called subclinical musculoskeletal trauma (1); the combination of muscle damage, inflammation and oxidative stress.  This can play a huge role in lackluster performance and recurring soreness and fatigue.

Rebound EQ equine recovery supplement from BioStar provides bioavailable whole food that supplies the body with what it needs to recover and bounce back more quickly from training, shipping, and competing.  This unique formula supports the GI tract, and the immune system; reduces oxidative stress, inflammation, and muscle fatigue.   Rebound can also be used for horses during lay up, and post  surgical recovery.

This whole food formula includes:

• Bovine colostrum from antibiotic-free, grass fed cows
• A blend of prebiotics (inulin and manno oligosachharides)
• A blend of probiotics: lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum.
• Azomite minerals and silica
• Whole almond powder
• Toasted wheat germ
• Organic freeze dried pomegranates

Support for the Immune System:

It has been said that the seat of the immune system is the gut.  The intestines are the largest immunological organ in the body.  The immunoglobins, particularly IgG and IgA, protect the beneficial microflora as well as protect the body from pathogenic microbes.

IgA is especially important in mucosal immunity; it is an essential protective factor against infectious agents, allergens, and foreign proteins that enter the body via the mouth, nose, upper respiratory tracts, and intestines. (2)

When the microflora becomes deficient in protective factors such as secretory IgA, globular proteins, lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and proper pH then harmful bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites grow at faster rates. (3)

Bovine colostrum provides this essential immunoglobin.

The immunoglobin IgG is an essential antibody because it is effective against multiple pathogens, many of who are now resistant to antibiotics.  One of the richest sources of this immunoglobin is bovine colostrum.

Bovine colostrum provides  97 immune factors including:  IgA, IgG, Lactoferrin, Transferrin, Cytokines Lysosyme, Lactoperoxidase and Transfer Factor.

Support for the GI Tract:

Bovine colostrum  provides critical GI tract support from the activity of the growth factors.  Colostrum contains approximately 87 growth factors, some of which play a key role in the repair and maintenance of the intestinal tract.  Research at the University Division of Gastroenterology in Leicester,England, published in 1999, demonstrated that colostrum given to rats after administration of NSAIDs reduced gastric injury by 30%. (4)   Bovine colostrum provides Glutamic acid, which the body converts to Glutamine, an important amino acid for intestinal mucosa repair.

Prebiotics and Probiotics have the ability to colonize and support the proliferation of healthy bacteria in the GI tract .   The intestinal epithelium with normal intestinal microflora acts as a barrier to antigens and other substances.  By combining two strains of Lactobacillus and two strains of Bifidobacterium  that provide a CFU (colony forming unit) of 100 billion viable cells per serving,  the horse is protected and supported with healthy gut microorganisms.  The additional support of the prebiotics: inulin from chicory and MOS (manno oligosaccharides) from yeast provides food for the microorganisms and helps to maintain a desirable pH for the beneficial bacteria.

The Free Radicals and Glutathione:

Oxygen provides energy to sustain life.; the ability to absorb, transport and use it is essential for equine athletes;  however,  the oxygen molecule is a double-edged sword.  In harnessing the chemical energy of oxygen cellular havoc can ensue by means of the transient, high reactive, potentially destructive molecules called free radicals.

A free radical is a molecule that contains an unpaired electron.   Electrons are only stable when paired with a partner, which is why molecules that are stable and nonreactive have chemical bonds containing a pair of shared electrons.

Free radicals are unpaired; they are desperate to snatch electrons from other chemical bonds.   Free radical chain reactions are fast, lasting for perhaps 100 millionth of a second before snatching back an electron from another chemical bond.  Problems arise when electrons are ripped out of the chemical bonds that hold structures together like cell walls, or DNA.   Irreparable damage to the cell and its genetic material may be the result.   Free radicals can attack lipid membranes around cells forming peroxides.  These peroxides are not produced in other metabolic pathways.  This damage, known as oxidative stress, is thought to be one of the root causes of degenerative diseases, inflammation, and ageing.

Free radicals are produced during cellular metabolism and increase during exercise.  These free radicals react within the cells in a process called oxidation that can result in inflammation accumulation.   Over time this inflammation decreases the function of the cell and contributes to oxidative stress.  To fight this cellular destruction the body uses a master antioxidant called glutathione peroxidase.

Glutathione plays another important role: antioxidant cycling.  Glutathione has a synergistic relationship with several key antioxidants including vitamin E, vitamin C, and the enzyme Q10.   Antioxidant cycling is the process of the antioxidants extending other antioxidants’ lives, making them more effective.

When Glutathione converts other antioxidants to their functional forms it looses an electron, and becomes ineffective.   The body then needs to synthesize more glutathione.  The body needs an important co-factor: the amino acid cysteine.

Bovine colostrum provides both Glutathione and cysteine to ensure that proper levels of this cellular antioxidant can be replenished and that antioxidant cycling can be maintained.   This enables the body to reduce the harmful levels of oxidative stress.

Vitamin E:  the benefits stem from its antioxidant qualities.  It combines with oxygen to destroy free radicals.  It protects fats from being destroyed by the damaging oxidation reactions.(6)   Vitamin E provides protection to the cell membranes.    Almonds and wheat germ are among the highest whole foods in the  vitamin E tocopherol family (alpha tocopherol, beta tocopherol, delta tocopherol, and gamma tocopherol).

The Flavonoids: whole almonds, particularly the skins contain more than 20 identified flavonoids, which are powerful antioxidants, capable of cellular damage repair.   The presence of the bioflavonoids with vitamin E in almonds makes this whole food much more effective than isolated vitamin E.

High amounts of flavonoids are also present in pomegranates.

Polyphenol Antioxidants:  affect cell-to-cell signaling, receptor sensitivity, inflammatory enzyme activity, and gene regulation.  Polyphenol antioxidants are found in a variety of whole foods including fruits, legumes, red wine, and green tea.

A study in 2008 at UCLA showed that pomegranates had the highest antioxidant potency composite index based on four tests: including ORAC, TEAC, DDPH, and FRAP.  Pomegranate was 20% greater than any of the other foods tested including: acai, black cherry, blueberry, cranberry, concord grapes, black tea, green tea, white tea and wine. (7)

Pomegranates due to their high polyphenol content can also protect nitric oxide against oxidative destruction.   Nitric oxide  is critical in the regulation of blood flow: circulation.

Increased Circulation: .    Nitric Oxide is the master circulatory molecule of the body; it controls the circulation of blood, transmits messages between nerve cells, and is a mediator of inflammation.

Wheat germ is a rich source of the amino acid Arginine,  a substrate for Nitric Oxide production.

Minerals:  due to nutrient deficiencies in soils all over the United States, providing adequate mineral content in a horse recovery supplement has become even more critical.   From  transporting oxygen, to the growth, maintenance and repair of tissues and bones, to minimizing fatigue, minerals particularly calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc and the trace minerals are extremely important to the equine athlete.

Azomite trace minerals come from a unique deposit of ancient volcanic ash and seawater in Utah.   This unique deposit is high in silica clay and macro and micro minerals.   Silica clay helps to bind and absorb toxins and heavy metals from the GI tract.  Silica is an important nutrient for connective tissue, skin, and hair.

Ascorbic Acid as an antioxidant:

Ascorbic acid has been used widely in humans as an antioxidant.  Horses make their own, so their needs for supplemental vitamin C have not been well studied.

There is some growing evidence that ascorbic acid that is not from food can actually cause damage particularly at high dose levels.    Several studies found that it can interfere with vitamin E, B-12, and iron. (8)

Studies in the US have highlighted some interesting data with supplemental antioxidant supplements; particularly vitamin C.    Ascorbic acid (1,000mgs per day)  caused an increase in MDA (malondialdehyde) that is formed when lipids are damaged by oxygen radicals. (5_)   The researchers found this was not the case with vitamin C from food.   MDA levels were reduced when the test subjects used fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants supply.

Pomegranate does supply ascorbic acid, but it is in it’s whole food form within the matrix of enzymes, and flavonoids in the fruit.   This ensures bioavailability.    Whole food does not provide nutrients in mega doses.

Benefits of Rebound EQ Equine Recovery Supplement:

• supports the immune system with IgA and IgG immunoglobins, and transfer factor
• supports the digestive system with pro and prebiotics, and glutamine
• provides the growth factors for tissue and muscle repair
• provides whole food antioxidants to reduce oxidative stress
• provides Glutathione  to reduce cellular damage
• provides important micro and macro minerals responsible for transporting oxygen, minimizing fatigue, maintence and repair of tissues and bone.
• provides silica clay to help draw out heavy metals, environmental toxins and impurities;  important nutrient for connective tissue.

Recovery supplement Rebound EQ can be used as needed, during competitions and shipping, during days of hard training, or can be used every day.

References:

1.    Passwater, W. 2010.  Nutrition and championship sports performance, recovery, and injury reduction.   Whole Foods Magazine. October.

2.     Takahasi I, Kiyono H.  1999.  Gut as the largest immunologic tissue.  Journal of Parenteral Enteral Nutrition.  23: supply S7-12

3.     Jalhar VS, Meera V.  2003.  ELISA tests for IgG and IgM gut flora immunity.   Original Internist.  March

4.    Playford RJ, et al. 1999.  Bovine colostrum is a health food supplement which prevents NSAID induced gut damage.  Gut. May; 44 (5): 653-658

5.    Bryant R, Ryder J, et al.  2003.  Effects of vitamin E and C supplementation either alone or in combination on exercise-induced lipid peroxidation in trained cyclists.   Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.  17 (4): 792-800

6.    Chen CY, et al.  2005.  Flavonoids from almond skins are bioavailable and act synergistically with vitamin C, and E to enhance hmster and human LDL resistance to oxidation.  Journal of Nutrition; 135, no 6.

7.    Seeram NP, Aviram M, et al.  2008.  J agric. Food Chem.  56.(4); 1415-1422

8.    Kiev, Anh.  2002.  Alternative medicine in breast cancer.  UCLA Department of Medicine.