Muscle Max is a feed supplement formulated to maximise the efficiency of muscle metabolism. It does this in two ways, by improving lean muscle mass and by reducing the effects of post exercise muscle fatigue.  A large part of the daily energy requirement of the equine athlete is used by the skeletal muscles to power the contractions that give the horse its attributes of speed, endurance and strength.

The energy from feed is stockpiled in the muscles in the form of glycogen. Through a chain of biochemical reactions within the muscle cells, the glycogen is oxidised to release Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) the chemical energy source used to power the muscle cells. The oxidation process requires large amounts of oxygen, hence the need for an efficient blood supply.

The waste products from this energy burning process include water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, lactic acid and free radicals, all of which have the potential to reduce muscular efficiency. Free radicals can cause serious damage to the muscle cell membrane. It is these free radicals, in conjunction with the waste ammonia and lactic acid, that many equine sport scientists believe are responsible for muscle fatigue, post exercise muscle soreness and muscle tye-up.

Antioxidants are substances that have the ability to inactivate the free radicals within the cell. There are many nutritional antioxidants, mostly found in plants.  Muscle-Max is an antioxidant supplement that contains stabilised rice-bran. Rice bran is a rich source of glycerides, free fatty acids, phospholipids and glycolipids. Its principle antioxidants are the tocopherals, tocotrienols and gamma oryzanol, as well as inositol, phytic acid and choline.Vitamin E is one of the Tocopherols found in Muscle-Max, but it is the tocotrienols that are 50 times more potent than Vitamin E, that makes rice branl such a potent antioxidant formulation.

Besides being an antioxidant, gamma oryzanol is a plant sterol, giving it anabolic properties. Studies in which gamma oryzanol supplements were included in diets of both human and equine athletes over a 6-8 week period resulted in improved muscle to fat ratios, along with improved appetite.

Muscle-Max also contains chromium picolinate. Chromium is not an antioxidant, but it does play an important role in increasing muscle energy utilization, while at the same time lowering blood lactic acid levels during exercise. Recent research in the USA has shown that racehorses in full training supplemented daily with 5mgs of organic chromium had 13% lower blood lactate levels after intense exercise than the control horses used in the studies. Studies with human athletes have shown that daily supplementation with organic chromium increases muscle gain and reduces body fat more than physical exercise alone.

In summary Muscle-Max combines the antioxidant and anabolic properties of stabilised rice bran and along with chromium picolinate helps to reduce muscle fatigue and post exercise muscle damage.  It alsto create muscle gain and a reduction in body fat. It is a 100% natural product that can be used right up to and during competition. It is formulated with an apple flavour that horses find palatable.