[The development and experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of a new specialized food based on dried mare's milk during exercise]

Abstract

The development and implementation of effective means to improve performance, endurance, rapid recovery of the body after physical exertion and, ultimately, improve athletic performance are still relevant. The aim of the work was to develop a new specialized product based on dry mare's milk, as well as to evaluate its effectiveness on an experimental model of physical activity. Material and methods. A specialized product has been developed, including powdered mare's milk, skimmed cow's milk, vegetable cream, crushed sea buckthorn fruits, wheat germ, vitamins A, E, C, PP, folic acid, mineral substances (selenium, magnesium, zinc, iron), inulin, dry bacterial starter culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum in a 1:1:1 ratio) and fucoidan. Experimental studies were carried out on 70 white male Wistar rats with an initial body weight of 207-226 g. Animals were fed complete semi-synthetic diet with free access to food and water. Animals of the experimental group additionally received 10 g of a specialized product daily. The control group of animals additionally received glucose in an amount corresponding to the calorie content of 10 g of the specialized product (45 kcal). The animals were subjected to physical exertion - forced swimming until they were completely tired. The swimming test was carried out every seven days during the 21-day experimental period with a load of 10% of the animal's body weight. In hemolysates of erythrocytes, liver microsomes, and in the mitochondrial fraction of the femoral muscle, the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase was assessed using kits, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugates was determined by spectrophotometry. The level of lactic and pyruvic acids in the blood serum and femoral muscle of rats was assessed by spectrophotometry. The liver and heart were histologically examined. Results. Feeding animals the specialized protein product for 21 days resulted in a statistically significant increase in endurance, as evidenced by data on the time of swimming with a load. So, in the experimental group, in comparison with the initial data, the swimming time increased by 223%. In the control group, the time of swimming with a load increased in comparison with the initial data by only 71.4%, which was 3.1 fold lower than the values in the experimental group. The time of swimming with a load of animals from both groups did not change statistically significantly in the next 7 days of feeding exclusively semi-synthetic diet. The consumption of the specialized product was accompanied by a positive trend in the change in the antioxidant status indicators. Thus, in the membranes of erythrocytes, there was a decrease in the concentration of malondialdehyde by 55.2% and an increase in the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase by 19.6 and 37.9%, respectively, compared with data in the control group. In the microsomal fraction of the liver, the level of MDA decreased by 40.0% and catalase activity increased by 59.6%. In the mitochondrial fraction of the femoral muscle, a decrease in the level of MDA and diene conjugates was noted, respectively, by 46.8 and 40.8%. In rats of the experimental group, the concentration of lactic acid in the blood serum was reduced by 40.6%, and in the femoral muscle - by 24.7% compared with animals of the control group. Histological studies of the hepatic and cardiac tissues confirmed positive changes in the structure of the studied organs. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate a favorable effect of the protein mixture on the state of the antioxidant system, the general physiological state of rats, their endurance in relation to physical activity, which is largely associated with the set of food ingredients included in the composition, and, first of all, complete protein, vitamins-antioxidants (A, E, C), as well as energy sources, pre- and probiotics, minerals and trace elements, immune defense factors that favorably affect the state of the membranes of erythrocytes, myocytes and hepatocytes and increase not only the body's endurance, but also its metabolic functions, which is confirmed by the data of biochemical and morphological studies.

Keywords: antioxidant activity; endurance indicators; lipid peroxidation products; mare’s milk; morphological changes; protein mixture; sports’ nutrition.