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L-Carnitine might sound like a new buzz
word but actually this element is naturally
occurring in the horse’s body and has a
very important part to play.
L-Carnitine is an amino
acid that can be taken in to the body through
diet or biosynthesis of the liver in horses.
In dietary terms, L-Carnitine can be found
in meat and dairy products but, unfortunately
for the horse, there is not a great deal
available in plants so, with this in mind,
supplementing a horse in hard work with
L-Carnitine is not a bad idea.
In the body, L-Carnitine
plays in an important role in energy metabolism.
It carries fatty acids to the cell mitochondria
where they are converted into glucose for
energy for muscle contraction. So it helps
to prevent the storage of body fat. This
action delays lactic acid build up in the
horse’s body when he or she is working hard.
Delaying this process encourages endurance
and stamina, something essential for the
competition horse. L-Carnitine also supports
the growth of muscle cells and helps the
heart.
When horses are participating
in hard work, the body is often unable to
produce the volume of L-Carnitine needed.
If horses do not have enough L-Carnitine,
muscle fatigue, exhaustion and poor performance
are possible ramifications. So, with this
in mind, supplementing a horse in hard work’s
diet with L-Carnitine can help improve muscle
function, performance and endurance.
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