Fascinating Swimmers...RATS

Let’s chat about a study done at Weber University by Professor Daryl Graff, Ph.D. The objective of this study was to determine mitochondrial energy production and subsequent cellular endurance comparing the benefit of patented amino acid mineral chelates versus the same amount of inorganic mineral salts on rats' ability to swim for endurance/energy and time.

Dr. Graff created three groups of rats, consisting of six rats per group.

Group one rats received:

• Commercial rat food fortified with the following minerals.
• Magnesium as a patented amino acid mineral chelate
• Calcium as a patented amino acid mineral chelate
• Zinc as a patented amino acid mineral chelate
• Iron as a patented amino acid mineral chelate
• Copper as a patented amino acid mineral chelate
• Cobalt as a patented amino acid mineral chelate

2 ml of these patented amino acid mineral chelates were provided daily to each rat for 3 days for fortification.

Group two rats received:

Commercial rat food for 3 days, fortified with the same amount of minerals as group one however, the minerals used in group 2 were in the form of sulfates and/or chlorides instead of receiving patented amino acid mineral chelates.

Group three rats was the control group. They received:

• Commercial rat food without any additional fortification for 3 days.

Each group of rats received the same commercial rat food and amount to eat.

Procedure: Each group of rats was placed in water over their heads where they had to continually swim. Their ability to swim was timed in minutes. At the first indication of a rat going under water, all of the rats were removed from swimming. There was no harm done to the rats.  No stimulants or any ingredient was given that would interfere or harm the natural function of the mitrochondria.

Swimming results

Group one: patented amino acid chelate minerals

Ability to continuously swim 48.3 minutes + 2.2

Group two: Inorganic minerals using chlorides and/or sulfates for fortification.

Ability to continuously swim 13.8 minutes + 5.6

Group three control group: Ate only the commercial rat food. No fortification.

Ability to continuously swim 10.1 minutes + 6.7

Conclusion: The amino acid mineral chelated group functioned 4.8 times better than the control group and 3.5 times better than the inorganic mineral group.

This study shows that typical commercially prepared food does not have enough mineral nutrition to support the highest cellular mitochondrial performance for energy production and endurance.