Phospate Loading Horses, Greyhounds, Dogs, & Camels

In both anaerobic and endurance exercise, you lose a lot of muscle phosphate into the blood. Regular training also increases resting levels of blood phosphate, an indication that Horses, Greyhounds, Dogs & Camels respond to training by increasing its overall level of phosphate, and that exercise increases phosphate needs.

Marathon runners, for example, have much higher resting blood phosphate levels than sedentary people. When we first measured them at the Colgan Institute in the early ’80s, we thought some athletes had phosphate overload. Their blood levels were over 1.5 mmol/1, way above the normal range of 0.75-1.35 mmol/1. But other researchers have found the same, and our athletes seemed to thrive on it. Also, whenever phosphate levels were low, performance usually bombed. So we came to the conclusion that elevated blood phosphate is a beneficial effect of training.

Horses, Greyhounds, Dogs & Camels bodies can’t make phosphorus. They have to get this mineral base of phosphate from there diet. Phosphates are added to numerous foods. The RDA is 800 mg, but the daily intake in America is over 1,500 mg in males, and almost 1,000 mg in females. Because of these high levels in food, until recently supplement manufacturers have not followed the research on phosphate. But recent studies show pathologically low levels of blood phosphate in some athletes after endurance events. So even our high food intake of phosphate may be insufficient to meet the demands of intense exercise.

Effects of Phosphate
Most athletes in good shape show resting phosphate levels at or near the top of the normal medical range. But does the normal range, conceived for sedentary folk, cover levels of phosphate required for optimal performance in athletes? What happens when you raise it even higher.

Successful ergogenic use of phosphate would have to do at least three things. First, it would have to buffer muscle acid. Dr Richard Kreider and his group at Old Dominion University, Virginia, the leading lights in this research, have recently shown exactly that effect in repeated studies of phosphate supplementation.

Second, it would have to raise the level of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), the enzyme that unloads oxygen into muscle. Studies from various laboratories have shown repeatedly that phosphate supplementation reliably raises blood levels of 2,3-DPG.8’0’10

Third, through its incorporation into numerous enzymes in energy production, it would have to improve the production and use of glycogen for fuel. There is some evidence that supplemental phosphate has this effect.

Effects On Performance
The combined biochemical effects of phosphate supplements on performance are dramatic. Dr Robert Cade and his group at the Department of Medicine of the University of Florida, gave 10 well trained endurance runners either 1 gram of sodium phosphate four times daily or a placebo for three days. Then they ran them on the treadmill to exhaustion. During the phosphate loading trial, lactic acid levels were lower, 2,3-DPG levels were higher, VO”2max increased by 6-12%, and subjects ran 3-9 minutes longer.

At the Tasmanian Institute of Technology in Australia, Dr Ian Stewart and his colleagues did a similar study of highly trained cyclists, giving them 3.6 grams of sodium phosphate a day or a placebo, for three days before a maximum effort on the ergometer bicycle. Results showed that phosphate loading reduced lactic acid accumulation, increased 2,3-DPG production during exercise, increased V02max by a whopping 11%, and increased time to exhaustion by an incredible 20%.

One of the latest and best studies is from Dr Richard Kreider and his group at Old Dominion University. They gave trained cyclists 4 grams of sodium phosphate per day or a placebo, for 3 days prior to a maximal exercise test and a 40 km time trial on the ergometer bicycle. So they tested both anaerobic and endurance exercise.

During the anaerobic phosphate trials, maximal power output increased by 17%. That’s equivalent to adding 51 lbs to a 300 lb maximum bench press! During the aerobic phosphate trials, time for the 40 km ride was reduced by 3.5 minutes. That’s the difference between winning and fell off the bicycle in cycling races. There is no doubt that phosphate works big time.

A dosage of 4 grams a day for three days seems adequate, which makes sodium phosphate a more healthy ergogenic than sodium bicarbonate. It also works in both anaerobic and endurance exercise, which makes it better all around. The sodium form has been used in most studies, but potassium phosphate might work too. With the high level of sodium added to our food and the big losses of potassium in food processing, potassium phosphate would be a lot healthier. But don’t use calcium phosphate. Two studies that have tried calcium phosphate found no effect at all.

There are two new controlled studies completed but not yet published, using the commercial phosphate/bicarbonate supplement Phos Fuel made by TwinLab. The first of these, done by Dr Richard Kreider’s group was presented at the American College of Sports Medicine meeting in Dallas on May 27-30, 1992. It showed that Phos Fuel, at the recommended dose of 4 grams per day for 3 days prior to performance, significantly increased serum phosphate levels and reduced lactic acid accumulation in swimmers.

The second study with Phosfuel has just been completed by Dr William Kramer, famous strength coach and Director of Research in Sports Medicine at Pennsylvania State University. Results were presented at the 1992 Annual Convention of the National Strength and Conditioning Association held in Philadelphia. Kramer and his group reported that Phos Fuel increased the athletes’ levels of 2-3 DPG and increased power output in highly trained athletes. If anyone tells you that phosphate doesn’t work, just smile, and keep your edge to yourself.  You can find Phosphorus by clicking on this link.

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1 Comment

• By speed shop, February 1, 2010 @ 5:11 am

  There used to be a product that you could buy at GNC that was called Phos Fuel? Anyway, this product was great and worked well in Horses. I never got a positive on it. Is there anywhere to get this product now?

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