Effects of aspartic acid salts (Mg and K) on swimming performance of rats and dogs

¹ U.S. Army Medical Research and Nutrition Laboratory, Fitzsimons General Hospital, Denver, Colorado

Five separate experiments were performed to evaluate the effects, if any, of Mg and K salts of aspartic acid on the swimming times of rats and dogs. Experiments 1 and 2 were with rats doing a single swim-to-exhaustion in water maintained at 17 C and 25 C. In experiment 3 dogs performed a single swim-to-exhaustion in 17 C water. During the first three experiments each animal underwent two treatments; a no-treatment control, and an aspartate therapy. Experiment 4 was a long-term single swim-to-exhaustion test. The rats were divided into two groups: one group receiving a placebo and the other group receiving aspartate. Each group swam to exhaustion in 25 C water twice a week for 6 weeks. Experiment 5 was of the same experimental design as experiment 4 with the exception that a double swim-to-exhaustion was used to measure performance. Statistical analysis of the mean swimming times for both rats and dogs in the five experiments showed that average swimming times under control and aspartate therapy were not significantly different.

Submitted on May 8, 1963