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Invention of the product
Dr. Marcel Brüssow completed his masters’ degree in medical science [M.Med.Sci. (Cum laude)] and obtained his doctorate (Ph.D) in Physiology at the University of the Free State, RSA. He was employed as a senior researcher in the Department of Internal Medicine for 18 years and currently heads the post graduate program in Sport Science (Core focus: Exercise and nutrition) at the same institution. He developed the Sport-X range of products over a period of 12 years and filed for a patent in 1992. The patent relates to a method on how to use specific amino acids or combinations of amino acids to enhance athletic performance.
His initial interest in flying racing pigeons triggered his interest in sport nutrition. The authenticity of scientific data obtained on performance capacity/ability in a racing pigeon model could be questioned on the basis that many other uncontrollable variables exist that corrupt the true state of the findings. The results, however, showed trends towards performance enhancement when different nutritional manipulating interventions were implemented. In accordance, he initially continued to exploit these theories on a trial and error basis in the human model.
Although many clinical trials (the protocol for the various studies was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Medical Faculty at the University of the Free State, RSA) were conducted he realized that any scientific approach performed in an active biological system has a limited capacity towards the rendering of variables to be parameters (a norm):
1. Measurements in a laboratory (treadmill running or bike-ergometry) do not mimic the actual state of actions/events/work load during competition.
2. The biological systems (mechanisms/processes) at work during strenuous physical challenges differ among athletes. To subject these variables to statistical analyses to relegate the changes that might have occurred to ‘chance’, is also not realistic.
Accordingly, the performance-enhancing properties claimed for the products were initially tested in the laboratory and potential results subjected to evaluation during competitive field analysis. Professional athletes participating at a national and international level in various different sporting codes were used according to the protocol design. The results obtained by these means and methods provided evidence for a major breakthrough in sport nutrition. A success ratio 5:1 is claimed for improvement on the current performance ability of athletes when determined by means of competitive field analyses.
The claims on the performance enhancing benefits ascribed to the use of some of the specific amino acids specified in the product formulations are backed by the results published by many other scientists in various accredited scientific journals since 1994. However, the specific combinations of the amino acids that comprise the various products, not only provide a niche in the market but show superior performance enhancing properties when compared to the intake of the specific single amino acids reported by these researchers.
COMMERCIALISATION OF THE PRODUCTS
The IP (intellectual property) resides with Dr Brüssow. The marketing and distribution company [Dune Sport (Pty) Ltd] is co-owned by Dr Brussow and the founders of Dune Foods (Pty) Ltd.
The newly founded company presents a rare business opportunity to any individual interested to market and distribute the unique product range developed for many sporting codes.
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