DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
by Chris Klekker, Riverview High School Athletic Trainer
The practice of using supplements and ergogenic aids to increase athletic performance is on the increase in athletics; however there exist substantial safety concerns and myths about their use. It is very important that athletes, parents, and coaches be informed as to the current status of knowledge pertaining to supplements, which as of right now are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Many associations, including the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) discourage the use of supplements by athletes because of the insufficient data concerning their long-term adverse effects, especially in adolescent athletes.
General Concerns About Supplements
Safety
| • | Nutritional supplements are not regulated by the FDA |
| • | Without FDA standards, no guarantee about amount or concentration of ingredients |
| • | Without FDA controls, supplements lack purity and are laced with other compounds |
| • | Very little research on short-term and/or long-term effects |
| • | Even less research on effects in children and adolescents |
Effectiveness
| • | Very little research to assess effectiveness |
| • | Insufficient evidence to prove that performance is increased in many sports |
Legality
| • | Some supplements illegal without prescription |
| • | Numerous supplements although legal are prohibited by sports organizations |
Existing Stands
| American College of Sports Medicine’s stand on dietary supplements: | |
| • | Performance will not be increased in athletes with nutritionally sufficient diets who use supplements |
| • | Only athletes with nutrient insufficiency with profit from supplementation of those/that nutrient(s) |
| • | Registered dietician should be seen to help with nutrient insufficient diets |
| • | Athletes should have a well-balanced diet rather than dietary supplementation |
Common Myths About Supplements
| • | If a substance is natural, it must be safe —> False |
| • | If a substance is natural, it must be healthy and beneficial —> False |
| • | If a little bit is good, then a whole lot is better —> False |
| • | Athletes are deficient in important compounds —> False |
| • | If a substance increases muscle mass, then sports performance is enhanced —> False |
Preventing athletes from taking supplements
| • | If it’s too good to be true, it probably is |
| • | The harder YOU work, the harder it is to surrender |
| • | There’s no short-cut to excellence, it’s all hard work |
| • | If you win naturally, you’ll know it was YOU who won |
| • | No drug is harmless and free of consequences |
| • | Even natural substances in unnatural amounts can have short-term and/or long-term adverse effects |
| Creatine | Androstenedione | Anabolic Steroids | Growth Hormone | Stimulants | |
| What is it? | A synthetic version of a compound produced in the body from three amino acids. It is also available in diet from fish and meat | Adrenal hormone that converts to testosterone in the body | Synthetic versions of the male hormone testosterone | Polypeptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland | Caffeine, ephedrine, mahaung |
| How does it work? | Increases the level of creatine and phosphocreatine in skeletal | Short-term increase in testosterone levels | Increases levels of testosterone in body | Increases level of growth hormone in body | Increases blood pressure, metabolic rate, respirations, heart rate, acts as diuretic |
| Proposed Benefits | Boosts muscle stores of creatine, ability to do more intense short-term work | Allows one to train harder and recover more quickly from exercise | Increases muscle development and strength | Increases muscle mass and strength | Increases work-load, endurance and energy |
| Side Effects | Nausea, GI distress, muscle cramping, strains, sprains, decrease in body’s production of creatine | Enhancement of female characteristics, increased risk of heart disease and pancreatic cancer | Affects liver and cardiovascular function, increased aggression | Affects cardiovascular and liver function | Nervousness, dehydration, nausea, muscle tremors, heart palpitations, diarrhea |
| Long-Term Effects | Unavailable at this time | Unavailable at this time; Likely similar to anabolic steroids | Liver and heart disease, stroke, drug dependence, menstrual abnormalities, in females: an increase in male sex characteristics | Thickening of soft tissue, excessive bone growth, pathological growth of the heart, kidneys, colon cardiomyopathy, insulin resistance | Addition, withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, irritability, fatigue, and upset stomach |
| Age Factors | Theoretical concerns about extra load placed on kidneys and other organs and the effects on muscle/bone junctions in the skeletally immature | Unavailable at this time | In adolescents, potentially serious health problems during puberty, premature physeal closure (decrease in adult height) | In adolescents, potentially serious health problems during puberty | Unavailable at this time |
| Who bans it? | No sports governing bodies at this time | IOC, NCAA, NFL | IOC, NCAA, NFL, NHL, MLB | IOC, NCAA | IOC, NCAA |
| Available over the counter | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
For more information and sample diets visit these websites: nfhs.org, gssiweb.com, eatright.org, sportfuel.com
References:
Zinder, S.M. and Shultz, S.J. Supplements. National Federation of State High School Associations Resource Department. 57-60. 2001.