Hello Blog,
In previous postings, I have been discussing performance enhancing drugs (anabolic steroids) and how using them gives athletes and edge in completion and the weight room, but I neglected to include supplements in the discussion. This must be included because supplements are taken with the hope of obtaining a similar effect as steroids. Athletes are not the only ones taking supplements; everybody has access to supplements and can use them. If you're a competitive athlete or a fitness buff, or Jim the plumber, supplements are available and advertised to make you stronger, get better workouts, and for the average person…make you look better. I am sure you have seen the many humorous “before and after” pictures displayed in many magazines. The (before) picture sometimes shows an overweight or malnourished male, unshaven, pale, and a bad haircut. The (after) picture then shows the head of the before person photo shopped over a bodybuilder or a completely different person (see the picture to the left “I got shredded in 6 weeks”). The manufacturers know their target market; usually young male and will name their product with some kind of explosive, violent catchy name like Shotgun or Nitric Oxide Explode. Many people are taking sports supplements thinking it could offer fast and effective results without so much hard work. But do sports supplements really work. Let’s take look at supplements, shall we!

What Are Supplements?
A standard dietary supplement, also known as food supplement or nutritional supplement, is a preparation intended to provide nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, fiber, or amino acids that are missing or not consumed in sufficient quantity in a person's diet (Doberstein, 2005). So if you’re a person who’s on the go with a poor diet you may benefit from food supplements. Sports supplements (also called ergogenic aids) are products used to enhance energy and athletic performance that may include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, or botanicals (plants) — or any concentration, extract, or combination of these(Doberstein,2005). Sports supplement are also considered dietary supplements. Many of these products contain high levels of caffeine and simply give a person more energy and endurance to workout harder and achieve better results.

What are some of popular the supplements used by athletes and people in the gym?
Creatine is well-liked and usually taken to improve strength. Creatine increases muscle volume by retaining water in the muscle and by doing this it can increase your performance in the gym in terms of recovery time between reps(a repeated exercise). In other words; some people find that creatine allows them to do a rep or two more without fatiguing, which over time can increase muscle mass. Research in adults found that creatine is most effective for athletes doing intermittent high-intensity exercise with short recovery intervals, such as sprinting and power lifting. Creatine is already manufactured by the body in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas (Doberstein, 2005). Natural foods such as meat and fish are another source of creatine. Protein is very popular supplement of bodybuilders and athletes, who spend a lot of time working out because their protein levels become depleted quickly. Protein helps muscle tissue repair and recover muscle after strenuous workouts. Protein shakes, usually consumed following a workout, may also contain multiple vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Fat burning supplements are also very popular because their manufacturers claim it can eliminate body fat and leaves you with lean muscle. Athletes also use fat burners use to lose weight or to increase energy. What about all those famous sports and energy drinks, such as Gatorade or Red Bull? Sports drinks contain electrolytes such as chloride, sodium, and potassium to help replenish what was lost through sweat. But the ingredients that give the energy are caffeine and sugar.

Dietary supplements do not require U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval before they come on the market. Supplement manufacturers do have to follow the FDA's current good manufacturing practices to ensure quality and safety of their product, though (Doberstein, 2005). And the FDA is responsible for taking action if a product is found to be unsafe after it has gone on the market. Critics of the supplement industry point out those manufacturers haven't done a good job of following standards. They also mention instances where the FDA hasn't enforced regulations (Doberstein, 2005). This could mean that some supplements may contain variable amounts of ingredients that are not even listed on the label. Many of these products contain vitamins that exceed the daily requirement. Your body will only use what’s needed and discard the rest. So most of that expensive supplement purchased will end up flushed away.

I have only scratched the surface regarding supplements, but you probably get the idea. Visit a vitamin or health food store and see the array of products offered and you will see what I mean. In today’s society, we want to feel and look healthy, perform better, get fast results and the manufacturers of these health products are well aware of this pot of gold. Should supplements be considered performance enhancers? Well… yes, they are, but you can’t put dietary supplements in the same category as anabolic steroids, which raises testosterone levels and contain human growth hormones. If you recall, earlier I used a key word describing the effect of sport supplements, (energy) and the key ingredients— high doses of caffeine and sugar. Energy allows people to do more and perform better whether it’s in sports or everyday tasks. So would you consider coffee a performance enhancer? I think you know the answer.




Doberstein, K. (2005), Do bodybuilding supplements really work, ezilon.com, retrieved March 26,2010, from http://www.ezilon.com/information/article_10658.shtml