Supplement Use Among Athletes In The 2004 Norwegian Olympic Team - Risk Assessment Of Contaminated Supplements

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Several studies have demonstrated a considerable risk that dietary supplements may contain substances banned by WADA without being declared on the label. To reduce the risk of unintentional intake of banned substances among Norwegian athletes, the Norwegian Olympic Committee (NOC) prepared guidelines and restrictions for supplement use following the 2000 Olympics. The guidelines include a risk assessment for contamination in supplements, which classifies supplements in four groups: A) low risk; B) unknown risk; C) high risk; and D) presence of banned substances. The restrictions include mandatory report and approval of supplement use among athletes selected for Norwegian Olympic Teams. The supplement use by athletes in the 2002 Olympic Team is previously published at the 2003 ACSM Meeting. PURPOSE 1) Examine supplement use among the 2004 Olympic team athletes; 2) evaluate the supplements reported against the risk assessment; and 3) compare these results to the findings in the 2002 study. METHODS The form for mandatory report was mailed to all athletes likely to be selected for the 2004 Olympic Team six months prior to the Olympics. The supplements reported by the athletes were evaluated by the NOC Nutrition Dep. and their use were either approved or prohibited. Summary of RESULTS 52 athletes were selected for the 2004 Olympic Team, 35 men (age 29±6) and 17 women (age 29±5). They were divided in: endurance sport athletes (E, n=24); and technical sport athletes (T, n=28). 83% of the athletes reported use of one or more supplements. Supplement use was more frequent among women (94%) than men (77%), and more frequent among E-athletes than T-athletes (100% vs 68%, p<0.01). The supplements most frequently used were fatty acids (70%), antioxidants (70%), micronutrients (65%), proteins (42%) and iron (19%). 7% of the athletes used creatine. 84% of the athletes only used supplements classified as low-risk. 16% reported use of unknown-risk supplements and none athletes reported using high-risk supplements. DISCUSSION The number of athletes using only low-risk supplements was higher compared to the 2002 Olympic Team athletes. Fewer athletes reported unknown-risk supplements in 2004 and none reported use of high-risk supplements compared to three athletes in the 2002 Team. CONCLUSION The risk assessment seems to have increased the awareness of supplement contamination among Norwegian Olympic athletes further since 2002. Likewise the mandatory report of supplement use has decreased the number of athletes using high-risk supplements and hence has reduced the risk of unintentional intake of banned substances prior to and during the 2004 Olympics.