Sports Nutrition Supplements Research Articles

Sport nutritional supplements: quality and doping controls.

Nutritional supplements are part of the diet of many athletes. With the exception of caffeine and ephedrine alkaloids, most of these products do not contain substances that are prohibited to competing sportsmen. In recent years, androgens, pro-hormones such as DHEA, androstenedione, androstenediol and 19-norsteroids became available for oral self-administration in many countries and on the Internet. Their claimed actions, efficiency or potency, and the possible adverse effects have not been thoroughly investigated by controlled clinical studies. Some products were shown to contain prohibited substances such as ephedrine, caffeine, or steroids, that were not listed on the label. Urine samples collected after the administration of these supplements can test positive. The administration of natural steroids such as testosterone and its precursors cannot be proven by the sole identification of the substances in the urine. The approach to detection is based upon the deviation of selected parameters of the metabolic profiles from the range of values normally found in humans. The individual's norm is also studied to exclude the few cases of systematic and natural excretion of extreme values. The combination of the GC/MS and the GC/C/IRMS offers a powerful tool to discriminate between the natural and synthetic origin of the urinary steroids.

A Survey of Sport Nutrition Supplements in High School Football Players

A Survey of Sport Nutrition Supplements in High School Football Players

Potential cytotoxic effect of chronic administration of creatine, a nutrition supplement to augment athletic performance

Creatine is alleged to be an ergogenic aid to enhance sports performance and recently became a popular sports nutrition supplement. Although short-term supplementation of creatine has not been associated with major health risks, the safety of prolonged use has caused some concern. The present study demonstrates that creatine is metabolized to methylamine, which is further converted to formaldehyde by semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO). Formaldehyde is well known to cross-link proteins and DNAs, and known to be a major environmental risk factor. SSAO-mediated production of toxic aldehydes has been recently proposed to be related to pathological conditions such as vascular damage, diabetic complications, nephropathy, etc. Chronic administration of a large quantity of creatine can increase the production of formaldehyde, which may potentially cause serious unwanted side-effects.

A Survey of Sport Nutrition Supplements in High School Football Players

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to survey high school football players to determine their use of sport nutrition supplements and their reasons and influences for using them. A total of 173 high school football players from the ZZZ district volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects answered 20 questions regarding their practices, reasons, and influences of sport nutrition supplements. Creatine was the most commonly used supplement (n = 48). The reasons subjects used supplements were to increase weight or build muscle, stay healthy, and feel good. The subjects' use was very much influenced by a nearby nationally successful Division 1 football program, teammates, and friends. Two-way χ2 analyses were used to determine any significant relationships between supplement users and grade level, team position, and future aspirations to play college or professional football. The analyses revealed a nonsignificant relationship among these variables.

Nutrition beliefs, attitudes, and resource use of high school wrestling coaches.

Beliefs, attitudes, and nutrition resource use among high school wrestling coaches were measured for weight loss, weight class, dehydration, training diet, and eating disorders. Most coaches (82%) considered themselves very knowledgeable about wrestling but less informed about sport nutrition, weight loss, and vitamin supplements. They used a variety of nutrition resources, but only 36% had attended nutrition workshops. Almost all coaches were interested in learning more about specific nutrition topics. More experienced coaches attended nutrition workshops and felt more informed about weight loss and sport nutrition. The mean percentage of correct responses to questions about weight loss was 64%, training diets 59%, dehydration 57%, body composition 52%, and eating disorders 80%; the mean score for healthy attitudes about weight loss was 69%, training diets 34%, dehydration 29%, body composition 70%, and eating disorders 69%. These results can be used to develop training seminars and educational materials to promote greater knowledge and healthy attitudes among wrestling coaches.