Evaluating Sports Supplements

To gain a competitive edge, athletes spend a lot of time in the gym developing their body.  Many of them, in an effort to accelerate their training, choose to use over-the-counter muscle building supplements as part of their regimen.

But athletes using muscle-building supplements must evaluate carefully the risks and benefits of supplement use, according to Ellen Coleman, a presenter at the American College of Sports Medicine in Atlanta.

Coleman, a sports dietitian for the Sport Clinic in Riverside, California is no stranger to the world of competitive sports.  She has completed numerous marathons and 200 mile bicycle races, and she is a two-time finisher or the grueling Hawaii Ironman Triathlon.

For her, it is not a question of whether athletes are going to use supplements, but whether they have the ability to differentiate between those that are safe and effective and those that are not.

“Athletes are going to use supplements because everyone wants to be bigger, faster and stronger,” Coleman said.

But athletes need to keep some considerations in mind before using a supplement.

“The four primary considerations are safety and effectiveness, doping status, and the quality of the supplement,” Coleman said.

Most supplements are safe in that they are not known to cause any medical problems.  But consumers must realize that most supplements have not been evaluated or tested by the Food and Drug Administration or any other independent research organization.

Those taking certain medications might experience interactions, and those with pre-existing medical conditions may want to be cautious until they know how supplements will affect them.  The bottom line is that athletes must discuss their supplement use with their trainers and doctors to discover any potential negative effects, according to Coleman.

Many athletes may be surprised to discover that certain supplements may contain banned substances.  Some of this may be due to poor manufacturing, according to Coleman.  But this is not always the case.

“A lot of this appears to be deliberate adulteration,” Coleman said.

Supplement manufacturers benefit from athletes who have seen terrific results, and some less reputable companies introduce banned substances to enhance the efficacy of their product.  Athletes who take these substances may find themselves suspended by their athletic board.

But perhaps the most important consideration for athletes is the effectiveness of the supplement.  Manufacturers sometimes make outrageous claims about their product that, in most circumstances, has not been evaluated by independent researchers.

Coleman suggests that if athletes are serious about their supplement, they must look for all the literature possible.  Determine the ingredients and the supposed method of action, then take this information to your trainer, nutritionist or doctor.

More information about supplement use, efficacy and safety may be found online at the National Library of Medicine, Consumerlab and the Natural Medicine Comprehensive Database.