Dietary supplements can harm student-athletes

Date: 15-11-2002 Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States

Bigger, faster, stronger.

Athletes at all levels used to gain an edge on their competitors by spending long hours in the gym, controlling their diet and by preparing for every possible scenario to defeat their opponent.

Recently, athletes have brought a new element into the sporting world to increase performance: dietary supplements.

What were once used mainly by professional athletes, supplements (whether illegal or legal) have made their way to the high school level. For better or worse, these performance-enhancing chemicals are widely used, and show no signs of going away.

The following paragraphs contain information on supplements that many high schoolers may or may not be taking.

•Ephedrine: After being banned by the International Olympic Committee as well as the NCAA, and now the NFL, where it was most commonly used, Ephedrine appears to be falling out of favor. This drug works both as a weight-loss drug, or as a performance-enhancing drug.

The Food and Drug Administration reports that at least 18 people have died since 1993 of supplements containing Ephedrine, and many believe the drug helped lead to the death of Minnesota Vikings offensive tackle Korey Stringer in the summer of 2001.

When taken with caffeine, Ephedrine supposedly provides the feeling of more fuel for the muscles, and prevents the athlete from feeling tired during workouts. This enables the participant to work harder for a longer period of time without feeling the effects of fatigue, which in turn strengthens the muscles which are put to work.

•Androstenedione: This drug became popular after Major League Baseball slugger Mark McGwire admitted to using the supplement to help him increase muscle mass on his way to becoming the single-season record holder for home runs in 1998.

Androstenedione is thought of as only one step away from pure testosterone, and indeed, that is not far from the truth. It’s missing a hydrogen atom in the 17th position, (for those of you who have taken honors chemistry…) but when processed by the liver, this hydrogen atom is added, creating testosterone.

Using Androstenedione provides a boost in the weight room because of the testosterone it creates, however there are many side effects to this drug. This supplement has been linked to a wide range of side effects, including breast development in men, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, increased aggression levels, premature baldness in men, impotence, shrinkage of the testicles, enlarging of the clitoris, disruption of menstrual cycles, as well as oily skin and acne.

•Anabolic steroids: In simple terms, the main reason people use anabolic steroids is to lose fat and gain muscle. These supplements, which are a 10 to 100 times greater dosage than their medical counterparts, come in forms such as creams and gels rubbed directly on the skin, pills, or can be injected intravenously.

Bodybuilders often ”stack” these various forms of steroids, which means they take two or more of the same steroid in a different form to boost the supplement’s effect.

Anabolic steroids are banned in every organized athletic competition, and many are against the law. Because of the drastic side effects, such as shrinking of the testicles, breast development and infertility in males, as well as enlarging of the clitoris and excessive body hair in females, anabolic steroids present a grim picture on the outward appearance of the user.

But what is more frightening is the damage these illegal supplements do on the user’s nervous system and organs. These drugs can stunt a person’s growth, increase risk of heart attacks, lead to liver cancer, an increased risk for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, and can cause maniacal delusions more commonly known as “ ‘Roid Rage.”

(I refer you to the episode of ‘Saved By the Bell,’ where Ox started taking anabolic steroids and suffered ‘Roid Rage. Trust me, and trust Ox. It isn’t pretty.)

Since 1991 use of illegal anabolic steroids has increased slightly on a yearly basis. These drugs are banned by the federal government, and can do serious bodily harm.

•Creatine: Creatine is the most popular supplement used by high school students. The cheapest and what is believed to be the safest of the above supplements, is commonplace among many high school athletes.

Creatine works by bloating the muscle with creatine-rich fluid. This bloating of the muscle allows it to work less and lift more weight. Creatine also allows for a faster recovery time between workouts. This means an athlete can lift more weight in later stages of their workout because their muscles have more fuel and are less fatigued.

Creatine is available in many forms. The most popular ways to ingest creatine are in powder form, or the newest available type, creatine serum.

However, this popular supplement comes in many easy to digest forms as well. On the market is creatine gum, creatine bars, and flavored, effervescent forms of the drink.

As of right now, there are no official warnings out against creatine. However, this is not to say that it is completely safe. There have been no long-term studies of using creatine as a supplement, and people often report feelings of clenched teeth or blood rushing to their head while using the drug.