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find out some info and post it here!
Christine
November 18, 2007
Lack of Quality Controls in Ergogenic Aids-Do you really know whats in those sports drinks
and powders?
This week's article is a part two of a review of the scientific research and the safety concerns regarding
some of today's most popular performance-enhancing dietary supplements. For part 1, go to Do Ergogenic Aids Help or Hinder Athletic Performance?
by Ellie Huff, RD, and Dale Huff
from: IDEA Fitness Journal: September 2007
Lack of Quality Controls
Quality control (which can be quite poor or even nonexistent at many supplement companies) is a great concern for consumers, who are at risk of
ingesting a contaminated dietary supplement or of not getting what they paid for in terms of product quantity and potency. Evidence suggests that
their concern is well-founded. A few years ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) laboratory in Cologne, Germany, raised concerns when it
reported the results of analyses carried out on several legitimate dietary supplements (Maughan 2001).While none of the tested supplements indicated
on the product label that they contained steroids and none cited any safety warnings, the lab identified the presence of nandrolone, testosterone
and other steroids (Maughan 2001).
When the same lab followed up this study with a larger survey involving 634 different product samples purchased from 13 countries around the world,
the results were equally dire (Maughan 2001). They showed that 94 of the supplements (14.8% of the products analyzed) contained substances prohibited
by the IOC. While the brand names of the tainted supplements were not published, the sampling included vitamins and minerals, protein supplements,
creatine and other popular products (Maughan 2001).
To address this concern, the FDA has issued a new rule requiring manufacturers of dietary supplements to follow "current good manufacturing
practices" (FDA 2007). The rule is designed to ensure that dietary supplements are produced in a "quality manner", do not contain contaminants or
impurities, and are adequately labeled. (FDA 2007). While this is a positive development for consumers, the new requirement has a 3-year phase-in,
which won't be complete until June 2010, according to the FDA. What's more, the new rule does not require manufacturers to prove the efficacy and
safety of any dietary supplement. That's why consumers still need to remain vigilant about any supplements they use. Athletes, coaches,
personal fitness trainers and other health providers must know of the inherent risks associated with taking any supplement, from a simple
multivitamin to a purported performance-enhancing product.
Defining Terms
The FDA legally defines a dietary supplement as follows: "a product that is intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one
or more of the following ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by man to
supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate,metabolite, constituent, extract or combination of these ingredients"
(FDA 1995). Under the DSHEA, a dietary supplement is adulterated if it
or one of its ingredients presents “a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury” when used as directed on the label,
or under normal conditions of use (if there are no directions) (FDA 1995).
Dietary supplements are an umbrella for a wide range of products, including weight loss pills and substances that promise to increase physical
performance. Ergogenic aids are a type of dietary supplements that can increase the capacity for bodily or mental labor, especially by eliminating
fatigue symptoms. These aids fall into different categories: mechanical aids, nutritional aids, pharmacological aids, physiological aids and
psychological aids (see “Ergogenic Aid Classifications” chart).
Nutritional ergogenic aids refer to substances that enhance performance and are either nutrients, metabolic byproducts of nutrients,
food (plant extracts) or substances commonly found in foods (caffeine and creatine) that are provided in amounts more concentrated than
normally occur in the natural food supply (Benardot 2006).
Next week, we'll investigate some of the four most popular types of supplements used to enhance physical
performance: caffeine, creatine, carnitine and amino acids.
Past SWAC Fitness Info Articles
- Do Ergogenic Aids Help or Hinder Athletic Performance?
- Think like an Athlete-Design a Tailored Program
- Think like an Athlete-Identify Specific Performance Goals
- If you See It, You'll Eat It!
- Some Facts About Osteoporosis Part 2
- Some Facts About Osteoporosis Part 1
- Spot Reduction Exercises are Not Effective!
- Low Carb Diet and Endurance Training
- High or Low? What is the best way to burn fat and calories?
- Watch out, you may catch obesity
- Hyponatremia Should Never Happen to You
- Stop Skin Cancer Before it Starts
- How exercise can slow aging
- Weekend Warrior Syndrome-Kids Also Suffer
- Understanding Portion Control
- Sound Body, Sounder Mind part 1
- Sound Body, Sounder Mind part 2
- Metabolism 101, part 1
- Metabolism 101, part 2
- Metabolism 101, part 3
- Metabolism 101, part 4
- Hamstring Problems? Cross-training and muscle balance
- Injured or Tired? These foods will help you bounce back fast!
- Why you should Cool Down (after cardio workout)
- Should you perform behind the neck pull downs?
- Caffeine Helps!
- Run a Race for your Goals!
- Don't Blame Metabolism for Weight Gain
- Get the Full Story on Guinness...Is it really "Good for You?
- What Causes Muscle Soreness?
- How Lack of Exercise Shortens Lives
- Sports=Bad Knees? Not Necessarily!
- Sugar in Sports Drinks
- Dressing for Winter Endurance Sports
Lack of Quality Controls in Ergogenic Aids-Do you really know whats in those sports drinks and powders?
This week's article is a part two of a review of the scientific research and the safety concerns regarding some of today's most popular performance-enhancing dietary supplements. For part 1, go to Do Ergogenic Aids Help or Hinder Athletic Performance?
by Ellie Huff, RD, and Dale Huff
from: IDEA Fitness Journal: September 2007
Lack of Quality Controls
Quality control (which can be quite poor or even nonexistent at many supplement companies) is a great concern for consumers, who are at risk of ingesting a contaminated dietary supplement or of not getting what they paid for in terms of product quantity and potency. Evidence suggests that their concern is well-founded. A few years ago, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) laboratory in Cologne, Germany, raised concerns when it reported the results of analyses carried out on several legitimate dietary supplements (Maughan 2001).While none of the tested supplements indicated on the product label that they contained steroids and none cited any safety warnings, the lab identified the presence of nandrolone, testosterone and other steroids (Maughan 2001).
When the same lab followed up this study with a larger survey involving 634 different product samples purchased from 13 countries around the world, the results were equally dire (Maughan 2001). They showed that 94 of the supplements (14.8% of the products analyzed) contained substances prohibited by the IOC. While the brand names of the tainted supplements were not published, the sampling included vitamins and minerals, protein supplements, creatine and other popular products (Maughan 2001).
To address this concern, the FDA has issued a new rule requiring manufacturers of dietary supplements to follow "current good manufacturing practices" (FDA 2007). The rule is designed to ensure that dietary supplements are produced in a "quality manner", do not contain contaminants or impurities, and are adequately labeled. (FDA 2007). While this is a positive development for consumers, the new requirement has a 3-year phase-in, which won't be complete until June 2010, according to the FDA. What's more, the new rule does not require manufacturers to prove the efficacy and safety of any dietary supplement. That's why consumers still need to remain vigilant about any supplements they use. Athletes, coaches, personal fitness trainers and other health providers must know of the inherent risks associated with taking any supplement, from a simple multivitamin to a purported performance-enhancing product.
Defining Terms
The FDA legally defines a dietary supplement as follows: "a product that is intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following ingredients: a vitamin, a mineral, an herb or other botanical, an amino acid, a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total daily intake, or a concentrate,metabolite, constituent, extract or combination of these ingredients" (FDA 1995). Under the DSHEA, a dietary supplement is adulterated if it or one of its ingredients presents “a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury” when used as directed on the label, or under normal conditions of use (if there are no directions) (FDA 1995).
Dietary supplements are an umbrella for a wide range of products, including weight loss pills and substances that promise to increase physical performance. Ergogenic aids are a type of dietary supplements that can increase the capacity for bodily or mental labor, especially by eliminating fatigue symptoms. These aids fall into different categories: mechanical aids, nutritional aids, pharmacological aids, physiological aids and psychological aids (see “Ergogenic Aid Classifications” chart).
Nutritional ergogenic aids refer to substances that enhance performance and are either nutrients, metabolic byproducts of nutrients, food (plant extracts) or substances commonly found in foods (caffeine and creatine) that are provided in amounts more concentrated than normally occur in the natural food supply (Benardot 2006).
Next week, we'll investigate some of the four most popular types of supplements used to enhance physical performance: caffeine, creatine, carnitine and amino acids.