Performance Enhancing Sports Aids

Myths and Reality

Taken to improve athletic abilities, these legal and illegal substances, also marketed as nutritional substances, may be taken orally, injected, or inhaled. Their use by athletes, with the intention of improving ability and appearance, generates significant health concerns. There is no FDA oversight guaranteeing safety or purity of these sports or dietary supplements, and without FDA oversight, they are not required to be proven effective for any claimed health benefit. Some of these substances are available in stores, while others can be obtained over the Internet, without a prescription.

Commonly used supplements and health concerns:

Substance: Energy Drinks
Health concerns:
Dehydration, nausea, nosebleeds, heart rhythm problems, death

Substance: Creatine
Health concerns:
Dehydration, muscle cramps, diarrhea, kidney function compromise. Effects of chronic use unknown.

Substance: Protein/Amino Acids
Health concerns:
Constipation, gas, diarrhea, dehydration, high prolactin hormone levels. Rare side effects include liver, kidney, and heart disease.

Substance: Nitric Oxide Producers
Health concerns:
Low blood pressure, fainting, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, changes in blood electrolytes, increased bleeding.

Substance: Ephedra Alkaloids
Health concerns:
Trouble sleeping, fast heart rate, high blood pressure, heart attacks, seizures, death

Substance: Growth Hormone
Health concerns:
Excess growth, heart muscle weakness, high blood pressure, increased pressure within the skull, premature closing of growth plates.

Substance: Anabolic Steroids
Health concerns:
Stopping bone growth, high cholesterol, decrease in testicular size, diabetes, mood swings, aggressive behavior, fluid retention, depression, acne, and heart, kidney and liver damage.

For more information

• Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation

• National Center for Drug Free Sports

• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

The best sports performance enhancers are adequate water, carbohydrates, and electrolytes.

For vigorous and long-lasting exercise, sports drinks with electrolytes and snacks with sufficient carbohydrates are best.

A well-balanced diet, including milk and meat as sources of protein for building new muscle, is important.

Drinking 16 to 32 ounces of chocolate milk within 20 to 30 minutes after weightlifting or other strenuous exercise is the safest way to efficiently build muscles. Chocolate reduces lactic acid that builds up during strenuous exercise, while milk provides an immediate source of both protein and carbohydrates.

Use extreme caution when researching supplement information online — many websites provide biased, unscientific information to improve product sales. They may include labels that contain false seals of approval, such as “GNC approved.” Seals from legitimate, independent companies:

Check with your child’s coach about education and rules in place to reduce the use of supplements and aides.