|
Do Supplements Give Athletes an Edge?
By: Sean Murphy
Are you an athlete who would like to run faster, jump higher, and have the body of a Greek god? This seems to be the myth behind supplements such as creatine, androstene, ephedrine, and HMB.
Exercise supplements have grown extremely popular among athletes with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), but what exactly are these supplements, and what do they really do for you?
Are legal performance-enhancing supplements really the answer to getting into great physical condition? According to Allen Shelley, the head trainer at Mars Hill College, they are not. "The best way to get into great physical condition is by proper diet and regular exercise," he says. With proper diet and regular exercise, one does not have to worry about possible harmful side effects.
Another common question is, will these supplements increase one's skill? "Supplements cannot make up for the lack of innate ability," says Shelley. They could possibly make an already good player stronger, better able to hit a baseball a little further, but they cannot increase skill.
General information about these supplements is readily available on the Internet. Creatine seems to be the most popular among college athletes. It is a legal substance for use in NCAA athletics. Creatine is produced in the liver, with a small amount being stored in the muscles. It is made from three different amino acids including methionine, arginine, and glycine. Creatine helps the refueling of ATP in the muscles by producing more ATP. ATP is the energy the body uses while participating in physical activity. Creatine monohydrate, probably the most popular form of over-the-counter creatine, increases the creatine levels in the body, allowing your muscles to remain energized longer, in turn providing a longer more effective workout.
No real side effects of creatine are known yet. One can expect increased exercise to bring related gains in lean body mass, but it is unclear how much is from water retention and how much is actual muscle.
Joe Weidman, a baseball player at Mars Hill College, said he saw significant gains while using creatine. "I put on thirteen pounds of muscle in two months while using it," Weidman said. Many other athletes agreed, but a similar number of them said no significant gains were noticed other than that from regular exercise.
Another supplement that may be almost as popular but is banned by the NCAA is androstene, or androstenedione. It is actually a natural steroid that helps the body produce more testosterone. This supplement is produced naturally in the gonads and adrenal glands. Androstene leads to more testosterone and androstenedione in the bloodstream.
Like most supplements, androstene has its positives and negatives. Positives include increased energy, quicker recovery and growth from exercise. Its negative side effects are almost comparable to those of steroids and include increased aggression, acne, hair loss, and a greater risk of ruptured tendons and ligaments. With androstene, the longer one takes it, or the larger the dosage, the greater the risk of side effects.
Ephedrine is a weight loss supplement that has been recently banned by the FDA and cannot be used by NCAA athletes. Ephedrine is a substance that has been abused ever since it was titled as a weight loss supplement. It is used as a fat burner as well as an energy boost for athletes. Ephedrine has been suspected as a cause in several deaths to athletes. Most of the deaths from ephedrine however happened to people who were out of shape and over-exerting themselves during exercise. A lot of water must be consumed while using ephedrine. Its most common side effects are elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, nervousness, etc. Most side effects come with higher and longer dosages. The problem with ephedrine is that it may be habit forming, so people may not know when to stop.
HMB is not as well known as the other three, but it produces results similar to those of creatine. It is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine. Because of the amino acids it contains, it helps arrange proteins that build new muscle tissue. HMB claims to promote the growth of lean muscle tissue. Although research has been limited, results have shown some relationship between HMB and improved muscle growth and endurance in athletes that have taken the supplement.
A lot of these supplements may give one a head start to building muscular physique, but are they really worth the risk? Most already have documented side effects. The others may seem safe because there are no known side effects, but just because none are known, does that mean they do not exist? Trainer Shelley stands by his advice: the best way to building a healthier body is by diet and regular exercise.
For more information on supplements, refer to www.drugfreesport.com. The Dietary Supplement Resource Exchange Center is sanctioned by the NCAA and provides information on whether or not a supplement may be banned.
HOME
| 
