Dietary Supplements

By Ken Rushford Athletic Trainer, Glen Este High School Wellington Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Faster!  Bigger! Stronger!  There’s a never ending drive to be the best.  Vince Lombardi once said, “There is no room for second place. There is only one place in my game, and that’s first place.”  This mentality is ever present today and pushes athletes’ to extreme limits.  Unfortunately, extra time after practice or in the weight room isn’t always enough. Athletes’ strive to have the edge even if it means ingesting pills, bars, or powders... Do parents, coaches, and athletes need to be concerned?

What are Dietary Supplements?

According to recent studies, nearly 50% of adolescent athletes have used a dietary supplement to improve performance.  Congress defined the term "dietary supplement" in the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a "dietary ingredient" intended to supplement the diet. The "dietary ingredients" in these products may include: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals (plants). Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tablets, capsules, soft gels, gel caps, liquids, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a bar, but if they are, information on their label must not represent the product as a conventional food or a sole item of a meal or diet. Whatever their form may be, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of "foods," not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement.

How safe are they?

In many cases, no one really knows. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which normally checks out the safety of foods and medicines before they come on the market, does not check on the safety of dietary supplements before they're sold. The FDA has to wait until it receives reports of problems caused by supplements before it can investigate and ban a dietary supplement. This is what happened with the herb ephedra (also called Ma Huang or herbal Fen-Phen) in 2003 when the FDA pulled the supplement from the U.S. market after it was linked to the death of a well-known baseball player.  Because dietary supplements like creatine are unregulated, there is no standard dose. So users have no way of knowing what levels, if any, are safe, especially for teens that are still growing.  While vitamin and mineral supplements are widely used and generally considered safe for children and adolescents, you may wish to check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving these or any other dietary supplements to your child. If you plan to use a dietary supplement in place of drugs or in combination with any drug, notify your health care provider first. Many supplements contain active ingredients that have strong biological effects and their safety is not always assured in all users. If you have certain health conditions and take these products, you may be placing yourself at risk.

Can Supplements Make Me a Better Athlete?

Advertisements such as, “Lose 10 lbs in 10 days” or “Take Product X to Run Faster and Jump Higher!”  are extremely appealing to young athletes.  Some athletes take dietary supplements believing that these improve their performances. However, claims for these improvements are often exaggerated or not based on scientific evidence.  These claims are made by the manufacturer, whose only concern is making a profit.  Since the FDA does not have the authority to regulate the ingredients or contents of supplements, you can not be 100% positive what you’re consuming.  It’s also important to remember that supplements may have different results from one person to the next, so be cautious when considering a supplement.  On the other hand, not all dietary supplements are dangerous and some have proven to be effective in enhancing performance. It is important; however, to discuss supplement use with your physician, dietician, or health care provider prior to their use.

Just say KNOW!

Educate yourself!  Know where to find reliable information about the supplement(s). Know the rules and guidelines of the sport(s) regarding the use of dietary supplements.  Know the risks and understand the potential side effects associated with supplement usage. Many of the ingredients found in supplements can be ingested in a healthy and well-balanced diet. Know when to ask for help. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist before beginning any supplement regimen.

Go to www.wellingtonortho.com to find an office close to you.