Many sports supplements are being sold currently which promise improved athletic performance. Not all deliver on the advertised promises.
Run faster. Jump higher. Get stronger. And as the popular Nike commercials say, “Just do it.” In order to “just do it”, athletes of all ages have looked toward dietary supplements to give them that extra competitive edge beyond what diet and training alone can do. In fact, in 2005 Americans spent $16.8 billion on weight loss and ergogenic aids.
Do all the supplements sold deliver on their advertising promises? Sadly, no, because in many cases adequate scientific research establishing the effectiveness of these supplements is lacking.
Due to the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, supplements are not subject to the same FDA approval process that food additives and prescription drugs are. The latter two must prove safety prior to being marketed; however dietary supplements can be sold without prior safety studies. Only after a supplement is found to be harmful is it taken off the market.
What are considered supplements and which aren’t? According to the FDA definition, supplements are “products (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet that bears or contains one or more of the following dietary ingredients:
(A) a vitamin;
(B) a mineral;
(C) an herb or other botanical;
(D) an amino acid;
(E) a dietary substance for use by man to supplement the diet by increasing the total dietary intake;
(F) a concentrate, metabolite, constituent, extract, or combination of any ingredient described in clause A, B, C, D, or E.” *
In the case of ergogenic aids, these supplements are especially designed to increase athletic performance either directly or indirectly by weight loss.
Before using any dietary supplements, investigate the safety and effectiveness of the specific supplement you are interested in.
One key to help you do this is to examine the label for the U.S.Pharmacopeia (USP) Verified Mark. This Mark is a guarantee that the supplement has undergone strict safety testing, meaning that the supplement contains all the ingredients that are clearly stated on the label, there are no contaminants present, good manufacturing processes have been used in production, and the supplement will break down in the body to disperse the active ingredients properly. The USP is a non-profit organization totally separate from the governmental regulating agencies such as the FDA. It is currently the official standard-setting body for the dietary supplement industry, and is recognized as such by the FDA.
Your health is worth taking the time to research carefully before you buy.
*US FDA. (1994). The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, Public Law 103- 417. Retrieved on 12/22/07 from http://www.fda.gov/opacom/laws/dshea.html#sec3
