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 In this issue, I would like to discuss the results of a study entitled "Nutritional Supplementation and Anabolic Steroid Use in Adolescents" ( Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Hoffman, J., et. al. 40(1):15-24, 2008).
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Anabolic Androgenic Steroids |
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Anabolic Androgenic Steroid
(AAS) use has been, and still is, a hot topic. One of the main reasons for the
public outcry is that the general public and politicians believe that if
children see their sports heroes use drugs, they will too. But is AAS the only
concern? In light of the lack of scientific support for nearly all nutritional supplements
in regard to sports performance enhancement, it merits concern. After all,
research shows that many vitamins do not contain what the label claims, some
vitamins can be toxic and nearly 20% of all sports supplements sold in the USA are tainted with banned
substances.
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| The Research
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Researchers from the College
of New Jersey and Florida State University teamed up to identify the actual
prevalence of supplements and AAS use among teenagers. Ergogenic (performance-enhancing) aids extend
beyond just nutritional supplements and drugs, but it's these two areas that
have received the greatest degree of public and media attention. And this
attention is warranted due to the medical risks and ethical considerations
associated with many of these substances. Many sports now have strict regulations
in place governing the use of supplements and drugs; the National Collegiate
Athletic Association (NCAA) bans protein beyond a certain amount and AAS are
nearly universally banned.
NCAA research seems to suggest
that those athletes who do take steroids start while they are in high school.
Research suggests that between 65 and 89% of intercollegiate athletes use some
type of nutritional supplement and that 31% of high school athletes do, with
13% using more than one supplement.
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| Research/Survey Results
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3,248 high school students
in 12 states within the continental United States were surveyed. Males
represented 48% and females 52%.
Results Summary:
- 71.2% of respondents used
at least one supplement.
- The most popular
supplement used was a multivitamin (59.3%), followed by high-energy drinks
(31.5%).
- The use of supplements
that increase body mass, such as protein powder, amino acids, weight-gain
powder, and creatine, was reported by 17.3%.
- Supplements that reduce
body mass, such as fat burners, high-energy drinks, ephedra, and caffeine
pills, were used by 35.1
- The use of protein powder,
weight gain powders, and high-energy drinks increased from grade 8 to 10.
- The use of AAS and
creatine increased from 8th to 12th grade.
- As the children matured,
they increased the number of supplements used.
- Males who used
body-mass-enhancing supplements tended to use more AAS.
- For both genders, teachers
(36%) and parents (16.2%) were the primary sources of education and AAS.
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As students matured,
friends, coaches, athletic trainers, and internet sites replaced parents as
educational sources.
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Adolescents willingness to
take a supplement, even if it could harm their health or shorten their life,
increased from 8th to 12th grade. Males were more willing to take this risk
than females.
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As students matured, their
belief that use of AAS can help achieve their athletic dreams increased.
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The goal of AAS users who
participated in a fitness program were to look better (78.7%), get stronger
(74.5%) and get bigger (72.3%).
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Meaning of the Study Results
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The survey confirmed that use of
supplements and AAS tended to increase with age. The scary part was that some
teenagers were willing to risk taking the supplement even at the expense of
their health and a shortened life. Sadly, teenagers tend to underutilize some
of the most effective educational resources available to them such as physicians
and athletic trainers.
More educational efforts
must be undertaken to reduce the use of anabolic androgenic steroids and other
potentially dangerous supplements.
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Fueling the Body for Peak Performance
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 To get peak performance from your body--it makes sense that you need the best quality fuel available. The Nutripoints™ Program tells you how to get the most nutritional bang per calorie (and per buck as well!). Combine that with Juice Plus+®whole food-based concentrates of 17 fruits, vegetables and grains--and you have everything you need to increase your nutritional intensity at the cellular level. Delivering this kind of fuel to your body guarantees peak performance (with training, of course!) the "natural" way!
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For more details on fueling and training the body for peak performance, check out the links to our publications at the top left of this newsletter.
Best wishes for fitness and health,
Jack A. Medina, M.A.
Designs for Fitness
1-866-204-8786 Toll-free Order Line
9-5 M-F (PST - Oregon)
Roy E. Vartabedian, Dr.P.H.
Designs for Wellness
1-888-796-5229 Toll-free Order Line
9-5 M-F (PST - California)
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