Nutritional supplements: Sports doping in the adolescent

Abstract

For centuries athletes have used various drug mixtures in attempts to improve their athletic performance. Although the best known agents are anabolic steroids, others are being used, such as a wide variety of nutritional supplements. These include ephedrine, HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate), L-carnitine, L-tryptophan, arginine, glutamine, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), antioxidants (alpha tocopherol [vitamin E], beta carotene [precursor of vitamin A] and ascorbic acid), chromium picolinate, vanadium, vanadyl sulfate, boron, calcium, iron, and others. Protein and amino acid supplements have become very popular sports doping agents, taken by athletes in hopes of improving specific or overall sports performance. This presentation will review current studies regarding the ergogenic potential of these various nutritional supplements.