Search for the Competitive Edge: A History of Dietary Fads and Supplements

Abstract

The premise and promise of ergogenic aid use is rooted in antiquity and is based upon superstition and ritualistic behavior of athletes who perceive that past performances were predicated upon unique dietary constituents or dietary manipulation. Accounts from ancient times recommended that athletes and soldiers preparing for battle consume specific animal parts to confer agility, speed or strength associated with that animal. Scientific understanding of the chemical and physiological nature of muscular work in the early 20th century was followed by ergogenic aid use by athletes and rationalized as "scientific" justification. Ergogenic aids such as alkaline salts, caffeine, carbohydrate and protein have been used by athletes with variable success. As nutritionists and exercise physiologists discovered and perfected the scientific understanding of metabolic reactions, athletes in turn experimented with the amount, form and timing of administration in the search for optimal performance. Anabolic steroids and blood doping enhance athletic performance, but health risks, ethics and sportsmanship contravene their use. Popularity and use of ergogenic aids often have preceded scientific substantiation of claims. Current products such as protein isolates and antioxidant nutrients commonly are used by athletes, and many ergogenic aids available today differ little from those used long ago.

Prevalência do uso e efeitos de recursos ergogênicos por praticantes de musculação nas academias brasileiras: uma revisão sistematizada

“…4 Os SA são produtos constituídos de vitaminas, minerais, extratos, aminoácidos, metabólicos ou combinações desses ingredientes, não sendo considerados como alimento convencional da dieta. 5 No Brasil, os SA foram identificados, através da portaria 222 da Secretaria de Vigilância Sanitária, como "Alimentos para Praticantes de Atividades Físicas". 6 Já os EAA são substâncias químicas sintetizadas a partir da testosterona.…”

Reflection on sports nutrition: Where we come from, where we are, and where we are headed

“…Initially, records describe a diet similar to that of the general population, consisting of whole grains, fruits, cheeses, and wine diluted with water, and the sporadic fish and meat 12,13 . However, goat meat was recommended for the jumpers and bull meat for runners 13,14 , clearly an allusion to the principle of incorporation, which dictates that those who eat a certain food incorporate the properties of such food 15 .…”

“…The consumption of "nine kilos of meat, nine kilos of bread, and nine liters of wine" 18 (p.875S) before competitions is attributed to the fighter Milo of Croton, reinforcing the myth idea 13,18 .…”

Efeitos ergogênicos da L-carnitina no metabolismo lipídico

“…O consumo de nutrientes em níveis adequados e equilibrados são fundamenta is para manter a saúde, e em virtude disso, foram criados produtos para auxiliar e facilitar a ingestão apropriada dos mesmos; os suplementos alimentares (RODRIGUEZ, MARCO & LANGLEY, 2009;APPLEGATE & GRIVETTI, 1997). Esses compostos são preparações destinadas a complementar a dieta, fornecendo nutrientes que podem estar insuficientes no contexto alimentar (RODRIGUEZ, MARCO & LANGLEY 2009;APPLEGATE & GRIVETTI, 1997).…”

“…Esses compostos são preparações destinadas a complementar a dieta, fornecendo nutrientes que podem estar insuficientes no contexto alimentar (RODRIGUEZ, MARCO & LANGLEY 2009;APPLEGATE & GRIVETTI, 1997).…”