Nutritional supplements: prevalence of use and contamination with doping agents

AbstractBased upon recent sales numbers, nutritional supplements play a key role in the lifestyle of a substantial proportion of the population. As well as products such as vitamins or minerals, several precursors of anabolic steroids are marketed as nutritional supplements. Another group of commercially available supplements are products for weight loss based upon herbal formulations originating fromEphedraspecies. Apart from supplements indicating the presence of these active compounds, numerous non-hormonal nutritional supplements were found that were contaminated with non-labelled anabolic steroids. Stimulating agents other than naturally occurring analogues of ephedrine were detected. A major group using dietary supplements are sportsmen, ranging from amateur level to elite athletes. Besides the possible health risks associated with the use of dietary supplements, athletes should take care not to violate the rules of the World Anti-Doping Agency because athletes remain responsible for substances detected in their biofluids, irrespective of their origin. Several analytical methods have been developed to determine the presence of doping agents as contaminants. The present review attempts to address the issues concerning the use of nutritional supplements and the detection of doping agents as contaminants in dietary supplements.

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Prohibition of artificial hypoxic environments in sports: health risks rather than ethics

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/h07-088 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 1206-1207 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Giuseppe Lippi ◽

Massimo Franchini ◽

Gian Cesare Guidi

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Health Risks ◽

Blood Doping ◽

The World ◽

Recent Position ◽

World Anti Doping Agency ◽

Performance Enhancing

There is actual debate on a recent position of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which has cautiously refrained from banning hypoxic tents and intends to monitor their health risk. Regardless of teleological and deontological concepts, we highlight that the health risks inherent to the widespread use of these artificial performance-enhancing devices would make them as unsafe as other forms of blood doping.

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Challenges in Detecting the Abuse of Growth Hormone in Sport

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1373/clinchem.2005.047845 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 51 (9) ◽

pp. 1587-1593 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Cathy M McHugh ◽

Roderick T Park ◽

Peter H Sönksen ◽

Richard IG Holt

Keyword(s):

Growth Hormone ◽

Anabolic Steroids ◽

Reference Interval ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Gh Isoforms ◽

Comprehensive Search ◽

World Anti Doping Agency ◽

Academic Interests ◽

Substances Of Abuse ◽

Future Concepts

Abstract Background: Growth hormone (GH) is reputed to be in widespread use in the sporting arena as a performance-enhancing agent and is on the list of banned substances published by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The detection of GH abuse poses many challenges. Unlike many substances of abuse, such as synthetic anabolic steroids, GH is a naturally occurring substance; therefore, demonstration of exogenous administration must rely on detecting concentrations in excess of an established reference interval. The purpose of this review is to discuss the methodologies being developed to detect GH abuse. Methods: We undertook a comprehensive search using multiple electronic databases and hand searches of reference lists of articles. The data for this review reflect our academic interests and experience through work on the GH-2000 and GH-2004 projects. Results: Two approaches have been taken to detect GH abuse. The first is based on assessment of the effect of exogenous GH on pituitary GH isoforms, and the second is based on measurement of markers of GH action. The advantages of each approach and the difficulties encountered with each technique, as well as future concepts in detection, are discussed. Conclusion: Although there are substantial challenges for the detection of GH, methodologies now exist to detect GH abuse with reasonable sensitivity and specificity.

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Effect of oestradiol-17β on energy metabolism of steers fed roughage diets

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859600083003 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 111 (1) ◽

pp. 187-190 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R. A. Hunter ◽

J. E. Vercoe

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Live Weight ◽

Poor Quality ◽

Energy Requirements ◽

Maintenance Energy ◽

Anabolic Agents ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Grazing Cattle ◽

The World ◽

Growth Promoting

In many areas of the world grazing cattle lose weight for part of the year because the dry standing pasture on offer is of poor quality and animals are unable to eat enough to meet their maintenance energy requirements. In countries where growth promoting anabolic agents are used, a perod of liveweight loss may coincide with the functional life of an implanted agent. There is evidence to suggest that diethylstilboestrol, a xenobiotic with oestrogenic activity, may increase maintenance energy requirements (Rumsey, Tyrrell & Moe, 1980). This has the effect of increasing the rate of live-weight loss under restricted submaintenance feeding conditions (Oltjen et al. 1973). One of the most common anabolic agents currently in use is the naturally occurring oestrogen, oestradiol-17β. However, its effects on energy requirements of animals either gaining or losing weight are unknown.

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The preferences in selecting dietary supplements used in slimming

Polish Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1515/pjph-2016-0035 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 126 (4) ◽

pp. 170-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Izabela Cichocka ◽

Jan Krupa

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Dietary Supplements ◽

Dietary Supplement ◽

Health Risks ◽

Pharmaceutical Market ◽

The Internet ◽

Sources Of Information ◽

The People ◽

The Moment

Abstract Introduction. The interest in weight loss supplements can be noticed in Poland at the moment. It is related to people’s trying to look good as fast as possible. The pharmaceutical market puts an emphasis only on the benefits and majority of the people purchasing the supplements do not regard doctor’s advice as necessary. Therefore, in order to learn about consumers’ awareness about the use of dietary supplements is gaining importance. Aim. The objective of the study was to gain knowledge about choice preferences of dietary supplements used in weight loss, like also to learn about consumer’s awareness about the use of dietary supplements. Material and methods. An anonymous survey was conducted in Mielec in 2015 among 112 women. The questionnaire included questions concerning their knowledge of dietary supplements, the type and amount of consumption, the reasons for using supplements, benefits and health risks of their use. Results. 90.2% of women admitted that they are using or they used dietary supplements in order to reduce weight. Respondents most often derive the information about these preparations from the pharmacist (62.5%), television (46.4%), a doctor (36.6%), radio (30.4%), the Internet (29.5%). 72.4% of female respondents pay attention to the composition of dietary supplement, with the emphasis on the amount of the ingredients (64.3%), its dosage (55.4%), the origin of the ingredients (natural or synthetic) (37.5%). Female respondents prefer dietary supplements either in the form of tablets (83.9%) and capsules (54.7%), as well as in liquid (52.7%). Conclusions. Respondents showed an increased interest in supplements used for weight loss and they usually use it in forms of tablets and capsules. As the role of the Internet increases, it is necessary to educate consumers about ability to search reliable sources of information about dietary supplements used for weight loss.

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Gene doping

Essays in Biochemistry ◽

10.1042/bse04400125 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 125-138 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Stephen D.R. Harridge ◽

Cristiana P. Velloso

Keyword(s):

Gene Therapy ◽

Gene Transfer ◽

Athletic Performance ◽

Potential Threat ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Gene Doping ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

The World ◽

World Anti Doping Agency ◽

New Challenges

Gene doping is the misuse of gene therapy to enhance athletic performance. It has recently been recognised as a potential threat and subsequently been prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Despite concerns with safety and efficacy of gene therapy, the technology is progressing steadily. Many of the genes/proteins which are involved in determining key components of athletic performance have been identified. Naturally occurring mutations in humans as well as gene-transfer experiments in adult animals have shown that altered expression of these genes does indeed affect physical performance. For athletes, however, the gains in performance must be weighed against the health risks associated with the gene-transfer process, whereas the detection of such practices will provide new challenges for the anti-doping authorities.

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Prevalence of caffeine use in elite athletes following its removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency list of banned substances

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/h11-052 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 555-561 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Juan Del Coso ◽

Gloria Muñoz ◽

Jesús Muñoz-Guerra

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Limit Of Detection ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Urine Samples ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Alkaline Extraction ◽

Caffeine Concentration ◽

The World ◽

World Anti Doping Agency ◽

Males And Females

The aim of this investigation was to determine the use of caffeine by athletes after its removal from the World Anti-Doping Agency list. For this purpose, we measured the caffeine concentration in 20 686 urine samples obtained for doping control from 2004 to 2008. We utilized only urine samples obtained after official national and international competitions. Urine caffeine concentration was determined using alkaline extraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The limit of detection (LOD) was set at 0.1 µg·mL–1. The percentage of urine samples below the LOD was 26.2%; the remaining 73.8% of the urine samples contained caffeine. Most urine samples (67.3%) had urinary caffeine concentrations below 5 µg·mL–1. Only 0.6% of urine samples exceeded the former threshold for caffeine doping (12 µg·mL–1). Triathlon (3.3 ± 2.2 µg·mL–1), cycling (2.6 ± 2.0 µg·mL–1), and rowing (1.9 ± 1.4 µg·mL–1) were the sports with the highest levels of urine caffeine concentration; gymnastics was the sport with the lowest urine caffeine concentration (0.5 ± 0.4 µg·mL–1). Older competitors (>30 y) had higher levels of caffeine in their urine than younger competitors (<20 y; p < 0.05); there were no differences between males and females. In conclusion, 3 out of 4 athletes had consumed caffeine before or during sports competition. Nevertheless, only a small proportion of these competitors (0.6%) had a urine caffeine concentration higher than 12 µg·mL–1. Endurance sports were the disciplines showing the highest urine caffeine excretion after competition.

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The Cardiac Effects of Performance-Enhancing Medications: Caffeine vs. Anabolic Steroids

10.20944/preprints202012.0559.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sanjay Sivalokanathan ◽

Łukasz Małek ◽

Aneil Malhotra

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Anabolic Steroids ◽

Muscle Growth ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

The World ◽

World Anti Doping Agency ◽

Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽

Performance Enhancing Drugs ◽

The Individual ◽

Performance Enhancing

Several performance-enhancing or ergogenic drugs have been linked to both significant adverse cardiovascular effects and increased cardiovascular risk. Even with increased scrutiny on the governance of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in professional sport and heightened awareness of the associated cardiovascular risk, there are some who are prepared to risk their use to gain competitive advantage. Caffeine is the most commonly consumed drug in the world and its ergogenic properties have been reported for decades. Thus, the removal of caffeine from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list of banned substances, in 2004, has naturally led to an exponential rise in its use amongst athletes. The response to caffeine is complex and influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Whilst the evidence may be equivocal, the ability of an athlete to train longer or at a greater power output cannot be overlooked. Furthermore, its impact on the myocardium remains unanswered. In contrast, anabolic steroids are recognised PEDs that improve athletic performance, increase muscle growth and suppress fatigue. Their use, however, comes at a cost, afflicting the individual with several side effects, including those that are detrimental to the cardiovascular system. This review addresses the effects of the two commonest PEDs, one legal, the other prohibited, and their respective effects on the heart, as well as the long-term implications.

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Dietary supplements in the USA: problematic trends

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021000665 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Bryan E Denham

Keyword(s):

Weight Loss ◽

Erectile Dysfunction ◽

Dietary Supplements ◽

Dietary Supplement ◽

Prescription Drugs ◽

Anabolic Steroids ◽

Federal Courts ◽

Safety And Efficacy ◽

The Usa ◽

Education Act

Abstract More than 25 years have passed since the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 classified dietary supplements as a subcategory of food, thereby exempting manufacturers from providing premarket evidence of product safety and efficacy. In this commentary, I discuss problems in the supplement industry through an examination of cases introduced or decided in US federal courts between 2010 and 2019. More than half the cases located involved defendants charged with introducing misbranded food or drugs into interstate commerce. Contaminants included anabolic steroids, erectile dysfunction medications, weight-loss drugs, workout stimulants and mind-altering substances. As the article points out, raw powders obtained in bulk quantities facilitate the practice of ‘home brewing’ and the introduction of prescription drugs into dietary supplements.

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