Ergogenic Products
A list of popular or promoted potentially ergogenic products
follows.
Look Elsewhere in This Book
For amino acids, see the section in
corporated into the discussion
about protein on page
63
.
For discussion about antioxidants
, see the chapter beginning on
page
25
.
For a specific discussion of an individual vitamin or mineral, see
the chapter on that specific vitamin or mineral. For a more general discussion about the ergogenic and ergolytic effects of vitamins and minerals, see page
126
.
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HT)
Not banned. Studies have not shown performance benefit. Not recommended.
5-Methyl-7-Methoxyisoflavone
Not banned. Treated subjects had a decrease in percent body fat in a study
that also found placebo-treated healthy, resistance-trained men who maintained consistent training an
d dietary habits significantly
increased their percent body fat.
Why percent fat increased in the placebo group, when diet and
exercise were supposedly constant, was not explained.
Not recommended.
Amino Acids and Enzymes
Not banned. See discussion under protein, at
hletic considerations, on page
63
.
Not recommended.
Acetazolamide
Not banned. Prescription, Acetazolamide (Diamox), used to
help prevent acute mountain
sickness, was shown to impair performance when taken at sea level.
Not recommended unless altitude sickness a problem.
Albuterol
Banned without governing body pr
eregistration. Prescription.
See asthma medications. Avoid without medical need.
Anabolic Steroids
Banned. Prescription. Caution: Anabolic steroids are
banned in most sports and their
side effects are well-known, including risk of cardiovascular disease.
Good studies regarding anabolic steroids are few. Past research was aimed at showing either performance-
enhancing effects or side effects. For good reason, athletes, the press, sports governing bodies, etc., are so
down on steroids that very little
scientific research is being pursued.
Steroids probably do help to increase muscle mass by
stimulating protein synthesis. This increases muscular strength. The use of anabolic steroids requires workouts to achieve benefit.
Anabolic steroids may increase
hemoglobin levels, which may
result in increased oxygen-carrying capabilities of blood and increased aerobic capacity.
Nutrition for Sports, Essentials of 111
