Sports Medicine: Just the Facts

aerobic exercise (Morris et al, 1996; Dowling et al,

1996).

SIDE EFFECTS

• There are few reported side effects with ginseng.
  Hypertension, anxiety, acne, edema, and diarrhea
  have been reported with long-term high-dose use.

LEGAL

•Ginseng is not banned by the NCAA or the IOC
(American College of Sports Medicine, 1987; U.S.
Antidoping Agency, 2003).

GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN
SULFATE

EFFICACY

• Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate are substances
  produced by the body and used in the synthesis of gly-
  cosaminoglycans, a significant part of the extracellular
  matrix of articular cartilage. Studies have shown that
  supplementation with chondroitin sulfate and glu-
  cosamine reduces pain often equal to or above that of
  NSAIDs in osteoarthritis patients (Deal and Moskowitz,
  1999; Morreale et al, 1996)


• Combination products are probably better than using
  one product alone (Deal and Moskowitz, 1999).

SAFETY

• Short-term studies have not shown any adverse side
  effects, but there are no long-term studies evaluating
  safety (Deal and Moskowitz, 1999).

LEGAL

• Glucosamine and Chondroitin sulfate are not banned
  by the IOC or NCAA (American College of Sports
  Medicine, 1987; U.S. Antidoping Agency, 2003).

GLYCEROL AND HYPERHYDRATION

EFFICACY

•Theoretically, glycerol can be used to induce a state
of hyperhydration that may theoretically aid in dis-
tance running in warm environments (Inder et al,
1998).

• In a thermoneutral environment, glycerol hyperhydra-
  tion did not improve performance in prolonged exer-
  cise (Inder et al, 1998); however, when heat stress was
  added, hyperhydration with and without glycerol sig-
  nificantly prolonged the time to heat exhaustion com-
  pared to euhydration (Latzka et al, 1998).

SAFETY

• Glycerol may increase the risk of intraocular and
  intracerebral dehydration and should not be used in
  persons with renal disease.

LEGAL

• Glycerol is not banned by the NCAA or IOC (American
  College of Sports Medicine, 1987; U.S. Antidoping
  Agency, 2003).

GROWTH HORMONE

EFFICACY

•Growth hormone is secreted by the hypothalamus and

is important in the growth and development of normal

bones and muscle.

• Growth hormone(GH) seems to be intricately related
  to insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and the regula-
  tion of insulin.


• GH appears to provide an anabolic effect and increases
  bone mass and lean body mass while decreasing adi-
  pose tissue (Berneis and Keller, 1996).


• Administration of GH in GH deficient individuals has
  been shown to increase height, decrease body fat, and
  improve respiratory muscle function, strength, and
  agility.
  •However, in normal individuals, supplementation
  with GH has never been shown to improve athletic
  performance (Eichner, 1997).


• Although there are myocardial receptors for GH,
  administration of recombinant human growth hormone
  (rhGH) did not affect cardiovascular performance as
  measured by left ventricular ejection fraction, heart
  rate or blood pressure in seven normal male volunteers
  (Bisi et al, 1999).


• GH levels can be increased by exercise and the level
  of release is related directly to exercise intensity, but
  the duration of the secretion and effects of long-term
  training are not known (Pritzalff et al, 1999).


• In summary, GH appears to increase lean body mass
  but does not improve performance.

424 SECTION 5 • PRINCIPLES OF REHABILITATION