com "], "filter": { "nextExceptions": "img, blockquote, div", "nextContainsExceptions": "img, blockquote, a. btn, a. Always check with your doctor before trying any new supplement, especially if you are taking prescription medications.

Beets are a rich source of antioxidants. Consuming beetroot juice prior to exercise has been shown to diminish the muscular fatigue associated with high-intensity exercise. We love drinking green tea , especially before a workout.

A study done using green tea e xtract over a prolonged period of time 10 weeks indicated that it is beneficial for improving endurance capacity by burning more body fat for fuel. The amount of green tea extract used in the study is the equivalent of drinking about four cups of green tea a day.

MCTs have gained traction with athletes seeking to increase energy levels and improve endurance during high-intensity exercise. It can also serve as an alternative energy source through nutritional ketosis for athletes on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets.

Additionally, MCTs can be quickly mobilized in the post-exercise recovery phase to rebuild muscles and prevent muscle breakdown. Some amino acid supplements may cause serious side effects. There aren't enough long-term studies to know if amino acid supplements are safe for teens.

Most protein supplements are made of the proteins casein and whey. The supplements usually come as powders that can be mixed with water, milk, milk substitute, or other liquid. Protein supplements are often advertised as a way to build muscle.

But most people get all the protein they need in their diet. A protein supplement may help someone who doesn't get enough protein in their diet. This can happen:. In general, protein supplements do not seem to cause serious side effects.

In high doses, they can cause:. As with other supplements, long-term studies in teens haven't been done. Most doctors agree that it is best for teens to get their protein from their diet.

There is some evidence that caffeine can boost sports performance. Caffeine is in many products, including energy drinks , soda, energy chews, and pills. It is important to remember that many of the claims that sports supplement companies make are not proven.

The company's goal is to sell more supplements, and their claims can be misleading. If you're considering starting a sports supplement, be sure to talk to your doctor first.

KidsHealth For Teens Sports Supplements. en español: Suplementos deportivos. Medically reviewed by: Amy W. Anzilotti, MD. Listen Play Stop Volume mp3 Settings Close Player.

Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. If that sounds like you, you're in luck. You won't need Google to find the best supplements for your goals, because we've got the top five right here! You've likely heard creatine is one of the most effective performance supplements in terms of improving high-intensity work capacity, muscle mass, strength, and body composition.

Creatine supplementation works by increasing phosphocreatine PCr stores within the muscle, allowing for quicker regeneration of adenosine triphosphate ATP , the body's source of energy.

Trust us, you don't want to fall short on energy when you're jumping over fire pits or climbing up foot walls! Even if mud runs aren't your thing, creatine has been shown to improve performance on the playing field, as well.

Research has demonstrated improvements in power output, muscular endurance, and sprint performance in sports like soccer, hockey, rugby, and football. Looking to shave seconds off your 5K time or improve the accuracy of your passes on the soccer field?

Yes, caffeine has been suggested to help you do those things! Caffeine is a well-documented ergogenic aid in performance research, and its use in sports dates all the way back to the s. Most of us consume caffeine because of its ability to increase alertness how else are we going to make it through a work day?

Whether you like to spend your weekends on the rugby field or trying to set PRs in the gym, current research supports the benefits of caffeine in sports and high-intensity intermittent exercise. Because many fitness activities are played outdoors in the heat and humidity or in poorly ventilated gyms, maintaining proper hydration status is critical for optimal performance.

If you're limited to water breaks, make sure to consume ounces of fluid hours prior to your activity, and another 8 ounces right before you start play.

After competition, begin rehydrating immediately, aiming to get in another ounces of fluids for every pound of bodyweight you lost via sweat.

It's mile five of the Tough Mudder and you still have ditches to hurdle, ladders to climb, and walls to scale.

Low therapeutic doses of dopaminergic stimulants e. Ergogenic aids, or athletic performance-enhancing substances, include a number of drugs with various effects on physical performance. Drugs such as amphetamine and methylphenidate increase power output at constant levels of perceived exertion and delay the onset of fatigue, [18] [19] [23] among other athletic-performance-enhancing effects; [3] [14] [15] bupropion also increases power output at constant levels of perceived exertion, but only during short term use.

Adaptogens are plants that support health through nonspecific effects, neutralize various environmental and physical stressors while being relatively safe and free of side effects.

As such, the term is not accepted in pharmacological and clinical terminology that is commonly used in the EU. Actoprotectors or synthetic adaptogens are compounds that enhance an organism's resilience to physical stress without increasing heat output. Actoprotectors are distinct from other doping compounds in that they increase physical and psychological resilience via non-exhaustive action.

Actoprotectors such as bemethyl and bromantane have been used to prepare athletes and enhance performance in Olympic competition. Nootropics, or "cognition enhancers", are substances that are claimed to benefit overall cognition by improving memory e.

Allows performance beyond the usual pain threshold. Some painkillers raise blood pressure , increasing oxygen supply to muscle cells.

Painkillers used by athletes range from common over-the-counter medicines such as NSAIDs such as ibuprofen to powerful prescription narcotics.

Sedatives and anxiolytics are used in sports like archery which require steady hands and accurate aim, and also to overcome excessive nervousness or discomfort for more dangerous sports. Diazepam , nicotine, and propranolol are common examples. Ethanol , the most commonly used substance by athletes, can be used for cardiovascular improvements though has significant detrimental effects.

Ethanol was formerly banned by WADA during performance for athletes performing in aeronautics, archery, automobile, karate, motorcycling and powerboating, but was taken off the ban list in It is detected by breath or blood testing. Cannabis is banned at all times for an athlete by WADA, though performance-enhancing effects have yet to be studied.

Cannabis and nicotine are detected through urine analysis. Blood doping agents increase the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood beyond the individual's natural capacity. Recombinant human erythropoietin rhEPO is one of the most widely known drugs in this class.

Erythropoietin, or EPO, is a hormone that helps increase the production of red blood cells which increases the delivery of oxygen to muscles. Gene doping agents are a relatively recently described class of athletic performance-enhancing substances.

Also known as anabolic steroid precursors, they promote lean body mass. While the use of PEDs has expanded in recent times, the practice of using substances to improve performance has been around since the Ancient Olympic Games.

were used by the Roman Gladiators to overcome injuries and fatigue. In the late 19th century as modern medicine and pharmacology were developing, PEDs saw an increase in use. In the 20th century, testosterone was isolated and characterized by scientists.

In the s, the main PEDs were cortisone and anabolic steroids. Adolescents are the most vulnerable group when it comes to taking performance-enhancing substances. In sports, the term performance-enhancing drugs is popularly used in reference to anabolic steroids or their precursors hence the colloquial term "steroids" ; anti-doping organizations apply the term broadly.

When medical exemptions are granted they are called therapeutic use exemptions. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools.

What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Get shortened URL Download QR code Wikidata item. Download as PDF Printable version. Substance used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. Main article: Anabolic steroid.

Main article: Stimulant. Main articles: Human growth hormone , Creatine , and Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-methylbutyrate. Main article: Adaptogen.

Main article: Actoprotector. Main article: Nootropic. Main article: Analgesic. Main articles: Sedative and Anxiolytic. Main article: Blood doping. Main article: Erythropoietin. Main article: Gene doping.

Main article: Prohormone. Main article: Doping in sport. May doi : PMC PMID Primary Care. Amphetamines and caffeine are stimulants that increase alertness, improve focus, decrease reaction time, and delay fatigue, allowing for an increased intensity and duration of training Current Neuropharmacology.

The first aim of this paper was to review current trends in the misuse of smart drugs also known as Nootropics presently available on the market focusing in detail on methylphenidate, trying to evaluate the potential risk in healthy individuals, especially teenagers and young adults.

Better Fighting Through Chemistry? The Role of FDA Regulation in Crafting the Warrior of the Future. Food and Drug Law: Final Paper.

Retrieved 4 March British Journal of Pharmacology. ISSN Retrieved 12 April Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Clinics in Sports Medicine. In , Chandler and Blair 47 showed significant increases in knee extension strength, acceleration, anaerobic capacity, time to exhaustion during exercise, pre-exercise and maximum heart rates, and time to exhaustion during maximal oxygen consumption VO2 max testing after administration of 15 mg of dextroamphetamine versus placebo.

Most of the information to answer this question has been obtained in the past decade through studies of fatigue rather than an attempt to systematically investigate the effect of ADHD drugs on exercise. In , Roelands and colleagues 53 studied the effect of reboxetine, a pure NE reuptake inhibitor, similar to atomoxetine, in 9 healthy, well-trained cyclists.

They too exercised in both temperate and warm environments. They showed decreased power output and exercise performance at both 18 and 30 degrees centigrade.

Their conclusion was that DA reuptake inhibition was the cause of the increased exercise performance seen with drugs that affect both DA and NE MPH, amphetamine, and bupropion. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience. Manipulations of dopaminergic signaling profoundly influence interval timing, leading to the hypothesis that dopamine influences internal pacemaker, or "clock," activity.

For instance, amphetamine, which increases concentrations of dopamine at the synaptic cleft advances the start of responding during interval timing, whereas antagonists of D2 type dopamine receptors typically slow timing; Depletion of dopamine in healthy volunteers impairs timing, while amphetamine releases synaptic dopamine and speeds up timing.

Sports Medicine. S2CID Some claim that tribulus terrestris puncture vine can increase testosterone levels by stimulating the pituitary gland. Smilax comes from desert plants containing sarsaparilla and contains the building blocks for artificial production of anabolic steroids.

Saponins are building blocks for the laboratory production of steroids; however, the body is unable to convert smilax into testosterone or any other steroid.

Yohimbine is extracted from either yohimbe bark or the South American herb quebracho. Some claim it increases blood flow through the testes, leading to higher testosterone levels. There is no proof that yohimbine has any anabolic effects, but it can be extremely dangerous.

Combining yohimbine and tyramine found in many foods and wines can cause an acute spike in blood pressure. In addition to hypertension, side effects of yohimbine include seizures, paralysis and death. The club drug GHB is a CNS depressant made by combining degreaser or floor solvent with drain cleaner.

For some reason, a number of uninformed bodybuilders became convinced that they could build muscle mass while they slept by taking GHB. Some extremely uninformed bodybuilders took GHB around the clock, risking an overdose. A GHB overdose, as well as unsupervised withdrawal, can be fatal.

Not surprisingly, there is absolutely no research to support the idea that GHB enhances muscle mass in anyone, awake or not.

Diuretics are sometimes used to hide traces of illegal or banned substances. Competitive bodybuilders sometimes take diuretics before competition to shed excess weight and increase muscle definition.

Taking diuretics, especially during increased physical activity, can lead to dehydration, syncope and heat-related emergencies. The use of most performance-enhancing drugs and supplements appears to be at best a waste of money, and at worst fatal.

For those considering a supplement, here are some tips for selecting wisely Some are ineffective and dangerous only to your pocketbook. Some, such as anabolic steroids, will work, but pose outrageous risks. Creatine is one of the few supplements that appears to have considerable research to support the claims made of it.

Thorough research, consultation with a physician and a healthy skepticism continue to be the best approach toward any drug or supplement. EMS professionals familiar with the facts are better equipped to discourage use of dangerous supplements and recognize patients who are potentially at risk.

For additional information on exercise supplements, visit the following websites:. National Institutes of Health. Dietary Supplements: Background Information. Coleman E, Nelson-Steen S, Maughan R, Skinner R.

Gatorade Sports Science Institute Sports Science Exchange Roundtable Rawson E, Clarkson P. Scientifically debatable: Is creatine worth its weight? Sports Science Exchange 91 16 : 4, Shaffer I. The Science and Policy of Performance-Enhancing Products.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Conference, Zickler P. NIDA initiatives targets increasing teen use of anabolic steroids. NIDA Notes , August Brink W.

The science and policy of performance enhancing supplements. LifeExtension, March National Institute on Drug Abuse. Research Report Series: Anabolic Steroid Abuse. Kowalski K. The truth behind the hype. Current Health 2 29 : 6, Feb.

Steer clear of steroid abuse. Current Health 2 25 : 7, March Mishra R. Steroids and sports are a losing proposition. FDA Consumer 25 7 : 24, Sept. Quiz: Anabolic Steroids. Wagner C, Morgan M.

FDA warns against using andro. Chicago Tribune, March 12, Kohrt WM. Potential Beneficial Effects of DHEA in Humans. Supplement Watch. Volek J. Creatine Supplementation in the 21st Century. Archer MC. Use of oral creatine to enhance athletic performance and its potential side effects.

Clin J Sports Med 9 2 , April Rados C. Ephedra ban: No shortage of reasons. FDA Consumber Magazine, March—April Associated Press. Company files suit challenging ephedra ban. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Fact Sheet: HHS Acts to Reduce Safety Concerns Associated with Dietary Supplements Containing Ephedra.

Fry AC, Bonner E, Lewis DL, et al. The effects of gamma-oryzanol supplementation during resistance exercise training. J Sports Nutr. Brown GA, Vukovich MD, Reifenrath TA, et al. Effects of anabolic precursors on serum testosterone concentrations and adaptations to resistance training in young men.

and Exercise Metabolism. Tips for the Savvy Supplement User: Making Informed Decisions and Evaluating Information.

Sign in. Current Issue. Current Digital Edition. Issue Archives. Patient Care. The EMS World Wellness Hub. EMS Source: Your Online Product Guide. EMS Week. Specialty Site: E-books Sponsored by Verizon.

Sponsored Video Library: Hartwell Medical. Online CE: EMS World Ally. Advisory Board. About Us. Guidelines for Contributors. Copied to clipboard. Drugs vs. Dietary Supplements There are many different types of dietary supplements that are claimed to provide improved athletic performance, increased muscle mass and faster recovery time between workouts.

Human Growth Hormone HGH HGH is a pituitary hormone that tricks the body into an artificial or prolonged state of puberty, leading to increased testosterone production. Dietary Supplements Androstenedione Andro Andro is the dietary supplement made famous by baseball player Mark McGwire, who took it before it was banned.

Wild Yams Some claim that wild yams Dioscorea villosa can enhance performance due to its anabolic properties. Gamma-Oryzanol Gamma-oryzanol, also known as rice bran oil, is derived from sterol and ferulic acid. Tribulus Terrestris Some claim that tribulus terrestris puncture vine can increase testosterone levels by stimulating the pituitary gland.

Yohimbine Yohimbine is extracted from either yohimbe bark or the South American herb quebracho. Picking a Supplement The use of most performance-enhancing drugs and supplements appears to be at best a waste of money, and at worst fatal.

For those considering a supplement, here are some tips for selecting wisely Make sure the product carries a USP U. Pharmacopeia label. This means it has passed tests for purity and potency.

Select a reputable manufacturer that provides easy access for consumers who have questions or complaints. Reputable manufacturers will be able to provide research that supports claims about their products.

Avoid products that make vague, unclear or ridiculous claims. Always check with your doctor before taking a supplement. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.