Research Articles. Ergogenic Aids and the Athlete

Hickner, R. C., Dyck, D. J., Sklar, J., Hatley, H., & Byrd, P. (2010). Effect of 28 days of creatine ingestion on muscle metabolism and performance of a simulated cycling road race. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 7, 26.  Purpose › To measure the effects of endurance and performance in cyclists that ingest a creatine supplement for 28 days. Methods  12 healthy male endurance trained athletes who participated in the study. › 6 participants received 3 g/day of creatine monohydrate for 28 days. › 6 participants were placed in the control placebo group.  All 12 athletes participated in a 2-hour simulated cycling road race at 60% VO2 max. › Three 10 second sprints at 110% VO2 max was done every 15 minutes in the 2-hour race.  Blood was drawn along with muscle biopsy during the 2 hours of exercise. Results  Creatine phosphate levels were elevated in the creatine supplementation group.  There was no increase in plasma glucose or blood lactate in the creatine supplementation group.  There was no increase in performance for the creatine supplementation group compared to the placebo group. Conclusion  There was no difference in performance between the creatine and placebo groups which could be due to: › Creatine is thought to be beneficial in short term, high resistance athletic output. Not a 2 hour aerobic output. › All participants were well trained, high endurance athletes where supplementation might not have made an impact on their endurance. Mendes, R. R., Pires, I., Oliviera, A., & Tirapegui, J. (2004). Effects of creatine supplementation on the performance and body composition of competitive swimmers. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 15, 473-478. Purpose  To study the effects of creatine on swimming performance and swimmer’s body composition. Materials and Methods  18 competitive swimmers › 6 women; 12 men   Double blind, placebo controlled Initial biochemical evaluations › Height, weight, age, body composition (lean mass and body fat)  Supplementation for eight days › Treatment group: Five grams of creatine with 20 grams of CHO › Placebo group: 20 grams of CHO Materials and Methods (cont.)  Testing › Short high intensity › Long high intensity › Repetitive exercise with 30 second intervals 24-hour urine collection  Serum creatine test  Blood lactate test  Final body composition measurments  Results  Creatine had no effect on swimming performance.  Body mass was increased › Muscle mass was not  What is it from?  Increase in urinary excretion of creatine in creatine group. › 50% was stored during supplementation › A second increase in excretion after supplementation stopped.  Increase in blood [lactate] in placebo group › ? Conclusion  Creatine monohydrate has no effect on swimming performance. › Does that mean it has no effect on weight lifting? › Showed increase in [lactate] in placebo  Creatine-monohydrate provides what for energy production?  ATP › Increase in body mass  Water retention Ostojic, S. M., Calleja, J., & Jourkesh, M. (2010). Effects of short-term dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation on body composition in young athletes. Chinese Journal of Physiology, 53(1), 19-25. Dehydroepiandroster one (DHEA)  Possible effects  Androgenic and estrogenic effects  Health Claims   Purpose › Observe the effects of DHEA supplementation on body composition and serum steroid hormones in young soccer players.  Methods › Twenty young elite soccer players › 19 to 22 years old › 100-mg daily oral DHEA supplementation › 28 day duration (4 weeks) › Treatment group vs. placebo group  Results › Body mass was not affected › No considerable changes in BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, body fat or total muscle mass in the treatment or placebo groups. › A significant increase in total testosterone, estradiol and DHEA-S in the treatment group vs. the placebo group.  Conclusion › Does not induce changes in body composition. › Increases testosterone, estradiol and DHEA levels › Risks of possible prostate cancer or cardiovascular disease far outweigh the benefits.  DHEA supplementation is ineffective  Meinhardt, U., Nelson, A. E., Hansen, J. L., Birzniece, V., Clifford, D., Leung, K. C., … Ho, K. K. (2010). The effects of growth hormone on body composition and physical performance in recreational athletes. Annals of Internal Medicine, 152, 568-577. Background  Anabolic steroid & Growth hormone: reduce body fat; lean body mass;  strength  Combination: improvement in body composition Purpose  Assess the effect of growth hormone and testosterone on body composition and physical performance in recreational athletes. Methods  Recreational athletes 18 - 40 years › Compete in state/national level › Positive results for prohibited agents › Had abused performance-enhancing drugs  Randomly assigned to 4 groups for 8 weeks › › › › Testosterone (250mg/wk) Growth hormone (2mg/d) Testosterone & Growth hormone Placebo Methods           Body composition at Wk 0 & Wk 8 Fat mass Lean body mass Extracellular water Body cell mass Physical Performance Tests Wk 0, Wk 8 & Wk16 Endurance (Vo2 max) Strength (dead-lift test) Power (vertical jump height) Sprint capacity (30 sec sprint test) Fat mas s (kg) Testostero ne Growth Hormone Combinati on Lean body mass (kg) Extra wate r mass (kg) Body cell mass (kg) +2.4 +1. +1.2 2 -0. +2.9 +2. +0.4 5 4 -1. +5.8 +3. +2.3 0 6 ✕ End stre pow Sprint uran ngth er capacit ce y (kJ) At Wk 8 Sprint capaci ty (kJ) At 14 wk ✕ ✕ ✕ +0.9 +0.4 ✕ ✕ ✕ +1.1 +1.0 ✕ ✕ ✕ +1.7 +0.8 Conclusion  Both GH and testosterone have the effect of changing body composition & increasing sprint capacities.  When they are combined, the effects are greater.  Improvement of sprint capacities were not maintained after a 6-week washout. Tahtamouni, L. H., Mustafa, N. H., Alfaouri, A. A., Hassan, I. M., Abdalla, M. Y., Yasin, S. R. (2008). Prevalence and risk factors for anabolicandrogenic steroid abuse among Jordanian collegiate students and athletes. European Journal of Public Health, 18, 661–665. Purpose  Investigate the prevalence and risk factors for AAS abuse among Jordanian collegiate students and bodybuilders. Methods  503 Collegiate students,154 Bodybuilders  Self-reported questionnaire  Demographic information  Attitude towards the use of AAS  Previous and current abuse of AAS & side effects Athletes Collegiate student Response rate (%) 100 100 Mean age (yrs) 28.1 19.9 Current AAS user (%) 26 4.2 Monthly Income ($) Major source of AAS Main reason of using AAS User Nonuser User Nonuser 483.9 322.3 280.0 157.1 Coaches or friends friends Improve performances Improve appearances • 77% of the users consume more than one AAS at a time • Health-related problems: increased appetite (37.7%), mood changes (36.1%), fluid retention (25%), headache (23%), increased hair growth (21.1%) and acne (21%) Conclusion  As a young country (90% population are <49 yrs), Jordan has a high prevalence of AAS abuse as much as developing countries.  AAS has become a worldwide public concern, not only among athletes, but adolescent groups as well AAS and Creatine monohydrate minimally help athletes in improving their athletic performance.  Greater risks than benefits  AAS - Several detrimental effects including injury  Creatine monohydrate – decreased muscle function  2010-2011 NCAA Banned Drugs 