The sports supplements industry is one of the largest industries in the world of sports, especially with respect to revenue. Athletes are often attracted to these supplements by the effective marketing approaches used by marketers to sell these products. In sports, every athlete seeks to stage the best performances to achieve different milestones through their sporting life. The availability of supplements that can enhance the performance of these athletes makes them seductively attractive for these individuals.  No one would miss an opportunity to improve their performance, irrespective of the risks that exist. However, there is a need to ensure that these supplements are regulated. The lack of regulations in the sports supplement industry could lead to increased risks for the athletes. Perhaps we need to have a more standard approach to the management of sports supplements.

By Gabriel I. Escalera

     First, it’s essential to first have a better understanding of what sports supplements are in the sporting industry.  Sports supplements are additional nutrients that individuals can add to their normal diets to improve their physical abilities to perform in physical activities. Active athletes often include supplements in their diets to achieve sufficient nutrition for optimal performance in sports. In addition, athletes also use supplements to compensate for nutritional deficiencies. Most importantly, there is a belief among athletes that supplements significantly improve their abilities, helping them achieve higher performance.

        Supplements play an important role in the diets of athletes. As the name suggests, these substances should be used in addition to the normal diet, as opposed to being replacements. There are supplements that have been developed based on scientific evidence. This means that there are supplements in the market that can be beneficial to the athletes who consume them. There are several benefits that athletes can draw from using these supplements. One of the most significant benefits is that they can legally improve the performance of athletes. Other than that, supplements can also be used to attain the required weight for a specific sport’s weight classes. Similarly, they can be effective in losing weight for a specific sport. Supplements can also be used by athletes to build muscles and improve the circulation of oxygen within the body. Moreover, supplements also provide athletes with an option that helps them avoid the temptations of using other performance-enhancing drugs that are banned in most competitive sporting activities. As such, supplements are critical for athletes, especially with respect to the possibility of enhancing performances.

     There is a significant difference between performance-enhancing drugs and dietary supplements. There is a complete ban on performance enhancing drugs in the sporting world. However, dietary supplements are allowed within the sporting world. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not place strict regulations on sports supplements. So, the manufacturers of these substances are not required to submit samples of their products to the FDA.  The only requirement for sport supplement manufacturers is to make a claim of the health benefits of the supplement, based on scientific evidence. However, the FDA does not go beyond that to scientifically verify these claims.  Because of this there may be inadequate regulation of sports supplements, and this places the athlete at the risk of consuming substances that may be harmful to them.

     The use of supplements has continued to be a controversial topic among the stakeholders in the supplement industry.  These controversies tend to keep the conversation going and ensure that we can develop policies and laws that regulate the production and use of sports supplements. There are concerns about the processes involved in the manufacture of some sports supplements. The manufacturing process plays a significant role in determining the final product. The manufacturing process involves the use of different ingredients and processes that are not entirely known or understood. 

     Another important area of concern over sports supplements is that of the quality of these supplements. The quality of the supplement is critical however, the FDA does not require any quality standards on supplements. The FDA only requires that the manufacturers make a claim about the health benefits of these supplements. The FDA does not require the manufacturer to provide clinical or scientific trial results that verify the claims. This means that the manufacturers have considerable leeway to provide inaccurate information about the supplements to get approval from the FDA.  It is also possible that the manufacturers could create the same substance, give it a different name, and different claims to ensure that they are seen as different supplements. 

     Based on these observations, there appears to be a need to develop programs, policies, and laws that effectively regulate the production and sale of sports supplements. There is a need for the stakeholders, especially the FDA, to change the approach to the management of the supplements in the market. Regulations should be developed to streamline the manufacturing process.  Just like in the manufacture of medicines, there seems to be a need to regulate the manufacture of sports supplements. These supplements, when ingested, have the capacity to alter the body’s function. Their effects are similar to medicines. The regulation of the manufacturing process would ensure that there is a standard quality for every type of supplement. It could ensure that the most appropriate ingredients and processes are used in their manufacture.

     Quality control measures should also be implemented to ensure that the supplements are not harmful.  The quality of the supplements is dependent on scientific validation of their effectiveness in achieving the objectives for which they are created. As such, the FDA should implement programs that would compel the manufacturers to provide scientific verification for the health claims made. This would mean that quality is central to the development and production of the sports supplements. As such, it could provide a regulatory framework established to eliminate the safety risks associated with sports supplements. This way, sports supplements will be able to achieve their fundamental objectives without creating any controversy.

References

Kapoor, A., & Sharfstein, J. M. (2016). Breaking the gridlock: Regulation of dietary supplements in the United States. Drug testing and analysis, 8(3-4), 424-430.   Maughan, R. J., Burke, L. M., Dvorak, J., Larson-Meyer, D. E., Peeling, P., Phillips, S. M., … & Meeusen, R. (2018). IOC consensus statement: dietary supplements and the high-performance athlete. International journal of sport nutrition and exercise  metabolism, 28(2), 104-125.

Elderberry

Elderberry is a shrub that has been used medicinally for centuries. Sambucus nigra, or black elderberry bush, is the version most commonly used to make syrup and lozenges. Extracts of elderberry have antiviral, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Elderberry is also high in flavonoids. People take elderberry syrup as a remedy for colds, flus, and bacterial sinus infections. The plant medicine works by reducing swelling in mucus membranes. Some studies suggest elderberry extract reduces the duration of the flu. If it works for flu infections, it may help your immune system against coronavirus (COVID-19)infection.

Mushrooms

Wondering how to boost your immune system? Eat more button mushrooms. Mushrooms are high in selenium and B vitamins like riboflavin and niacin. These minerals and vitamins are necessary for the immune system to work in tip top form.

Mushrooms are also high in polysaccharides, sugar-like molecules that boost immune function.

Acai Berry

Acai berry is a black-purple fruit that is derived from the acai palm tree in Brazil, Trinidad, and certain parts of South America. The fruit is high in anthocyanins. These flavonoid molecules are very potent antioxidants.

They combat oxidative stress in the body by mopping up free radicals. Antioxidants are credited with boosting immunity and lowering inflammation in the body. There’s never been a better time to enjoy an acai bowl!

Most bodybuilders know that sure nutritional vitamins resembling Vitamin D and magnesium are important to extend testosterone manufacturing, however if you’re trying to improve testosterone ranges, then it could make sense to go on a eating regimen as nicely. Chances are you’ll suppose that consuming extra energy is extra conducive strategy to improve testosterone, however new analysis means that being obese can decrease a person’s testosterone. A earlier examine discovered that testosterone ranges are inversely correlated with better physique fats and insulin resistance. The extra physique fats one has, the extra insulin resistant an individual is. It’s believed that the inverse relationship between testosterone and insulin resistance is mediated by physique fats. Epidemiological research help a damaging correlation between serum testosterone and weight problems. It has been reported that weight problems suppresses SHBG (i.e. testosterone service protein) and, in consequence, whole testosterone concentrations lower. Researchers simply reported within the Asian Journal of Sports activities Drugs {that a} resistance train program was in a position to improve testosterone ranges and boosted the insulin sensitivity hormone adiponectin along with a lack of physique fats. In a semi-experimental examine, twenty-one overweight younger males have been randomly positioned in two teams: resistance coaching and management. Resistance coaching protocol consisted of twelve weeks’ weight coaching (Three classes per week, 10 workouts, Three units of 8 – 12 repetitions in every train, depth 60% – 80% of 1 repetition most, relaxation between units 1 minute and between workouts 2 minutes, period of principal coaching 20 – 40 minutes per every session). The researchers examined testosterone and adiponectin ranges pre and submit examine.

On the finish of the examine, resistance coaching had no important impact on physique weight and physique mass index, whereas it decreased physique fats p.c.
The lower in physique fats was additionally related to a rise in serum adiponectin (i..e elevated insulin sensitivity), and testosterone concentrations have been elevated after resistance coaching whereas there have been no important adjustments in serum ranges of those hormones within the management group. Based on the findings of the current examine, elevated ranges of adiponectin and testosterone after resistance coaching in overweight younger males, is related to decrease physique fats and fasting insulin. The takeaway findings of the examine is that if you’re trying to improve testosterone from resistance train, it good to lose extra bodyfat. Regardless that the topic’s weight didn’t change within the twelve-week examine, they misplaced bodyfat which was related to a rise in testosterone and insulin sensitivity.

Testosterone Vital for Obese Males Weight-reduction plan

It’s no shock that an increasing number of American males have gotten overweight. One of many extra stunning findings that researchers have discovered is that not solely does weight problems improve the danger of coronary heart illness and diabetes and hypertension, it additionally reduces a male’s testosterone ranges. One examine discovered that reported that roughly 52.4% of all overweight males had low testosterone ranges beneath 300 ng/dl (10.4 nmol/l). The usual vary of testosterone ranges in wholesome grownup males is between 280 to 1,100 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL).

Testosterone Improve and Lean Muscle Mass and Reduces Adipose Tissue

Testosterone ranges are lowered with elevated waist circumference and weight problems and roughly 40% of nondiabetic overweight males and 50% of overweight diabetic males aged above 45 years have low free testosterone. One researcher proposed testosterone remedy as a brand new potential intervention technique for managing weight problems in hypogonadal males (testosterone deficiency). Testosterone remedy ends in improved insulin sensitivity, lipid oxidation and discount in fats mass with a concomitant acquire in fat-free mass. One of many key observations in testosterone remedy is that testosterone will increase lean physique mass, thus rising resting power expenditure. Lengthy-term testosterone remedy in males with testosterone deficiency produces important and sustained weight reduction, marked discount in waist circumference and BMI and enchancment in physique composition. Additional, testosterone improve remedy ameliorates parts of the metabolic syndrome. The enhancements above are attributed to improved mitochondrial operate, elevated power utilization, elevated motivation and vigor leading to improved cardio-metabolic operate and enhanced bodily exercise.

Testosterone Remedy to Calorie Restriction Reduces Fats Mass Greater than Calorie Restriction Alone.

On April 2, at ENDO 2016, the annual assembly of the Endocrine Society, in Boston, researchers introduced some new analysis on how testosterone not solely helps protect muscle mass on a eating regimen, but it surely additionally promotes lack of physique fats. General, 40 p.c of overweight males have low testosterone. The lower in testosterone could also be associated to the surplus estrogen ranges being secreted from adipose tissue or insulin resistance.  Weight reduction as a consequence of calorie restriction is related to elevated circulating testosterone, and testosterone remedy reduces fats. Nevertheless, researchers don’t know whether or not including testosterone remedy to calorie restriction reduces fats mass greater than calorie restriction alone. Dr. Grossman and colleagues performed a scientific trial of 100 moderately wholesome overweight males from the area people between 20 and 70 years of age who had low testosterone ranges.
General, 20 p.c of them had diabetes and 10 p.c had coronary heart illness. For the primary ten weeks, all contributors have been positioned on a strict 600 kcal per day very-low-calorie eating regimen. They have been additionally inspired to abstain from alcohol and carry out at the very least 30 minutes a day of reasonable train. Each ten weeks over the 56-week-long examine, 49 males additionally acquired injections of 1,000mg of intramuscular testosterone undecanoate, and 51 took a placebo. On the finish of 56 weeks, each teams misplaced roughly 11 kg (24.2 lb). However these within the testosterone group misplaced nearly solely fats whereas these on placebo misplaced each lean and fats. The boys taking testosterone misplaced Three kg (6.6 lb) extra physique fats than these on placebo and maintained their muscle mass whereas these on placebo misplaced 3.5 kg (7.7 lb) of muscle mass.