|
Summary
of substances commonly used by athletes because of a believe in their
ergogenic properties.
(Adapted From: Ahrendt
DM. Ergogenic aids: Counseling the athlete.
American Family Physician; 2001; 63(5): 913-922 )
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|
Substance
|
Potential
Action
|
Research
Findings
|
Side
Effects
|
Legality
|
|
Alcohol
|
Lower anxiety
|
No benefit
|
Significantly negative
|
Banned in shooting
events.
|
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Amphetamines
|
Lower fatigue and
appetite
|
Mixed results; some
positive
|
Significantly dangerous
|
Illegal
|
|
Anabolic
Steroids
|
Increase in lean mass,
exercise motivation, and strength
|
Clear benefit
|
Significantly dangerous
|
Illegal
|
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Androstenediol
|
(Same as anabolic
steroids)
|
Limited studies
|
Unknown
|
Banned by IOC
|
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Androstenedione
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(Same as anabolic
steroids)
|
No benefits
|
Significantly negative
|
Banned by IOC, NCAA
|
|
Antioxidants
|
Enhanced muscle
recovery; reduced muscle breakdown
|
Mixed; no clear benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
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Amino
Acids: Arginine, ornithine, lysine
|
Stimulates growth
hormone; enhanced muscle development
|
No benefit
|
None known
|
Legal
|
|
Aspartates
|
Increase use of free
fatty acids, thereby sparing muscle glycogen
|
Mixed results
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
|
Aspirin
|
Decreases pain
associated with muscle fatigue and muscle breakdown
|
No ergogenic benefit
|
Mild; potential for GI
bleeding with large doses
|
Legal
|
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Bee
Pollen
|
Increases strength and
endurance
|
No benefit
|
Potential for allergic
reaction
|
Legal
|
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Beta
Blockers
|
Lower anxiety
|
Improved fine motor
control; Reduced aerobic capacity
|
Significantly negative
|
Banned by IOC
|
|
Blood
Doping
|
Increases aerobic
capacity
|
Clear benefit
|
Significantly dangerous
(increases blood viscosity)
|
Illegal
|
|
Boron
|
Increases endogenous
steroid production
|
No benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
|
Branched
Chain Amino Acids (BCAA)
|
Reduction in Central
Nervous System Fatigue
|
Mixed results
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
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Caffeine
|
Increased muscle
contractility; improved aerobic endurance; improved fat metabolism
|
Clear benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
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Calcium
|
Increases muscle
contractility; improves glycogen metabolism
|
No benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
|
Carbohydrates
|
Improved performance;
lower fatigue
|
Clear benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
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Carnitine
|
Increases fat
metabolism
|
No benefit
|
None
|
Legal
|
|
Choline
|
Improved endurance
|
Mixed results
|
None
|
Legal
|
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Chromium
|
Higher lean mass
|
No benefit unless prior
deficiency
|
Safe up to 400 mcg/day;
dangerous above this level
|
Legal
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Chrysin
|
Increases endogenous
steroid production
|
No benefit
|
None
|
Legal
|
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Cocaine
|
Stimulates CNS; delays
fatigue
|
Mixed
|
Significantly negative;
dangerous
|
Illegal
|
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Coenzyme
Q-10 (ubiquinone)
|
Delays fatigue;
antioxidant
|
No benefit
|
None
|
Legal
|
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Coenzyme
Q-12
|
Inproves aerobic
capacity; speeds muscle repair
|
No benefit
|
None
|
Legal
|
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Creatine
|
Improves repeated high
intensity activity endurance
|
Benefit, but no safety
data available
|
None in short term;
unknown in long term
|
Legal
|
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DHEA
|
Improves endogenous
steroid production
|
No benefit in healthy
athletes
|
Potentially dangerous
|
Banned by IOC and other
groups
|
|
Diuretics
|
Lower body mass to
lower resistance
|
Limited benefits
|
Potentially dangerous
|
Banned by IOC
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Ephedrine
and related substances
|
Stiulates CNS, delays
fatigue, encourages weight loss
|
No benefit
|
Potentially dangerous
|
Banned by IOC and other
organizations; Illegal to sell in
USA
and several other countries.
|
|
Ephedrine
plus caffeine
|
Increases energy,
stimulates weight loss
|
Some benefit
|
Potentially dangerous;
fatal at higher doses
|
Banned by IOC and other
organizations; Illegal to sell in
USA
and several other countries.
|
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Erythropoietin
(EPO)
|
Increases aerobic
capacity
|
Clear benefit
|
Significantly negative;
dangerous
|
Illegal
|
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Fluids
|
Increases endurance
|
Clear benefit
|
Some danger of
hyponatremia
|
Legal
|
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Folic
Acid
|
Increases aerobic
capacity
|
No benefit
|
None
|
Legal
|
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GHB
|
Stimulates growth
hormone release and muscle growth
|
No clear benefit
|
Significantly negative
(dose related); Abuse potential
|
Illegal
|
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Ginseng
|
Increases endurance and
improves muscle recovery
|
No clear benefit
|
Mild, abuse syndrome
reported
|
Legal
|
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Glucosamine
|
Serves as NSAID
alternative; enhances muscle recovery
|
Limited benefit
|
None
|
Legal
|
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Glutamine
|
Boosts imunity and
growth hormone levels
|
May boost immunity
|
None
|
Legal
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Glycerol
|
Improves hydration and
endurance
|
Some benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
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HMB
|
Decreases muscle
breakdown; enhances recovery
|
Limited, some strength
benefits
|
None
|
Legal
|
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Human
growth hormone
|
Anabolic effect on
muscle growth, increases fat metabolism
|
Limited ergogenic
benefit
|
Significantly negative;
dangerous
|
Illegal
|
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Inosine
|
Enhances energy
production, improves aerobic capacity
|
No benefit
|
Mild
|
Legal
|
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Iron
|
Increases aerobic
capacity
|
No benefit unless
pre-existing deficiency
|
Mild; Toxic at high
doses
|
Legal
|
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Leucine
|
Decreases muscle
breakdown and spares muscle glycogen stores
|
Limited, no ergogenic
effect
|
None
|
Legal
|
|
Ma
huang (herbal ephedrine)
|
Same as ephedrine
|
|
|
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Magnesium
|
Enhances muscle growth
|
No benefit unless
preexisting deficiency
|
Mild at high doses
|
Legal
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Niacin
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