Ergogenic aids are dietary supplements that may improve your athletic performance. The American Academy of Family Physicians reports that about 50 percent of the American population has used some type of dietary supplement while 76 to 100 percent of athletes -- amateur and professional athletes, alike -- have reported supplement usage. Dietary supplements and ergogenic aids have long been used to boost athletic performance, although you should avoid using these substances until you discuss their possible health ramifications with your doctor.
Athletic Participation and Supplementation
Athletic participation may be an effective way to build your fitness and improve your physical, mental and social health. Many athletes, especially athletes competing at the elite level, use sports supplements to achieve a competitive advantage. Sports supplements, which are considered dietary supplements, notes KidsHealth, may include the following substances: herbs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Sports supplements may contain one or several of these different substances. Sports supplements are usually available without a prescription.
Ergogenic Aids
Ergogenic aids, though commonly used by athletes, may not be backed by scientific evidence and their mechanisms of action may be unknown. According to Robert A. Robergs, Ph.D. and the University of Maryland Medical Center, examples of ergogenic aids include pyruvate, caffeine, branched chain amino acids, chromium, vanadium, electrolytes, glycerol, carnitine, phosphate, sodium bicarbonate and creatine. Other ergogenic aids may include calcium pyruvate, human growth hormone, conjugated linoleic acid, chrysin and calcium D-gluconate.
Featured Supplement
Vanadium, a trace mineral, is found in numerous foods. This mineral, states the University of Maryland Medical Center, may be required by your body in small amounts, and it has often been used as a sports supplement, although there is still little clinical research evidence that demonstrates its ability to boost your athletic performance. Vanadium has been used primarily by bodybuilders, although it has also been prescribed by some health care practitioners to help increase your insulin sensitivity.
Disclaimer
Despite the popularity of ergogenic aids among both amateur and professional athletes, not all sports supplements may be appropriate for you. Before using ergogenic aids to enhance your sports performance, meet with a sports medicine professional or a health care practitioner who specializes in clinical nutrition. Your doctor can counsel you on the finer points of supplements, including proper dosage, appropriate duration of supplementation and what risks you are taking when you ingest sports supplements.
