Professional Sports Diet Supplements

Dietary supplements are very popular among athletes at all levels. While some supplements may have benefits for improving athletic performance, not all supplements are safe or effective. It is important for athletes to research the claimed benefits, safety and effectiveness of supplements before taking them, so their health is not compromised.

Creatine

Creatine is an amino acid, the building block of protein, found in meat and fish. It can also be synthesized by the body in the kidneys, liver and pancreas. Creatine is stored as creatine phosphate in the body. Creatine phosphate donates a phosphate group to ADP so it can be converted to ATP and used for energy by the muscle cell. Creatine is a very popular supplement with athletes because of this. Studies have shown mixed results, however creatine supplementation may be beneficial for improving strength and lean muscle mass in high intensity, short duration exercise. It has not been shown to be effective in endurance sports such as long-distance running and swimming.

Dehydroepiandrosterone

Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA, is a precursor to the hormones testosterone and estrogen. It is thought that by raising levels of testosterone in the blood, muscle mass will increase. This possible link has made DHEA appealing for athletes trying to increase lean muscle mass. According to a study by B. Corrigan published in the "Journal of Clinical Sport Medicine" in 2002, DHEA did not demonstrate any benefits for athletic performance. DHEA is available over-the- counter in the United States, however it is still considered a controlled substance in some countries. Because the safety and long-term effects of DHEA are unknown, it is not recommended for athletes.

Branched Chain Amino Acids

Branched chain amino acids are leucine, isoleucine and valine. Branched chain amino acids are stored in the skeletal muscle and may be used for energy during prolonged exercise when glycogen storage levels are depleted. In addition, it is thought that branched chain amino acids may counter-act tryptophan, another amino acid that has been linked to mental fatigue. Theoretically, high levels of branched chain amino acids will delay fatigue during prolonged exercise.

Carnitine

Carnitine functions in the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria of cells to be used for energy. Claimed benefits of carnitine supplementation include decreased muscle pain and an improvement in endurance and strength. According to Marie Dunford PhD, RD, and Michael Smith, RD, studies on the effectiveness of carnitine supplementation are mixed, and more studies are needed on its effectiveness in athletic performance.