Supplements intertwine with the bodybuilding lifestyle as much as training and diet do. The topic of bodybuilding supplementation invites examination and debate across multiple parameters including safety and effectiveness. Despite a sometimes disingenuous reputation, the bodybuilding supplement industry thrives, with new brands and products coming to market each year to cash in.
History
In the industry's infancy, supplements tended to be from whole food sources and accomplished the goal of muscle gain simply by providing extraordinarily high servings of calories. In the early '90s, it was not uncommon to see 1,000 calorie or more weight-gain shakes. Most protein powders were made from milk egg or beef protein and had a reputation of poor taste. Steroid use, although rampant, was in secret, with no reference to it in supplement ads. As bodybuilders' physiques became more extreme, steroid use became more obvious, and supplement companies needed to find products that would produce more dramatic, drug-like effects to keep up. Today's supplements can produce dramatic, drug-like improvements in muscle mass and fat loss.
Types
Supplements provide for every phase of a bodybuilder's training. Creatine, amino acids and protein help build muscle mass. Ephedrine and caffeine are central nervous system stimulants that provide energy and aid fat burning. DHEA and androstenedione replicate the effects of steroids by increasing testosterone production.
Importance
Most recreational and virtually all elite competitive bodybuilders use supplements in one form or another to augment their nutritional programs. Supplements allow bodybuilders to make sure they are getting the nutrients they need without unwanted calories. Some natural compounds such as creatine are not attainable in the diet without eating impossible amounts of food.
Legality
From time to time, legislation attempts to ban the sale of specific supplements due to either their risk or chemical similarities to illegal drugs. Ephedra and androstenedione are once popular supplements that are currently banned from over-the-counter sale. Ephedra has been linked to several athletes, including Vikings football player Korey Stringer, who died of heat stroke in 2001. Androstenedione was found to be too close in chemical make-up to steroids.
Warning
Do not take bodybuilding supplements without first speaking to a physician. Some supplements may have a dramatic effect on metabolism, heart function and body weight. It's important to think of supplements as drugs and taking them unsupervised as self-medication.
References
- "The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding;" Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bill Dobbins; 1999
- "The Metabolic Diet;" Mauro Di Pasquale M.D.; 2000
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