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Supplements: help, harm, or hype? How to approach athletes.
1University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA. boncilj@upmc.edu
Current Sports Medicine Reports
|July 9, 2009
Summary
Athletes often use supplements for performance enhancement, but health professionals must carefully assess usage to protect athlete well-being and prevent adverse health effects. Understanding supplement intake is crucial for athlete safety.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Nutritional Science
- Athletic Training
Background:
- Athletes frequently use dietary supplements to enhance performance.
- Supplement availability and appeal are high due to perceived quick results.
- Athlete supplement use poses significant challenges for healthcare professionals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the challenges healthcare professionals face regarding athlete supplement use.
- To emphasize the need to balance performance optimization with athlete health protection.
- To underscore the importance of inquiring about athlete supplement regimens.
Main Methods:
- Clinical assessment of athletes' supplement intake.
- Patient history taking focusing on supplement type, dosage, and frequency.
- Risk-benefit analysis of supplement use in athletic populations.
Main Results:
- Supplement use is common among athletes seeking performance gains.
- Misguided supplement use can exacerbate underlying health issues.
- Direct questioning about supplement use is essential for risk identification.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals must proactively address athlete supplement use.
- Inquiring about 'what, how much, and how often' is critical for athlete health.
- The ultimate goal is to support athletes in striving, thriving, and staying alive through safe practices.
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