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Commercially marketed supplements for bodybuilding athletes
1Department of Foods and Nutrition, Kansas State University, Manhattan.
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|February 1, 1993
Summary
Many bodybuilding supplements make performance claims unsupported by scientific evidence. Further research is needed to validate supplement effectiveness and safety for athletes.
Area of Science:
- Sports Nutrition
- Dietary Supplements
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Bodybuilding athletes frequently use dietary supplements to enhance performance.
- A wide array of supplements are commercially available, making numerous performance claims.
- The scientific validity of these claims is often unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey commercially available bodybuilding supplements and their performance claims.
- To assess the scientific evidence supporting these performance claims.
- To identify research gaps regarding supplement efficacy and safety in bodybuilding.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 624 commercially available supplements marketed to bodybuilders.
- Cataloged over 800 distinct performance-related claims.
- Reviewed existing scientific literature to validate claims.
Main Results:
- A significant number of performance claims lacked supporting published research.
- Some claims were based on extrapolated findings or misinterpretations of biological functions.
- Evidence for enhancing hormonal activity was a basis for some unsubstantiated claims.
Conclusions:
- Many bodybuilding supplement claims are not substantiated by current scientific research.
- Further rigorous research is essential to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of these supplements.
- Understanding the specific nutritional needs of bodybuilding athletes requires more investigation.
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