HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Supplements and their Risks
Supplements refer to any of the products sold as “ dietary or nutritional supplements ”, “ health supplements ”, or “ sports supplements ”.
Article courtesy South African institute for Drug Free Sport
What you need to know about supplements
• There ’ s an alarming increase in the number of supplements resulting in harmful side-effects ( medical problems and fatalities ) as well as positive drug tests in youth and adults alike ( locally and globally ).
• Proper scientific analysis of products often reveal the extent of false claims of efficacy , presence of harmful and / or banned substances not listed on the label or incorrect dosages ( see recent studies from South Africa , United Kingdom and Australia ).
• There is a lack of legislation and governance in the supplement industry locally and abroad – products can be advertised and sold with misleading claims , incorrect labeling , and lack of scientificgrade evidence of efficacy and safety .
Despite the marketing hype and product claims , the fact remains that the majority of supplements on the market have not been tested according to proper scientific and objective standards , and their claims of superiority , efficacy and safety cannot be guaranteed .
• Be aware that supplement manufacturers and retailers ( including pharmacies ) may indeed claim that their product is ‘ scientifically tested ’ or ‘ safe ’, but at closer inspection the evidence may be insufficient , irrelevant , misinterpreted , not applicable to youth , or in the worst , fabricated .
• Claims that the product is ‘ natural ’ or ‘ herbal ’ does not necessarily mean that it is harmless and cannot get you banned .
• Many herbal components can have potent harmful side-effects , can lead to harmful interactions with other herbals or medications , and / or lead to a failed drug test .
• Vitamins , minerals , anti-oxidants ( and other nutrients ) from supplements can more easily reach levels that exceed safety limits , which can cause negative health effects and block important training adaptations that will negatively affect your sporting performance . o Examples : Large doses of Vitamin C (> 2g / day ) have not only been shown to block important training
o
o adaptations and reduce performance , but also increase muscle damage and delay recovery ; Large doses of anti-oxidants can block some of the health-enhancing effects of exercise ; and have been linked to increased risk of certain cancers and a negative impact on cardiovascular health . Certain vitamins / minerals in excess can impair immune function ; limit the function ( and beneficial effects ) of others .
• Reliance on supplements shifts focus away from the more important and proven methods of achieving optimal performance and health .
Other common pitfalls to look out for
• Even supplements bought from a well-known company , store or pharmacy might contain harmful or banned substances .
• If banned or harmful substances aren ’ t listed on the product label then it doesn ’ t guarantee that the product is indeed ‘ clean ’ or harmless .
• The amount the product label says you should take could be excessive and with a ‘ more is better ’ mind-set one can reach toxic levels that could be harmful to your health and performance .
• If a well-known sportsperson claims to use specific supplements it does not mean that it is safe or that it will work for you too .
• Even apparently ‘ harmless ’ dietary supplements like vitamin and mineral supplements and protein shakes have been found to be contaminated with harmful and / or banned substances that are not declared on the label .
• Be aware of false claims like ‘ WADA ’ ( World Anti-Doping Agency ) or ‘ SAIDS ’ ( SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport ) ‘ approved ’. Due to the known / unknown risks involved , WADA , SAIDS or any other anti-doping agency would never approve or endorse supplements . We advise athletes to take great caution when using any type of supplement .
Think twice before blindly believing the clever marketing claims , and ask yourself whether the risks are worth the limited or lack of benefits ?
8 SA Schools Rowing Champs 2023