There’s just one problem. Not all fitness supplements are safe. Because the supplements industry is largely unregulated, the testimonials, marketing, advertising and claims can fulfill whatever fantasies the manufacturer can concoct.
There’s also danger attached to taking something that will allegedly enhance performance. Substances like anabolic steroids, androstenedione, erythropoietin, diuretics, creatine, human growth hormone and stimulants all have medical uses. But taking them outside of a controlled environment for non-medical purposes can have long-term negative health consequences.
Here are a few performance-enhancing drugs and their uses.
Getting an Edge with Steroids
One of the most popular athletic performance enhancers, steroids come in two types: anabolic steroids, used for muscle building, and androgenic-androgen steroids, which help to increase muscle mass and strength. The main anabolic steroid hormone is testosterone, the same substance that boosts such male traits as a deeper voice or facial hair growth.
Athletes who take steroids are usually looking for an edge in strength, endurance and recovery times. Some take natural testosterone, while others use its synthetic cousins. The hormones are usually available as pills, creams or are injected directly into the bloodstream.
While the steroids do deliver on the promise of muscle mass, they also come with side effects. The testicles may shrink and fertility may be affected; the user may become super-aggressive and anger easily, a consequence sometimes referred to as “’roid rage;” prominent breasts may develop in men; impotence may occur; prostate glands may enlarge; and hair may fall out, resulting in baldness. In women, the steroid may make her take on more male qualities, including increased body hair, a deeper voice, an enlarged clitoris, hair loss and infrequent periods.
In both men and women, steroids may cause severe cases of acne, liver problems, an increased possibility of ruptured tendons or tendonitis; increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) and decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein (the good cholesterol); high blood pressure; heart problems; psychiatric disorders, including depression; insomnia; infections like hepatitis or HIV if injecting the drugs; and inhibited growth and development.
Because long-term studies of these drugs have not yet been completed, the problems they create are still largely a matter of observation. The other factor to consider is that most professional sports organizations have banned taking performance-enhancing drugs, and law enforcement is increasingly cracking down on their distribution and manufacture. That is a double-edged sword -- what’s increasingly available via black markets may be impure or sub-standard.
Androstenedione
Anyone who follows professional baseball will remember how St. Louis Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire kept a container of this powdered hormone in his locker. Although the use wasn’t banned, it raised issues about McGwire’s home-run prowess, resulting in his shunning by the establishment and a subsequent ban of androstenedione by baseball.
The adrenal glands, testes and ovaries naturally produce the hormone. It’s normally converted to testosterone and estradiol in women and men. It’s touted as a way athletes can train harder and recover faster, a key factor in competitive sports. It is now illegal in the United States, and some studies claim that androstenedione does not boost performance or increase testosterone.
Men who take it have diminished sperm production, problems with acne, shrunken testicles and breast enlargement. Women get acne and become more masculine, getting male pattern baldness and a deeper voice. Both sexes have an increase in bad cholesterol and a decrease in good cholesterol levels.
Human Growth Hormone
An increasingly popular alternative to steroids, human growth hormone (HGH) is a hormone that improves muscle mass and performance. Sometimes referred to as gonadotropin, it is usually taken by injection and available only with a doctor’s prescription.
One of the major side effects of the drug is enlargement of body parts that normally don’t expand. Many major league baseball players who used the drug before it was outlawed by the sport grew larger jaws and foreheads, telltale signs of HGH use.
Among the problems associated with human growth hormone are joint pains, fluid retention, carpal tunnel syndrome, impaired glucose regulation, vision problems, enlarged heart, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. There also may be muscle weakness on occasion.
Erythropoietin
This is a hormone that people with kidney disease use to ward off severe anemia. It increases red blood cells and the production of hemoglobin, which eases oxygen transferal to the muscles. Epotein, which is synthetic erythropoietin, is used by endurance athletes who must endure long treks or runs. Competitive bicyclists were big users of the hormone in the 1990s, before testing for it began. Overuse of the product can lead to heart attack, strokes or pulmonary embolisms.
Creatine
Used as a nutritional supplement rather than a performance enhancer, creatine is available in powder or pill form. The most popular version is creatine monohydrate.
Creatine is a natural compound produced in the body that helps muscles unleash stored energy. Research shows it leads to short-term bursts of power, ideal for sprinters or weightlifters. It does this by helping the body create more adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The liver normally produces two grams of creatine each day, and meat-eaters get a healthy dose of it in their diets.
Because creatine is stored in the muscles, it’s easy to reach certain levels of it. But it’s also easy for the kidneys to flush it, making its value questionable. Some research indicates it provides little to no benefit.
Side effects of creatine use include muscle cramps, weight gain and stomach cramps. In addition, using creatine may damage the liver and kidneys. While there are no studies yet on its long-term effects, it is still sold freely on store counters.
Whatever supplement or performance enhancer is used, keep in mind that changing the body’s chemistry always carries some risks. Talk to a doctor or licensed trainer before starting any hormone or drug regimen to determine safe levels. Many athletes cycle the treatments to preserve health.