Do bodybuilding supplements really work?
Do bodybuilding supplements really work? By Kevin Doberstein CFT Copyright protected 2005 Nature Boy Bodybuilding
The bodybuilding supplement industry is a multi-million dollar business. Most manufacturers can’t back up the claims made for their magic bodybuilding supplements. Sometimes taking supplements can be harmful. Especially young athletes with no guidance.
Webmasters: if you use this article you must make sure all URL links are working. You must abide by the rules of Goarticles if you use this article. If you can’t use this article without following the bylaws of Goarticles, don’t use it.
Article: Bodybuilders and others that are in interested in fitness activities buy hundreds of millions of dollars of supplements yearly. All too hopefully gain muscle mass, power, and strength.
The truth is there isn’t much for scientific evidence supporting the manufacturer’s claim. In 1994 the US congress passed the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. It defines any product that contains vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or herbs in any single or combination is considered a dietary supplement. If considered a dietary supplement there isn’t much for regulation.
Taking this into consideration, manufacturers make bold claims that their products are the next super bodybuilding supplements. In a study conducted by a survey of 624 commercial bodybuilding supplements, there were over 800 claims to promise muscle-building results. Supplements included were amino acids, boron, carnitine, choline, chromium, dibencozide, ferulic acid, gamma oryzanol, MCT, weight gain powders and other muscle building supplements. Many of the claims were not supported by research. There were also many false claims of promised muscle building results from using the supplements. (Grunewald)
There can even be a point that taking the wrong supplements can be dangerous to certain individuals. An example of this being in 1997 a female trainee was given the advice of taking Ephreda from her personal trainer. The trainer did not take the time to find out the client’s health conditions. It so happens she had high blood pressure and died from a stroke from using Ephreda. This supplement is now banned.
At the high school level coaches have been known to talk openly about taking muscle building supplements with high school athlete students. Most coaches don’t have the qualifications for giving out advice for supplementation practices. This should be for the family’s physician to give advice on taking supplements.
This doesn’t mean all bodybuilding supplements are harmful. Athletes from the ancient times have used Ergogenic aids. (Applegate) All supplements that actually work have a time and place in the training effect.
Protein is the most common ergogenic used today. During the early days of protein powder it was made with casein and very hard to choke down. York Barbell Company made the horrid tasting protein powder. Now you can buy whey protein. It mixes incredibly well and doesn’t taste all that awful. Also today’s protein is much more defined with amino acid breakdown, protein synthesis, and how the hormone regulation is effected from protein supplementation.
I personally research a lot of compilations of supplement studies that were done and this is what I base my articles and books that I write. I have learned to trust the names of certain reputable researchers for their non-bias reporting, there is a lot of supplement companies that sell bogus products just to take the money and run.
In all reality supplements don’t play a large part of a successful bodybuilding career. Using a sound nutrition plan with a bodybuilding-training program that focuses on periodization cycles with enough recovery time should be the main staple. It takes years to become an accomplished natural bodybuilder. Some magic supplements are not going to get you there any faster.
Please do your research before buying the next “greatest bodybuilding supplement”.
About the author Kevin Doberstein is a Certified Fitness Trainer living in northern WI. He has been a natural bodybuilder for 25 years. For more articles about bodybuilding supplements check out his web site. Nature Boy, Your Natural Bodybuilding web source.
References:
Grunewald KK, Baily RS 1993 Commercially marketed supplements for bodybuilding athletes. Applegate EA, Grivetti LE 1997 Search for the Competitive Edge.