What about supplements?

Snake Oil

Many claims made for commercially marketed supplements for athletes and fitness participants are not supported by current research (Grunewald & Baily, 1993).

Many supplements may indeed “work” by means other than that advertised by the manufacturer:

• Placebo (Ariel & Saville, 1972; Reimers, 1999)
  • Statistically significant greater improvements were achieved with “sugar pills” when subjects were lead to believe supplements will work
• Natural improvement
  • Improvements achieved with exercise and normal diet
• Increased awareness of goals
  • Stimulus
    • Money spent for supplements
    • Ingestion regimen
    • Possible awareness of peers’ knowledge of supplements
  • Behaviors strengthened
    • Regular intense exercise
    • Improved diet
• Extra calories
  • If supplement provides calories
    • Improved performance or muscle mass
  • Regular food generally more economical

Authors note: ExRx does not necessarily condemn the use of nutritional supplements. Food supplements may be rationalized if a user otherwise feels it would be too difficult to plan and prepare certain snacks or nutritious meals. Supplements can be considered by those who perceive the convenience of supplements occasionally out weigh the benefits of natural foods and are willing to pay extra for this convenience. It is the author’s opinion that the advertisements of nutritional supplements are often inaccurate, or misleading and are obviously designed to increase sales of a marketed product.

Dr. Serrano’s Top Picks for Muscle/Weight Gain

• Food
  • Protein
  • Carbohydrates
  • Vitamins and Minerals
• Fish oils
• Flax seed oil
• Olive oil or monounsaturated fats
• Creatine
• Prohormones for females

Creatine

Creatine monohydrate is one of the few supplements supported by scientific evidence. Creatine monohydrate can increase strength, power, and muscular size (Stout, Eckerson, Housh, & Ebersole, 1999; Kirksey, et. al., 1999). Caffeine has been shown to counteract the ergogenic effects of creatine monohydrate (Vandenberghe, et. al., 1996). Carbohydrates (30-35 gm) ingested during creatine monohydrate have been shown to augment the these ergogenic effects (Stout, Eckerson, Housh, & Ebersole, 1999).

Amino Acids

The efficacy of certain amino acids appear to be supported by the scientific studies. Their benifits over pre- and post-workout meals consisting of whole foods remain unclear.

Newton RU, Dioguardi F (2003). The effects of amino acid supplementation on muscular performance during resistance training overreaching. J. Strength Cond Res. 17(2): 250-258.

Miller SL, Tipton KD, Chinkes DL, Wolf SE, Wolfe RR (2003). Independent and Combined Effects of Amino Acids and Glucose after Resistance Exercise.. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 35 (3), 449-455

Tipton KD, Ferrando AA, Phillips SM, Doyle D, Wolfe, RR (1999). Postexercise net protein synthesis in human muscle from orally administered amino acids. Am J Physiol, 276 (Endocrenol Metab 39): E628-E634.

Gianni B, Tipton KD, Klein S, Wolfe RR (1997). An abundant supply of amino acids enhances the metabolic effect of exercise on muscle protein. Am J Physiol, 273 (Endocrenol Metab 36).

HMB, or ß-Hydroxy ß-methylbutarate increased lean body weight and reduced fat in cattle. The effects of the HMB on muscle metabolism during weight training has been studied in humans (Nissen, 1996). A 200 lb male may take 3 grams of HMB.

Glutamine is an amino acid which can reduce the loss of muscle by blocking the receptor sites for cortisol. Glutamine has been used for burn victims. It has been proposed to be an essential amino acid during extreme stress.

GABA or Gamma-AminoButyrac Acid reportedly has caused reactions in some people requiring emergency hospitalization.

Glucosamine Sulfate may reverse certain degenerative joint problems in older adults. Other ingredients also found in some Glucosamine Sulfate supplements include: Glucosamine Chlorhydrate, Chondroitin Sulfate, and Glycosaminoglycans

Look for USP approval on vitamins that pass tests of quality, strength and purity. (RxTV: February 25, 1998)

If a multi-vitamin is to be used, ingredients should not contain significantly more than 100% of the RDA or DRI. Certain vitamins and minerals compete for the same carrier molecule into the cell. Also see micronutrients.

Vitamins and minerals can keep for 6 years or more when protected from the light, moisture, and heat. (The New York Public Library Desk Reference, 4th Ed, pg 501)