Chapter 16

1. Chapter 16 Ergogenic Aids for Fitness and Athletics

2. Key Concepts

3. amphetamine anabolic steroids androstenedione beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) blood doping caffeine creatine creatine loading • dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) • ergogenic aids • erythropoietin • glycogen supercompensation • prohormones • pyruvate • sodium bicarbonate

4. Review Questions

5. How do ergogenic aids function? • By improving the capacity of the muscles and/or the oxygen transport and utilization systems to do work • By removing or reducing inhibitory mechanisms to allow the use of previously untapped reserves

6. Restlessness Tremor Irritability Confusion Psychotic behavior Vomiting Diarrhea Abdominal cramps Headaches Elevated heart rate Hypertension Severe weight loss Hallucinations Paranoia What are some side-effects of amphetamine use?

7. How much caffeine is allowable under IOC regulations? The IOC allows concentrations of caffeine in urine up to 12 micrograms per milliliter. Six to eight cups of coffee could exceed the legal limit.

8. Why do laboratory studies of anabolic steroid use show almost no effect on strength or weight, yet athletes claim otherwise? Athletes report taking doses that are 10 to 100 times those used therapeutically. At these levels, there’s no doubt that steroids increase muscle mass and strength.

9. What should coaches look for as indicators of possible steroid use? Large, rapid increases in body weight and muscle mass

10. How does growth hormone work to increase muscle mass? It works directly by increasing amino acid transport and protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and indirectly by stimulating the production of insulin-like growth factor.

11. How does bicarbonate loading affect athletic performance? Sodium bicarbonate reduces the fatigue-causing effects of lactic acid buildup during moderate to high-intensity physical activity.

12. What are some of the effects of creatine supplementation? • Improved anaerobic capabilities • Improved body composition • Improved muscular strength • Increased body weight • Increased fat-free weight • Increased muscle mass

13. Name some ergogenic aids that have been banned by the IOC. • Amphetamines • Caffeine (over 12 micrograms/mL) • Anabolic steroids • Androstenedione • DHEA • Growth hormone • Blood doping • Erythropoietin

14. Describe the makeup of Sherman’s modified carbohydrate loading diet. 50 percent carbohydrate for the first three days and 70 percent for the last three.

15. Aid Anecdotal effect Research-proven effect Major side-effects Banned Amphetamines Improve swimming, running, weight throwing performance, reaction time, and balance Conflicting results Restlessness, elevated heart rate, hypertension, weight loss, psychotic behavior, hallucinations Y Caffeine Improves endurance Improve endurance in cycling, running, and swimming Irritability, restlessness, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety, heart arrhythmias, dehydration, stomach upset N (up to 12 micrograms/mL) Anabolic steroids Increase strength, muscle mass, body weight, red blood cells Modest effect on strength and body weight, probably due to low clinical doses Liver dysfunction, liver cancer, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, prostate cancer, depressed immune function Y Growth hormone Increases muscle size and strength, improves performance Little evidence available Enlarged heart, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis Y Sodium bicarbonate Reduces lactic acid buildup that causes fatigue Increases performance in sprint running, swimming, rowing, activities that rely heavily on anaerobic glycolysis for ATP production Gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea. Excessive doses: heart arrhythmias, cardiac arrest N Creatine Delays onset of fatigue Increases strength, delays onset of fatigue, increases body weight, fat-free weight, and muscle mass No evidence to indicate health risks N

16. Aid Anecdotal effect Research-proven effect Major side-effects Banned Pyruvate Improves performance in endurance activities, weight loss, lowers cholesterol High doses improve submaximal endurance performance High doses: Gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea N HMB Increases muscle mass and strength and decreases fat weight Increases isometric strength, concentric and eccentric isokinetic peak torque, and fat-free weight More research needed N Phosphate loading Enhances endurance performance Conflicting results None reported N Blood doping Enhances endurance performance Enhances endurance performance None reported Y Erythropoietin Enhances endurance performance Enhances endurance performance Elevated blood pressure, flu-like symptoms, possible heart attack, stroke, pulmonary edema Y Carbohydrate loading Enhances endurance performance Enhances endurance performance None N

17. Useful Websites

18. The Physician and Sports Medicine: Ergogenic Aids www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1997/04apr/eichner.htm NIDA Research Report—Steroid Abuse and Addiction www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Steroids/ AnabolicSteroids.html Creatine Supplementation www.rice.edu/~jenky/sports/creatine.html Sports Science Creatine Review www.sportsci.org/traintech/creatine/rbk.html NCAA Drug Testing www.ncaa.org/sports_sciences/drugtesting/