Are Supplements necessary for my student-athlete?
Author: Pamela Rand
Food is the ideal source of vitamins and minerals. No scientific evidence supports the general use of nutritional supplements for improved athletic performance in school-aged children. All nutrients can easily be obtained by eating a variety of foods on a regular basis. A multivitamin and mineral supplement containing 100% of the RDA may be used as a safety net for children who don’t generally get a variety of foods in their diets. There is no scientific evidence that taking a vitamin or mineral supplement will improve athletic performance unless a prior deficiency exists.
It is best to provide your student athlete with a variety of wholesome foods for optimum mental and physical health. Highly processed foods like fast foods or pre-prepared snacks and meals contribute calories for energy but usually fail in the fiber and micronutrient arenas. The food guide pyramid may be used as a tool in planning your student-athlete’s daily diet. Older student-athletes, coaches and parents are frequently bombarded with sensational information suggesting that dietary supplements, also referred to as nutritional ergogenic aids, will improve performance above and beyond normal. Creatine is currently a very popular ergogenic aid, especially in the gym. The available studies report conflicting information regarding improved performance. Furthermore, the studies are only on adults and lasting for 12 weeks or less. Student-athletes are not fully grown and may very well be jeopardizing their long-term health for less than questionable results.
Amino acid supplements are another supplement that is not recommended due to the increased potential for dehydration. Muscles need to be adequately hydrated for optimum strength, endurance and coordination. Being dehydrated carries a life threatening risk of heat stroke. Androstenedione is another ergogenic aid that manufacturers claim to be safe, however, there is absolutely no objective data to support this claim.
Supplement companies do not have to prove the safety or effectiveness of any product before it reaches the open market. Words like natural and safe may lead people to believe that the product will not carry any health risks. The supplement industry is not regulated by any government agency at this time. Many athletic agencies such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association(NCAA) and the International Olympic Committee(IOC) ban the use of ergogenic aids and may disqualify an athlete if they test positive for something as readily available as cold medicine, which contains caffeine.
Discussion of supplement use with athletes, coaches and parents can be very confusing and emotional due to the immediate need for the best possible athletic performance. Energy, protein and vitamin-mineral needs are most safely achieved through a complete whole foods diet. At this time the risk of using ergogenic aids for the school-aged child far outweighs the possible benefits.
