What Are Ergogenic Aids?
An ergogenic aid contains certain anabolic steroids or hormone supplements used by sports players and athletes to enhance energy production. Ergogenic aids can be broadly defined as any substance or method recommended by the health care provider to enhance performance in their fields. These ergogenic compounds may range from carbohydrate loading to even certain illicit and unsafe strategies adopted illegally by athletes, like anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and growth hormones that have legal repercussions and cannot be consumed unless the healthcare provider generates a prescription.
Ergogenic aids would be broadly classified as:
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Nutritional ergogenic aids.
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Pharmacological ergogenic aids.
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Physiological ergogenic aids.
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Psychological or nootropic aids.
What Are the Different Aids and Potential Concerns?
Sports players need to consume loads of water to stay constantly hydrated. However, apart from drinking water, there is a range of readily available modern-day sports nutrition supplements which have been advised, like energy drinks with an evidence-backed ergogenic effect. Such nutrition-based drinks are considered safe for healthy adult athletes, gym-goers, and bodybuilders. However, most ergogenic aids are associated with major side effects on systemic health, like abdominal bloating, weight gain, muscular fatigue, cramps, or even the development of a mild hypertension state. In addition, several reports of athletes developing renal failure, especially in individuals with underlying renal disease, have been reported. For instance, creatine encouraged general practitioners to avoid this substance and have also discouraged its use with caution in adolescent athletes. Also, one more disadvantage is that efficacy standards do not control the dietary supplements of ergogenic aids. For example, the Food and Drug Administration does not have legislative control over the content of the products or such aids sold in global markets. The concentration of the desired substance sold in sports nutrition markets also varies widely depending on the product. Athletes often consume them without consulting their healthcare provider, which can lead to systemic health being impacted by any unknown or potentially harmful ingredient mixed into these aids for the added effects.
Ergogenic aids range from diverse mechanical, nutritional, pharmacological, and physiological tools that enhance the athlete's physical energy, boost their field performance, and aid recovery.
Here are some examples of nutritional or pharmacological aids that are legal and can be sold over the counter but ideally needs to be prescribed by the sports nutritionist:
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Carbohydrate powder.
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Whey protein powder.
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Electrolytes.
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Creatine supplements.
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The anhydrous form of caffeine.
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Essential amino acids (EAAs), branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs).
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Beta-alanine.
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L-citrulline or malate.
The recent proliferation of energy drinks or even the current trend in using pre-workout powders before gymming has raised concerns about the impact of such aids on the central nervous system (CNS) because they may be addictive. The typical example of a CNS stimulant drug globally is caffeine which is usually well-tolerated in moderate doses (e.g., only two to five milligrams of caffeine can be tolerated per kg of individual body weight). However, at high doses (more than six milligrams per kg of body weight when consumed), caffeine can cause adverse effects of body shakiness or tremors, irritability, mood swings, and even heart palpitations, according to clinical research done in athletes and sports players.
Which Substances Have Been Banned?
Youth athletes should be aware of the potential side effects of such ergogenic aids. They should also be cautious about using these marketed supplements with potential ergogenic effects. When in doubt, it is always best to get a prescription from a licensed sports medical professional before considering such aids as dietary supplements to improve athletic performance. However, except for the nutritional or pharmacological ergogenic aids, the below-enlisted aids are named under controlled substances in the United States. These substances enlisted are also banned for public use by athletes who especially participate in Olympics competitions, events, or other sporting organizations. These banned substances are:
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Human growth hormone (HGH).
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Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).
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Pharmacologic aromatase inhibitors.
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Pharmacologic selective androgen receptor modulators.
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Erythropoietin.
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Amphetamine.
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Deca durabolin (nandrolone decanoate).
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Winstrol (stanozolol).
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Ephedrine.
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Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate).
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Trenbolone.
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Testosterone.
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Mesterolone.
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Oxandrolone.
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Oxymetholone.
Also, despite banning such ergogenic aids, they may still be legally sold as over-the-counter medications for boosting athletic performance.
What Is the Role of a Sports Nutritionist?
The awareness of consultation with sports medicine specialists is a prerequisite for every athlete participating in sports and Olympics competitions.
Sports nutritionists should not only be aware of the medical signs and symptoms associated with the use of ergogenic aids, but they should also be able to recognize potential ergogenic aid abuse in athletes. Sports nutritionists can also serve as ideal resources for spreading information and awareness about the pros and cons of why most ergogenic aids have been banned in athletic competitions and their potential repercussions on an individual’s physical and mental health.
Conclusion:
To conclude, in the field of sports, consistent sports-oriented physical training should be practiced with especially well-designed sport-specific diets by the nutritionist. These diets can also be supported alongside adequate fluids for constant hydration needed for these individuals, and the sports nutritionist can also recommend any additional vitamin and mineral supplements. There is a need for strict regulation of the use and abuse of all such substances consumed by sports players and athletes to prevent detrimental medical effects and avoid illegal usage of such aids in competitions and the Olympics.
