Content provided in partnership with

Muscle madness. . and athlete health - Fitness & Exercise - sports enhancers ergogenic aids

American Fitness, March-April, 2002

Sports enhancers or ergogenics, which include everything from steroids to hormones to over-the-counter supplements, can improve athletic performance and help muscles work more efficiently, but are the people taking them playing a dangerous game? Physicians at the University of Michigan Health System say there is no telling what long-term effects these powders and pills can cause. "Many of these [substances] have not been studied adequately. We don't have long-term studies on what they do to the body," explains Edward Wojtys, M.D., director of the U-M Health System's MedSport. However, a recent study found that when the body processes creatine it forms formaldehyde--a toxic substance that can damage everything from artery walls to muscle.

Most Popular Articles in Health: Fuel your workout: exercisers who eat before they work out have more energy ...; Soothe a dry, itchy scalp: 5 easy expert solutions; Cocktails and calories: Beer, wine and liquor calories can really add up. ...; The sour truth about apple cider vinegar - evaluation of therapeutic use; The, six best supplements you've never heard of: these secret weapons can ...; More »

Athletes taking steroids or growth hormones are at a greater risk. "Growth hormone is found in your body in limited amounts and [disrupting] that delicate balance is not a good idea. There are legitimate uses of growth hormone, but the potential side effects are concerning, therefore monitoring by a physician is [imperative]," says Wojtys.

Steroids, in addition to the well-publicized tendencies toward anger, cause altered hair growth throughout the body, acne, other cosmetic problems and a significant change in a person's voice. "Keep in mind that for males some of these side effects are reversible after short-term use, but in females, it's thought that most of these effects are not reversible," Wojtys says.

Liver and cardiovascular system complications may occur with long-term use. "You have to balance the risks versus the benefits. If you look at the risks of steroid use, it's unbelievable how dangerous it is. There's a lot that can be done to improve what you do naturally, such as eating natural foods," suggests Wojtys. "You can also find what types of workouts are best and how to get the most out of yourself. That's the safest way to do it."

For more information on ergogenics, visit the following Web sites:

* U-M Health Topics A to Z: Steroids www.med.umich.edu/1libr/subabuse/drugs20.htm

* U-M News Release: Muscles Now, Problems Later www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/perfen.htm

* U-M Health Topics A to Z: Does My Child Need Growth Hormone? www.med.umich.edu/1libr/child/growth02.htm

* U-M News Release: Human Growth Hormone Linked to Bone Quality in Mice www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/hgh.htm

* The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: Tips for Teens www.health.org/govpubs/phd726/

* The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information: Prevention Alert www.health.org/govpubs/prevalert/v3i27.htm

* National Institute on Drug Abuse Research Report: Anabolic Steroid Abuse 165.112.78.61/ResearchReports/Steroids/AnabolicSteroids.html

Muscle madness. . and athlete health - Fitness & Exercise - sports enhancers ergogenic aids

American Fitness, March-April, 2002

Find Research Guides for:

Find Featured Titles for: Home & Garden

Most Popular Articles in Health

Most Popular Publications in Health