Safety aspects of dietary supplements in sports

Peer-reviewed / reviewed during preparation

Safety aspects of dietary supplements in sports

Introduction

There is widespread use of dietary supplements¹ (DS) in sports. The advertising messages of these products are diverse. Athletes use them with the intention of improving their general state of health and immune function, for disease prevention, improved regeneration, increased performance capacity or to improve a diet that is considered imbalanced, among other things [1, 2].

There is relatively reliable information about the use of supplements in athletic sports from an evaluation of doping control sheets that were compiled for adolescent and adult athletes from 2003–2008 during world championships and on other occasions. In 66% of these cases, the consumption of a DS during the last seven days was confirmed. In that time period, adult athletes had taken supplements from 1.7 different supplement substance categories² on average. Thirty percent of the control sheets (in all age groups) indicated the intake of more than two supplement categories and, in individual cases, up to 24 supplements from 11 supplement categories [3].

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¹ In European food legislation “dietary supplements” are termed “food supplements”, however, against the background that the term “dietary supplement” is more established in worldwide scientific literature and colloquial language, the term “dietary supplement” and its abbreviation “DS” is used in this publication.
² amino acids, vitamins, minerals, creatine, caffeine, herbal supplements (botanicals), other substances

Abstract

This position paper deals with safety aspects of the use of dietary supplements (DS) in sports. DS are legally classified as foodstuffs and may contain vitamins, minerals and other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect. In the case of other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect, it is currently not specifically regulated, with a few exceptions, which individual substances may be added, provided the products are still classified as foods. DS are offered in a wide variety and can be purchased worldwide via the internet. In Germany, they are only subject to a notification requirement before being launched on the market; they are not subject to safety assessment by state authorities. The manufacturers/distributors of the DS are responsible for their safety and for ensuring that consumers are not misled by the product presentation and promotion. For athletes, a balanced diet that is adapted to their needs is a basic requirement and one of the preconditions for good athletic performance. DS are no replacement for a balanced diet. In sports, the use of DS or products that contain micronutrients and other substances with a nutritional or physiological effect should not be conducted uncritically. Possible risks, such as an unintentional violation of anti-doping regulations or potential health risks should be considered.

Keywords: dietary supplements, safety, doping risk, health risks, sports nutrition, supplements

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References