CARIBBEAN TODAY -usw^caribbeantodj..c. 11 6 n t T 91 Supplements: Can they boost athletic performance? DR. HOWARD LEWINE There are over 100 com- pounds advertised to be supplemental rg,, gL iK aids", substances you eat that improve your use of energy, increase energy production, or shorten the time needed to recover from exercise. Of these, only a few actu- ally have any evidence to sup- port their use as performance enhancers. But many are known to be dangerous or potentially harmful. Previously, I discussed the ergogenic qualities of vitamins and minerals, amino acids and proteins, and caffeine. Used appropriately in moderate amounts, they are generally safe. And some of them can boost athletic performance, especially the vitamins and minerals when an athlete is not getting sufficient amounts from a balanced diet. Most other supplements do not have a dietary origin, and in fact act like drugs. But unlike control over prescrip- tion medications, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have the same regulatory control over supplements. EPHEDRA (Ma Huang) - Ephedra and related com- pounds, such as phenyl- propanolamine, ephedrine, epinephrine and phenyle- phrine don't enhance athletic performance nor do they pro- vide any nutritional benefit. Ephedra-like substances stimulate the nervous system, increase heart rate and blood pressure, and speed up the metabolism. They are consid- ered illegal substances by the (International Olympic Committee) IOC and National Collegiate Athletic Committee. Ephedra was banned by the FDA in Dec. 2003. Athletes have died from taking amphetamine-like sub- stances. Drugs related to ephedra are used in asthma treatment, but even if prescribed can dis- qualify an athlete. Athletes with asthma competing at the highest levels need to inform the sports association of the Supplements medications they are taking. The athletes must be certain that none of their medications, including inhalers, is on the list of banned substances. Many of the over-the-counter asthma sprays contain banned substances. If you have asthma but exercise non-competitively, good control of the condition with medications means more enjoyment of exercise and better performance. ANDRO Despite the claims, "andro" (short for androstene- dione) doesn't build muscle mass or enhance athletic per- formance. It may boost testos- terone levels a bit, but most of w~wbrowarcLEdu/purchasing/bkki or aContact 954-201-7455 BMX strwmngly encourages portiripatio by mirnndryairvnd wmnen. nimmd nsiness ewnerpri~eu QdWRF frms ..mmh Donovan D. Taylor, M.D. IF Board Certified Fandly Phvekchn children uadults gynecology L .weight mniaagmeiue fPko~e callflior air trpp.Jinotrem (305)655-0712 NEW LEPKA1ION 'INI NW I KIrd Stet-M I-,r -011Wl J VA Dim .I!I- l m i ll*N H!'P.1-'ir~i1AIL the supplement is converted to the female hormone estrone, a form of estrogen. As an estrogen booster, andro can increase breast size (called gynecomastia). In addi- tion, the supplement increases heart-attack risk, lowers HDL (good) cholesterol, and pro- motes acne. Over the long term, it can increase the size of the prostate gland. The FDA recently sent letters to 23 com- panies requesting them to stop distributing supplements con- taining andro. Andro is a banned substance for competi- tion at the amateur level and also for many professional sports. DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) - DHEA is a naturally occur- ring steroid made primarily in the adrenal glands. DHEA tends to fall as we age, and one study showed that DHEA given to older men improved strength in some. This one piece of evi- dence has been wrongly applied to younger people, especially athletes. The reality is that DHEA isn't effective in improving athletic perform- ance or strength training. Side effects of DHEA are unknown. Because DHEA can be converted to testos- terone and estrogen, DHEA may result in problems similar to those of andro. In addition, researchers recently discov- ered that DHEA increases the blood level of a substance associated with prostate enlargement. COENZYME Q10 - Coenzyme Q10 (Co Q10) is one of the key enzymes that are essential to energy pro- duction inside the body's cells. Within each cell, Coenzyme Q10 resides in the mitochon- dria, the powerhouse of aero- bic metabolism. Since this is a natural energy booster inside all cells, it's easy to understand why people would be excited about a coenzyme Q10 supplement. But after many years of trying, scientists have been unable to show any performance- enhancing benefit when it is taken by mouth. Reports of side effects are rare. Dr. Howard LeWine is a member of the Harvard Medical School faculty and practicing internist with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. He serves as chief medical editor of Internet publishing at Harvard Health Publications. 2008 President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Media Services, Inc. 0 6300 W.AranTic BINA. -FMargaie. FL 33%63 *(954) 956-9500 Faris A. Hma NOa .., F.A.CQ.G, P.A. (Jcikvlig The WoW'k*I rinSomch loveji&i k4 t 11i44Ihtu-ce Pkase cil rar an mppolohmeiml -(305) 652-0040 11 50 North i5th Aveniie. Suite- 675 H-LilvwnnLI. Ferid.-i3 32 1 Dipilu.mute ArIMIriCini Board of C*sleirtr, a id 4;)iei~u&'% HEALTH BRIEFS Grim HIV/AIDS news for Caribbean Caribbean health officials claim that at least 31 people are dying daily in the Caribbean from the deadly HIV/AIDS virus. UNAIDS Director Karen Sealey, speaking at the launch of an HIV Epidemic and Response Synthesis in the Caribbean last month, said that the statistics also show that 47 persons had become infected with the virus on a daily basis last year. Figures show that at the end of 2007, an estimated 230,000 peo- ple were living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. Some 17,000 people were newly infected during 2007, and there were 11,000 deaths due to AIDS. In The Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago more than two percent of the adult population is living with HIV. New plan to tackle dia- betes in youth The Barbados government has unveiled a new plan to tackle the worrying Estwick trend of diabetes in young people here. According to Health Minister Dr. David Estwick, there has been an increase in diabetes in children and adolescents in recent times. He said that surveillance systems will be implemented in the poly- clinics across the country to report on the incidence of diabetes and other non-chronic diseases among young people. User fees removed from Jamaican hospitals Health Minister Ruddy Spencer says all is in place for the removal of user Spencer fees at Jamaica's public hospitals and clinics starting this month. Spencer told a news confer- ence late last month that some J$60 million ($845,172) had already been disbursed to regional health authorities to carry out immediate upgrading of some pub- lic health facilities and to purchase additional chairs, filing cabinets and tents to accommodate the pro- jected 30 percent increase in patients expected on April 1. The minister said it would cost the government J$3.85 billion ($54,231,921) to support the new policy. Compiled from CMC reports. - I CiENTLE F-W~IYETSR IAN C JONES D.D.S. * Prevenrtive Dentistry - Restorative & Caoimetic Dentistry , Crtowns..Bridges, Dentur-es , Oral Surgery & oant Canals , Bleachingotf Teeth April 2008