Supplements and the young athlete
All athletes undertake a training program with the ultimate aim of improving their performance. Gaining that extra bit of speed, strength/power to complement their skill set could make all the difference when competing. As a result, athletes are willing to trying anything (legally) that will give them this extra edge, and many will consider the use of supplements. This is an area that has been much debated over the years and opinion on use and effectiveness is particularly varied when it comes to supplements in youth sports.
According to the article on Kidshealth.org sports supplements are defined as follows:
Sports supplements (also called ergogenic aids) are products used to enhance athletic performance that may include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, or botanicals (plants) — or any concentration, extract, or combination of these
Why do young athletes use supplements?
There are a variety of reasons as to why young athletes turn to supplements and the main ones are outlined by Jill Anne McDowall in Supplement use by Young Athletes and include:-
- growth (48%)
- illness prevention (44%)
- illness treatment (37%)
- enhanced performance (31%)
- tiredness (28%) and
- muscle development (28%)
What are the advantages?
Young athletes often turn to supplements thinking that they can improve their performance through their use. There can be advantages in using supplements for young athletes but the general consensus is that you should look for optimum health and performance by focusing on the basics: hydration, proper nutrition, training, strength & conditioning, and rest and recovery. Some of the advantages of supplementing in your diet include:-
Nutrition
Youth athletes who can optimize nutrition are the ones who experience the best performances while also reaching their full growth potential. Supplementation can be a safe and effective way to fill potential gaps in the diet.
Growth potential
The body also requires vitamins and minerals to fulfill its growth potential. Unfortunately, the average youth diet is unbalanced and deficient in nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables that supply key nutrients like vitamins A and C, folic acid, magnesium, and potassium. Supplements can be used to make up the deficit but the preference is to look at your overall nutrition and make amendments through your diet.
Cognitive development
Cognitive development and brain health are important for youth athletes, with the key facilitator being omega-3 fatty acids. These also help maintain the body’s normal inflammatory response to exercise, and again supplements can help make up a deficit.
Sports performance
The biggest impact on performance is hydration. Electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride are lost through sweat can be replaced by supplements, therefore maintaining fluid balance in the body.
What are the disadvantages?
It is important to remember that diet supplements are not tested and regulated to the same degree as prescription drug products. There are often problems with safety, contamination, and quality. Like everything in their training program, athletes should ensure that if they choose to supplement, that it is the right one for their particular needs and that it is taken in the right quantity. The use of performance-enhancing substances and supplements are often of little benefit and can be dangerous.
Prevention of Natural Creatine Production
Amino acid creatine is included in many protein supplements, as it is believed to enhance athletic performance. However, one potential risk is that the supplementation of creatine will interfere with your body’s natural production of creatine, making the athlete reliant on creatine supplement.
Stomach Cramps
The most common form of protein in protein supplements is whey protein, which is derived from dairy products. In cases where the individual is unable to completely break down the lactose he/she ingests lactose intolerance can occur. One of the main side effects of this condition is stomach cramps.
High Blood Acidity
Overuse of protein supplements may lead to the risk of high blood acidity. In order to restore your blood to a normal pH, your body will release extra calcium into your blood. This calcium comes from your bones, and a lack of calcium may compromise bone strength, which is particularly dangerous for growing teenagers.
Kidney Stones
The calcium that your body uses to even out the pH level of your blood is eventually transported to your kidneys to await excretion through your urine. However, if there is too much calcium in your kidneys, it will collect and form kidney stones.
Get expert advice on what is best for you
In young athletes, nutritional needs are best met by a balanced diet, rather than with supplements. If you do decide to supplement here are some key questions you should ask yourself before you start:-
- Is the product legal (i.e. is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list?
- Is there a sound body of evidence with a physiologic basis for action that supports the claims made by the product?
- Are they specific to your training/competition needs?
- Are there any side-effects?
If in doubt, go to an expert and discuss the advantages and disadvantages with a dietitian who will be able to help identify your particular needs and which products are best suited.
What is Metrifit?
Metrifit provides a simple and effective method for athletes to record their well-being, stress, nutrition, sleep and training responses as part of its athlete monitoring package. Metrifit’s daily traffic light reports and dashboards indicate what issues athletes are having and who warrants a follow up. The analytics provided by Metrifit will also look for deviation from normal patterns at the individual level across many variables. To find out more about the Metrifit Ready to Perform product and gain insight on the physical and mental state of your athletes through our daily wellbeing questionnaire contact us at .
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References
Sports Supplements | kidshealth.org
Supplement use by Young Athletes by Jill Anne McDowall
WADA List of Prohibited Substances and Methods
Performance-Enhancing Supplements: Information for Parents