Supplements Assignment Help.
Instructions:
Pick five supplements currently on the market. Find research based on the supplements and the ingredients. What were the results or findings of the studies? Were the studies funded by the supplement company? Is this a supplement backed by creditable science? If not, why do you think that so many people are currently using it?
Solution
Supplements Assignment Help.
According to history, seeking of ergogenic supplements dates back to 776 BC. In the early days, substances like strychnine and dried figs were used. Though many people used these supplements to improve physical performance, there was no scientific evidence behind their significance. Currently, despite scientific advancement, people still excessively use nutritional supplements for physical performance without any biological or scientific evidence. Nutrition is believed to be an important component of physical performance and fitness. These nutritional supplements are mostly used by athletes and practitioners of physical exercises. Globally, supplement use is estimated to range between 40% and 80%, with USA having over 30,000 supplements.
Several studies have been carried out on various supplements used by physical exercise practitioners. Some of the supplements studied include whey protein, creatine, prohormones, blends, thermogenics, vitamins etc. For instance, Zimmermann (2003) studied use of vitamin and minerals as supplements for physical exercise practitioners. To him, exercises lead to production of radicles that lack oxygen. He believes this can cause liquid peroxidation if the antioxidant defense system is overwhelmed. This can in turn impair enzymes or cause muscle injury or oxidative damage. Excessive exercises can cause vitamin E deficiency thus causing oxidative damage. Therefore vitamin E supplements reduce oxidative stress and muscle soreness in some people. Though, according to the study, vitamins can be used in physical fitness, there is still no scientific prove that they are beneficial in physical performance.
Although
supplements are being used by many physical fitness practitioners, especially
those that visit gymnasiums, they have some side effects. Several studies have
been carried out to determine their prevalence and side effects. For instance, Silva
et al (2014) carried out a study to determine supplementation prevalence and
their side effects on consumers. A sample of 180 practitioners of physical
exercises were chosen. The supplements used in the study included proteins,
thermogenics, carbohydrates, creatine, blends and prohormones. According to the
results, the prevalence rate of supplementation is 58.3%. Some of the effects
associated with supplement users included acne, insomnia, headaches,
aggressiveness, hepatic dysfunction and hypertension among others. Some
physical exercise practitioners even end up impotent. One important observation
was that most of them used supplements without nutritionist’s advice or
orientation. This shows that there is still no scientific evidence despite
their excessive use.
References
Silva, W., V., Silva, M., I., A., G., Toscano, L., T., & Oliveira, K., H., D. (2014). Supplementation prevalence and adverse effects in physical exercise practitioners. Nutrition Hospital, 29 (1), 158 – 165.
Zimmermann, M., B. (2003). Vitamin and mineral supplementation and exercise performance. Schweizerische Zeitschrift für, 51 (1) , 53 – 57.