supplements – SEMS-journal

antidoping sports and society doping supplements performance pharmacology

Ennuis judiciaires à cause de la DHEA

L’abréviation DHEA signifie déhydroépiandrostérone, un précurseur hormonal des hormones sexuelles masculines et féminines. La médecine dite «anti-âge» est à la mode et les cures d’hormones promettent une vie avec plus de plaisir et moins de troubles. De plus en plus de professionnelles de la santé recommandent la DHEA à leurs patients – souvent avec de lourdes conséquences!

elite sports sports medicine sports nutrition supplements muscle

25-OH-VitaminD3 level in elite sports: Impact on muscle damage and infections

Summary: Muscle damage as well as recurrent and serious infections especially to the end of the playing period in team sport or to the end of preparation for competition in endurance or single sport are the most common symptoms in elite sport demolishing optimal training results. Are VitaminD deficiency responsible for these symptoms in elite sport.

sports medicine preparticipation sports science monitoring supplements

Fluctuations in the results of ferritin analysis between six different medical laboratories

Introduction: Iron is an important factor of the energy balance and correlates with serum ferritin. For competitive athletes, ferritin measurements are regularly performed at certified medical laboratories. However, as a laboratory change happened, we questioned the validity of ferritin levels, since unusually high values were measured. The aim of this study is to compare the ferritin values of blood samples in six different laboratories and to evaluate the diagnosis of iron deficiency. Methods: Blood samples from 63 patients with suspected iron deficiency were sent to six laboratories for ferritin measurements.

sports medicine pharmacology sports nutrition supplements

Supplement use in Swiss wheelchair athletes

Supplement use in able-bodied athletes during major championships was reported to be around 80 to 90%. In contrast, the prevalence of supplement use in Paralympic athletes according to surveys from 2004 and 2012 was lower with around 40 to 58%. This study aimed to investigate the supplement use in Swiss wheelchair athletes. All Swiss wheelchair athletes were asked to complete a retrospective survey on supplement use during training and competition.

elite sports sports medicine supplements

Seasonal variation of vitamin D levels in Swiss athletes

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in world population and growing evidence shows that also athletes are affected. Vitamin D deficiency causes beside bone disorders, musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness and is associated with many other health disorders. For athletes in particular it may impair training and performance, prolong recovery and increase risk of injury. We therefore analyzed vitamin D levels in Swiss athletes focusing on prevalence according to age, gender, seasonal variations, indoor or outdoor sports, sunscreen use and vitamin D supplementation. Methods: This study was performed in a convenient sample of 655 Swiss Olympic athletes over one year.

antidoping elite sports performance sports medicine sports nutrition supplements

Iron Deficiency in sports – definition, influence on performance and therapy

Iron deficiency is frequent among athletes. All types of iron deficiency may affect physical performance and should be treated. The main mechanisms by which sport leads to iron deficiency are an increased iron demand, an elevated iron loss and a blockage of iron absorption due to hepcidin bursts. As a baseline set of blood tests, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular haemoglobin (MCH) and serum ferritin levels are the important parameters to monitor iron deficiency. In healthy male and female athletes >15 years, ferritin values <15µg/l are equivalent to empty, values from 15 to 30µg/l to low iron stores. Therefore a cut-off of 30µg/l is appropriate.

elite sports performance exercise physiology sports nutrition supplements sports science

Caffein bars pre time trial improve performance and reduce perceived effort

The intake of caffeine from tablets, coffee and energy drinks has shown to benefit endurance performance, whereas the effect of caffeine bars has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine endurance performance, metabolism and perceived exertion following the co-ingestion of caffeine and carbohydrates in the form of bars.