“Americans think they are improving their health when in truth they are poisoning their bodies with dangerous substances that may lead to grave health consequences, such as liver injury, stroke, kidney failure and pulmonary embolism.”
Travis T. Tygart, CEO,
U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
“These unscrupulous supplement manufacturers intentionally exploit loopholes in the federal regulations by selling product containing drugs and marketing it as ‘safe’ and ‘legal.’ Congress needs to act now to close these loopholes.”
Robert D. Manfred, Jr.,
Executive Vice President for Labor Relations, Major League Baseball
Understanding Dietary Supplements with our partner: NSF International
Student athletes are understandably concerned about performing their best. While many may want to take nutritional supplements, it’s a smart idea to do your homework before starting or combining any new supplements.
Does it really matter which supplement you buy? Absolutely – it matters! Individuals who use supplements and participate in organized sports at any level usually have special concerns regarding the potential for the presence of banned substances. Many reports have been published about athletes who took over-the-counter supplements, only to find out later that the products contained a substance not allowed by their sport.
While reading labels is important, it doesn’t always provide a complete picture of a product’s contents. It’s important to do your research before you buy any supplements. Here are a few tips to help:
- Learn the risks. Some supplements may contain banned substances that can potentially disqualify students from competitions. Supplements may also contain unhealthy ingredients.
Student athletes especially should avoid supplements that could affect their hormones. In general, they should not take products that increase testosterone or growth hormone levels, which are already high in most teens.
Teens should also watch out for products containing caffeine, ephedra or synephrine, as these stimulants can lead to restlessness, anxiety, racing heart or an irregular heart beat. Mixing supplements or taking them at a higher than recommended dose can also cause problems.
- Choose certified products. Even reading a label thoroughly may not provide all the information you need as most dietary supplements are not tested before they are sold to consumers. Third-party certification programs can help confirm that the product contains the ingredients and quantities shown on the label without containing unlisted ingredients or potentially harmful levels of impurities. Look out for the blue NSF mark.
Testing under the NSF Certified for Sport® program helps confirm the product does not contain substances banned by many major athletic organizations, including Major League Baseball (MLB), National Football League (NFL), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sports (CCES).
- Talk to your health care provider. Before taking any supplement, discuss it with your health care provider. They need to know how a substance works and if there might be any interaction between any of the supplements they are taking.
Understanding a Dietary Supplement Label Nowadays, there is a lot of information displayed on the labels of dietary supplements. It’s important you look out for key information, to help you make the right choice about the supplements you buy. NSF is here to help you decipher a label. Take a look at this Sport Supplement label to better understand what each section means. We’ve tried to highlight the most important facts to watch out for.
Student athletes have to consider what is at stake when choosing a dietary supplement, especially with the history of adulteration and contamination that has been reported. At the end of the day, the only person who is responsible for taking a product is the person who ingests it.
For additional information about sports supplements, visit the NSF Certified for Sport® Web site or contact the NSF Consumer Affairs Office at info@nsf.org.
NSF Certified for Sport ® – an introduction
NSF’s Certified for Sport® Program helps athletes at professional and collegiate level, coaches and trainers make more informed decisions when choosing sports supplements. The program is recognized by NFL, NFLPA, MLB, MLBPA, PGA, LPGA, NCAA and CCES.
It has been designed for participating manufacturers and their products that include product testing for +165 banned substances, label content confirmation, formulation and label review, production facility and supplier inspections, as well as ongoing monitoring in line with substance prohibitive lists: NSF Annex A, NFL, MLB and NCAA.
How does NSF certify sports supplements through the NSF Certified for Sport® Program? Manufacturers have to follow 5 steps to become certified:
- Application
- Formulation
- Label
- Ingredient suppliers information
- Manufacturing facilities information
- Toxicology Review
- Label and formulation review and comparison
- Ingredient review
- Determine product testing
- Facility Inspection
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) audits of production facilities and review that no banned substances are stored or manufactured at the facility
- Observations of in-house laboratories
- Sourcing and traceability procedures
- Schedule of ingredient supplier audits based on number of suppliers
- Annual Laboratory Testing/Analysis
- Microbiological
- Heavy metals
- Pesticides/herbicides
- Label content verification
- Disintegration
- Banned substances testing based on number of lots
- Product Certification/Listing
- Monitor control formulation/ingredient supplier changes
- Marketplace sampling
- Finding safer supplements easier
Want to find NSF Certified for Sport® products that are free of banned substances and contaminants?
It’s simple. NSF’s new NSF Sport App makes finding safer, certified dietary supplements and sports nutrition products easier.
Download the free NSF Sport App: iPhone | Android or use this QR code now
Videos about supplements (must watch):
Warning on Body Building Products (video)
Jareem Hunter: Hear my story
American Roulette: Dr. Pieter Cohen
