An intense obsession with quickly getting a lean, athletic body has driven young people to resort to protein products of unknown origin or composition, which may be unfit for use, manufactured with the aim of generating large profits through illegitimate means, with no regard for human health.
Unfortunately, the demand for sports dietary supplements has become a prominent phenomenon among young people, seeking to build an eye-catching physique, without care or certainty on their part about the safety of the products sold, or how well they conform to the specifications set by the Ministry of Health for shops and sports clubs.
Types of dietary supplements and their risks
There are several types of dietary supplements, and their risks vary accordingly. There are powdered proteins that work to increase weight, containing a high proportion of carbohydrates and sugar. There is another type containing a moderate proportion of carbohydrates and protein, such as pro complex, and a high-protein type such as whey protein, which provides an adequate amount of protein, carbohydrates and vitamins along with a nutritional programme that the athlete cannot obtain from meals alone. Because a bodybuilding and strength athlete needs to have an adequate amount of healthy nutrition available, supplements are resorted to for this purpose.
There is another type that works to increase energy and maintain the muscles, such as creatine and glutamine, in addition to a number of other substances, each of which works to maintain the muscles and bring the body to a state of complete nutritional activation, such as glutamine, which increases immune strength and speeds the repair of muscle fibres after exercise.
The third type of protein comes in capsule form, such as “amino acid” products, though there is a widespread belief among many bodybuilders that this type of protein has an effect on the body. This “amino acid” product is a combination of amino acids made up of 32 amino acids necessary for building muscle in a healthy way, derived from whey or cheese, because many amino acids cannot be produced in the human body, which is why amino acids are obtained through dietary supplements.
Health consequences of dietary supplements:
On the difference between proteins and hormonal stimulants, and the level of harm between them, Dr Mustafa Sabri, consultant in internal medicine and gastroenterology, said: “The proteins used in bodybuilding are products containing a high concentration of amino acid compounds necessary for building muscle and replacing damaged muscle cells. The hormones used by some athletes, however, belong to the steroid group, which increase activity and speed up muscle growth abnormally, and affect blood pressure, the heart and the rest of the body’s systems. Excessive use of proteins can increase the burden on the kidneys and liver, along with an increase in protein turnover. Proteins in measured amounts are not harmful, whereas hormones are harmful in any amount.”
