Supplements

Understanding Dietary Supplements: A Guide for Student-Athletes

What is a Dietary Supplement?

The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) defines a dietary supplement as a product (other than tobacco) intended to supplement the diet that contains one or more of the following: vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, or dietary substances used to increase total daily intake. [1, 2, 3]

• Form: Must be intended for ingestion in pill, capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid form.
• Use: Cannot be represented as conventional food or as the sole item of a meal or diet. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

How Prevalent is Supplement Use Today?

Supplement use is far more widespread than in previous decades. Recent sports nutrition literature indicates that 70% to 90% of collegiate and elite athletes utilize dietary supplements. While multivitamins, protein powders, and creatine are the most frequently consumed products, supplement use remains heavily concentrated in sports prioritizing power, speed, and muscle hypertrophy (such as football, track and field, and weightlifting). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Why Do Athletes Use Supplements?

Athletes primarily utilize supplements to: [1, 2]

1. Optimize athletic performance (endurance, speed, power).
2. Accelerate muscle recovery between intense training sessions.
3. Promote lean muscle mass accrual or alter body composition.
4. Correct clinical nutrient deficiencies (e.g., iron-deficiency anemia, Vitamin D deficiency). [1]

The Hidden Hazards of Unregulated Supplements

Dietary supplements are not pre-approved or tested by the FDA for safety or effectiveness before they are sold to consumers. Under federal law, the FDA can only take action after a product is proven harmful. This creates massive risks for student-athletes: [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

• Label Fraud & Contamination: Products frequently contain hidden, unlisted ingredients, including banned anabolic agents, SARMs, or dangerous synthetic stimulants. [1]
• Strict Liability Rule: The NCAA and World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) enforce a policy of strict liability. This means you are 100% responsible for what is in your body. If you test positive for a banned substance, it does not matter if the substance was left off the supplement label—you will still face a mandatory loss of eligibility. [1, 2, 3]
• Displace Proper Nutrition: Relying on supplements to fix a poor diet compromises long-term athletic development. High-protein fad diets or low-carbohydrate protocols often lead to early fatigue, lean mass loss, and chronic glycogen depletion.

How to Determine if a Supplement is Acceptable to Take

Before consuming any product, student-athletes must run it by their Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) or Team Physician. Use the following criteria to evaluate safety:

1. Look for Third-Party Certification: Never consume a supplement unless it has been independently tested and verified by an accredited organization. Look for these specific seals on the packaging: NSF Certified for Sport®, Informed-Choice / Informed-Sport, or USP. These seals guarantee that the product actually contains what is on the label and is free of substances banned by athletics. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
2. Reject Miracle Claims: Disregard marketing that promises rapid results, such as "gain 15 lbs of muscle in two weeks" or "instant fat burner."
3. Evaluate the Science: Avoid products backed only by "proprietary blends," single-study testimonials, or non-peer-reviewed corporate write-ups.
4. Consult the Banned List: Verify all prospective ingredients against the current NCAA Banned Substance List or utilize the Drug Free Sport AXIS™ portal provided to collegiate athletic departments.

Reliable Sources of Sports Nutrition Information

Professional Organizations & Resource Portals

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the ADA) – eatright.org
• Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) – scandpg.org
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – acsm.org
• NCAA Sport Science Institute – ncaa.org/ssi
• Drug Free Sport AXIS – drugfreesport.com
• U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) Supplement Connect – supplementconnect.org
• Office of Dietary Supplements (National Institutes of Health) – ods.od.nih.gov [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

 

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