Sports nutritionals: Experts share insights into their effectiveness

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Sports nutritionals: Experts share insights into their effectiveness
September 2006
Chiropractic Economics

It doesnÌt matter if your patients are weekend warriors or professional athletes, if they spend time playing sports, they want to perform better and recover from their injuries faster.

Chiropractic certainly helps them achieve these two goals. Supplements can, too.

Chiropractic Economics asked a panel of experts about sports nutritionals: Specifically, what could chiropractors and their patients expect from them, in terms of improved performance, pain prevention, and recovery from injuries?

Our panel of experts included:
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Paul Frank, RN, DC, Standard Process, Inc., www.standardprocess.com;
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Andrew Turner, Enzymes, Inc., www.enzymesinc.com;
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Andrew Halpner, PhD, Douglas Laboratories, www.douglaslabs.com;
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Mark A. Kaye, DC, Metagenics, Inc., www.metagenics.com;
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Chris D. Meletis, ND, Vitamin Research Products, www.vrp.com; and
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Evan Mladenoff, DC, for Nutri-West, www.nutriwest.com.

SUPPLEMENTS AND SPORTS PERFORMANCE

Performance is important to athletes. No one would deny that athletic performance is related to food intake. Consequently, the quality of food affects performance, says Frank. ÏSome athletes do not take the time to consume the most nutrient-packed and diverse foods. Whole-food supple-ments are needed to replace a nutrient pattern. ÷ Each athleteÌs needs are different, so the type of supplement that works for one person might not be the answer for another.Ó

Enzymes help optimize the nutritional benefits derived from foods as well as other supplements, says Turner. This optimization improves the recovery process and enhances the athleteÌs ability to continue working hard.

Some enzymes, taken after workouts or games, help balance cortisol levels and affect performance, reports Mladenoff. ÏExercise causes cortisol levels to rise. If cortisol levels are chronically elevated, then the athlete predisposes himself to altered performance.Ó

ÏDuring and after any physical activity, the muscles of the body must regenerate themselves and hopefully grow stronger and more resilient,Ó says Meletis. ÏAthletes endeavor to condition their bodies. However, less-than-savvy athletes actually experience a degree of de-conditioning, due to undernourishment at the cellular level.Ó

ÏProviding the appropriate breadth of nutrients may benefit injury prevention,Ó says Kaye. ÏConnective tissue, including ligaments, tendons, and muscle sheaths, require a large number of nutrients to maintain health.

Recent research shows that protein, carbohydrate, and antioxidant (PCA) formulations help improve the general health of athletes as well as increase their exercise capacity, physical endurance, and post-exercise recovery, says Halpner.

TISSUE REPAIR

Athletic injuries can be helped with chiropractic. And some supplements may also enhance the bodyÌs ability to repair tissue.

Meletis explains that total protein status, branch chain amino acids, and glutamine are all essential for muscle repair and maintenance. ÏWithout sufficient levels, the building blocks are not available to allow for tissue repair and regeneration. Beyond muscle, joint health must be maintained. Glucosamine sulfate and MSM are essential for maintaining joint integrity and herbs like boswellia for controlling the inflammation associated with the wear and tear of athletic performance.Ó

Other supplements that reduce inflammation are essential fatty acids, such as those found in fish, borage, evening primrose, and flax, says Kaye.

ÏBalancing a diet rich in omega-67 oils with one balanced or tilted more toward healthy, anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats may play a key role in protection from injury as well as reduction of the severity of injury. Numerous research articles and studies have demonstrated an efficacy for essential fatty acids as well as bioflavonoids, ginger, turmeric, and boswellia for suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhancement of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and improvement of pain tolerance,Ó he continues.

Halpner adds, ÏFish oil supplements should be taken with a meal or at night to prevent the fishy aftertaste and particularly to prevent regurgitation during sports training. Organic flax seed oil is preferable, to be taken in the morning to charge the athleteÌs system and to facilitate its role in reducing inflammation after vigorous exercise.Ó

Frank says that the type of tissue that is injured determines which supplement should be taken. ÏVeal bone is very good for supporting bone growth,Ó he says. ÏThe phytochemical pattern found in dried pea vine and alfalfa seem to be effective for supporting many tissue types.Ó

Injured athletes may also want to try enzymes, which have been used clinically to treat soft tissue inflammation for some time, says Turner. ÏProteolytic enzymes (proteases) bind to macroproteins in the blood known as alpha-1-macroglobulins. These macroproteins exists in large numbers in the presence of inflammation ÷ The binding of the protease to the alpha-2-macroglobulin increases its mobility, promoting a faster reduction in inflammation.Ó

Turner adds that it is important to supplement with proteases that work optimally in the conditions of the blood and body tissues. ÏThe protease in a supplement intended to assist with digestion is not appropriate [for injury].Ó

SIGNS THAT SUPPLEMENTS WORK

Some supplements give fast relief; others have a more subtle effect, according to the experts.

Anti-inflammatory herbs give pain relief, says Meletis. Athletes who take other supplements, such as CoQ10 and carnitine, report greater endurance and less of the Ïhitting the wallÓ syndrome, he says. ÏAdditionally, quick recovery is seen in athletes using glutamine and branch chain amino acids. For those using electrolyte replacement, there is less muscle soreness and cramping.Ó

Although pain relief may be quick, patients need to remember that supplements are not like prescription medications that have pronounced immediate effects, says Halpner. ÏNutritional supplements are much more subtle in their biochemical and physiological actions and take time to manifest a perceptible response the patient or athlete can recognize.Ó

He adds, ÏAthletes who initiate an aggressive supplement program ÷ usually report not only an increase in energy and physical endurance, but also a more rapid recovery post exercise.Ó

Frank reports, ÏThe telltale sign for most people is increased stamina, not necessarily increased energy. ÷ No matter what the level of endurance of the patient, the time they can perform tasks should be increased.Ó

FEW DOWNSIDES TO SUPPLEMENTS

Nutritional supplementation is generally considered safe. However, you should be aware of some possible contraindications, according to the experts.

Meletis says that CoQ10 and gingko are potentially contraindicated for those on warfarin or coumadin (blood thinners).

Frank says a reaction is possible if a patient who has a food allergy takes a whole-food supplement that is made from that food.

Enzymes are best taken on an empty stomach, says Mladenoff and Tuner, but patients who have a sensitive stomach may find that some enzymes may affect them. ÏIf they [patients] have excess acid in their stomach or a history of GERD, hiatal hernia, or stomach ulcers, they may also be irritated by the [enzyme] product,Ó adds Mladenoff.