Risk Associated with the Use of Selected Ingredients in Food Supplements

Abstract

This review focuses on four new product categories of food supplements: pre‐workout, fat burner/thermogenic, brain/cognitive booster, and hormone/testosterone booster. Many food supplements have been shown to be contaminated with unauthorized substances. In some cases, the ingredients in the new categories of dietary supplements were medicinal products or new synthetic compounds added without performing clinical trials. Some of the new ingredients in dietary supplements are plant materials that are registered in the pharmacopoeia as herbal medicines. In other cases, dietary supplements may contain plant materials that have no history of human use and are often used as materials to ‘camouflage’ stimulants. In the European Union, new ingredients of dietary supplements, according to European Food Safety Authority or unauthorized novel food. Furthermore, selected ingredients in dietary supplements may be prohibited in sports and are recognized as doping agents by World Anti‐Doping Agency.

Influence of Higenamine on Exercise Performance of Recreational Female Athletes: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…Additionally there is still a lack of studies that would appropriately address the safety of the long-term use of higenamine-containing dietary supplements among recreational athletes, especially females. According to the previously observed findings the majority of users of fatburn supplements were women between the ages of 18 and 34 who are more likely than males to experience the side effects of using this category of supplements (Jagim et al, 2019;Jędrejko et al, 2021).…”

Suplementos deportivos: ¿riesgo a la salud?

“…Related to the high rates of use, unintentional doping occurs. Unintentional doping refers to positive anti-doping tests due to the use of any supplement containing unlisted substances banned by anti-doping regulations and organizations, such as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA, and they can even contain plant compounds that have no history of human useage and are often used as ingredients to mask banned substances (Jędrejko et al, 2021).…”

Unauthorized ingredients in “nootropic” dietary supplements: A review of the history, pharmacology, prevalence, international regulations, and potential as doping agents

“…Agmatine “can be produced from L‐arginine by arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and is a putrescine precursor, one of the main biogenic amines associated with microbial food spoilage.” 150 To date, little is known regarding agmatine in relation to improving cognitive function, focus, and motivation to perform mental work and also its ability to support exercise capacity in athletes. Only a small number of clinical trials have investigated the influence of agmatine on N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) neurotransmission 151,152 . According to recommendations of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) in 2018, agmatine was placed in category III of DS for which there is insufficient scientific evidence confirming the effectiveness or safety of use 153 …”

“…Botanical extract‐naming conventions are often used to legitimize compounds like these according to US regulations as the botanicals themselves may not be banned. Both of these chemicals are banned in sports and have been previously addressed by regulators 152 …”