F&N 2-8

IMPLICATIONS FOR COOPERAIVE EXTENSION. Many athletes look for ways to improve their health and athletic performance through foods, fluids and dietary supplements including herbs. Unfortunately, scientifically valid, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies evaluating the role of herbs and athletes is limited or non-existent. As a result, it is difficult to evaluate the validity of using herbs for improving athletic performance. In addition, concerns over safety, side effects, and potential interactions with medications make it important that athletes be educated on herbal products.

INTRODUCTION

Many athletes look for ways to improve their health and performance through foods, fluids and dietary supplements including herbs.

Herbs are non-woody plants or plant parts that have long been valued for their medicinal or therapeutic effects. In fact, many common medications have been developed from herbs. Thus, herbs can act as drugs. Like drugs, herbs can also pose potential side effects or interact with foods or medications.

Herbs contain hundreds of phytochemicals. Flavonoids, phenols, saponins, and terpenes are some of the phytochemicals believed to be the active ingredients in herbs. The mixture of phytochemicals,

some known and some unknown, in whole herbs are believed to account for the function of herbs. Using extracts of only one or more of these phytochemicals is not likely to be as effective as using the whole herb.

Approximately five billion dollars are spent yearly on herbal products in the United States. A recent survey reported about one-fifth of U.S. adults surveyed use natural products. The top ten natural products reported being used in order of popularity were: echinacea, ginseng, ginkgo biloba, garlic, glucosamine, St. John’s wort, peppermint, fish oils/omega fatty acids, ginger, and soy supplements. Other surveys have reported even higher use of herbal products. The Natural Marketing Institute survey reported 34% of adults, or over 60 million, used herbal products.

Herbs and other dietary supplements do not have to meet the same standards as foods and beverages. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are required to meet even higher standards of safety and effectiveness. In the United States, herbs are regulated as dietary supplements by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a part of the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act.

Herbs and other dietary supplements are not required to be standardized. As a result, there is little consistency between different batches of products

Herbs and Athletics (continued)

from different manufacturers. This makes it difficult to know what is contained in a given herbal product.

Athletes seeking to improve athletic performance, improve immunity, or handle health concerns may be interested in including herbal products. Although herbs have a long history of use and it is possible some herbs may have benefits, scientifically valid, double-blind, placebo-controlled research on herbs for health and enhancing athletic performance is limited.

In addition, because herbs often contain potent natural chemicals, there is the potential for herbs to interact with foods and medications. This makes it difficult when trying to weigh the potential benefits and safety risks of herbs or dietary supplements.

As a result, athletes need to be extremely careful about using herbal products containing unknown amounts of unknown chemicals for unknown benefits with the possibility of harmful side effects.

If athletes do incorporate herbs into their overall performance plan working with a health care team to monitor potential side effects and interactions is strongly recommended. In addition, athletes need to find valid scientific research to support or refute claims. Athletes also need to ensure herbal products are safe, confirm the product contains the recommended amounts of active ingredients, and determine the appropriate dosage.

SUMMARY

Although there is insufficient high-quality scientific research to support claims regarding herbs and athletic performance, many herbs are marketed to athletes for enhancing athletic performance, improving immunity or for other health benefits.

More research is needed on the role of herbs with health, athletic performance, and their safety and efficacy. Until research is forthcoming, athletes are best advised to avoid unproven herbal treatments.

Athletes are recommended to seek out reputable and truthful information about herbs. The following table

sound information to help answer some key questions about herbs for athletes.

Herbs and Athletics (continued)

HERBAL CLAIMS AND SAFETY CONCERNS

Kundrat, S. Herbs and athletics. Sports Science Library, 18;2005(1)

HERB	ADDITIONAL NAMES FOR THE HERB		CLAIMED TO BENEFIT		EXAMPLES OF SAFETY CONCERNS

Arnica		Mountain tobacco, leapord’s bane, wundkraut	Muscle pain, stiffness, osteoarthritis	May increase effects of anticoagulants
Astragalus		Huang chi, huang qi, milk vetch	Weak immune system, fatigue	May interact with immunosupressant drugs
Cayenne		Capsicum, red pepper, African chilies	Musculoskeletal pain, osteo- arthritis, digestive problems	Digestive disorders, skin irritation
Cordyceps		Caterpillar fungus, dong chon xai cao, semitake	Weak immune system, poor endurance performance	May reduce blood sugar levels
Devil’s Claw		Grapple plant, harpagophytum, wood spider	Muscle pain, digestive problems, fever	May interfere with antidiabetes drugs
Echinacea		Purple coneflower, black Sampson, Indian head	Weak immune system, colds, infections	May interfere with immunosuppressants
Elderberry		Elderberry syrup, American elder	Colds, flu, fever, weak immune system, excess body water	May interact with diuretics or laxatives
Ginger		Zingiberis rhizoma, ginger root, Jamaica ginger	Nausea, vomiting, motion sickness, osteoarthritis	May interact with anticoagu-lants and antidiabetes drugs
Ginseng		Chinese ginseng, ciwuija, Russian root	Poor endurance performance, low energy, weak immune system	May interfere with anticoagulants
Gotu Kola		Indian pennywort, hydrocotyle, kaki kuda	Varicose veins, edema	May interfere with hypoglycemic medications
Guarana		Guarana gum, zoom cocoa, Brazilian cocoa	Excess body fat, lethargy	Contains caffeine
Rhodiola		Golden root, Arctic root	Lethargy, fatigue, poor endurance	May interact with other herbs
Valerian		Mexican valerian, garden heliotrope, tagara	Insomnia, anxiety, depression	May interact with other sedatives
Willow Bark		White willow, purple osier, bay willow	Fever, muscle pain, osteoarthritis	May interact with anticoagulants