Creatine Use Among Student Athletes
August 13, 2001
Teenagers are ignoring warnings about potential adverse effects of using the performance-enhancing supplement creatine monohydrate. Creatine use by adolescents is discouraged due to a lack of information on its health effects. A recent study by researchers at the Cornell Medical College and Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York found that nearly 6% of middle and high school athletes surveyed have used creatine.
Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 middle and high school athletes in a New York City suburb. Of the 10- to 18-year-old athletes surveyed, creatine use was more prevalent among boys (almost 9%) than girls (2%).
Creatine use was most common among young athletes involved in sports such as hockey, football, weightlifting, gymnastics, wrestling and cheerleading. In addition, creatine use seems to increase with age.
In the United States, annual sales of creatine exceed $400 million. Pediatricians are discouraging its use in adolescents until short- and long-term effects are better understood.
Researchers blame the Nation's tolerant attitude towards nutritional and dietary supplements for the increasing use of performance-enhancing substances. They are concerned that, without further action, the use of potentially harmful substances such as anabolic steroids and other banned substances will continue to increase among athletes.
-- Article Courtesy of InjuryBoard.com
More ...
- FDA Seizes Dietary Supplements In Oregon with Drug Claims
- St. John's Wort May Interfere with Birth Control Pills
- Yohimbe / Pausinystalia Yohimbe
.