Athletic Trainers Provide Critical Care and Expertise
3/6/2003 3:27:19 PM | Men's Basketball, Football
Syracuse Univeristy's head athletic trainer Tim Neal is in his 21st year at SU and third as the head athletic trainer. In light of the tragic incidents involving athletes and the use of dietary supplements that contain ephedrine, Neal wrote a letter to the editor of The Post-Standard> to educate the community.
Dear Editor,
All local student-athletes, their parents and coaches, as well as individuals who are contemplating the use of dietary supplements that contain ephedrine to reduce fat and improve energy are probably aware that Baltimore Orioles pitching prospect Steve Bechler recently died after collapsing a day earlier during a spring training workout. Broward County, Florida Medical Examiner Dr. Joshua Perper said he believed that a dietary supplement that contained ephedrine, Xenadrine RFA-1, contributed to his death from heat stroke. Xenadrine RFA-1 is touted by the web site of Cytodyne Technologies as the “Number one diet supplement in America.” Tragedies such as Bechler’s, and in the 2001 death of Minnesota Viking’s football player Kory Stringer highlight the potential hazards of taking products containing ephedrine.
Here are some facts that an athlete at every competitive level, their parents and coaches, as well as anyone engaged in physical activity or desiring to lose weight should be aware of regarding dietary supplements containing ephedrine:
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) controls the safety and effects of drugs and food consumed by Americans.
- A 1994 federal law, the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), created a new category of products called dietary supplements.
- This DSHEA law left the FDA with virtually no control over dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are a $16.7 billion a year industry.
- Manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to list all of the ingredients of their product on the bottle’s label, thus subjecting the consumer to ephedrine or other substances (perhaps ones that the consumer is allergic to) with their use.
- Since 1994, the FDA has collected reports of 100 deaths among ephedrine users.
- In October 2002, several members of Congress released a report stating that supplement maker Metabolife kept secret reports of nearly 2,000 serious adverse events – meaning deaths or serious illnesses – related to ephedrine use.
- The Health and Human Services Department has commissioned the RAND Research Corporation to do a report on the safety of ephedrine. The report is due sometime this March.
- Researchers writing in a recent Annals of Internal Medicine said that people who take products containing ephedrine are 200 times more likely to suffer a complication than from other dietary supplements.
- Ephedrine stimulates the heart and central nervous system to lose weight, increase metabolism, and burn fat.
- The side effects of ephedrine use include: light-headedness, increased anxiety, hearth palpitations, heart failure, increased blood pressure, and heat control abnormalities - heat exhaustion or heat stroke - by decreasing the body’s water supply. Consumers of ephedrine combine its use with exercise, thus placing them in a dehydrated state, which makes them prone to suffer from heat stroke, the condition that Steve Bechler died from.
- Doses higher than 25mg daily can produce adverse side effects, especially when combined with other stimulants such as caffeine. Ask yourself, how many believe that if a little ephedrine is “good” at achieving its purported effects of weight loss, shouldn’t a higher dose be “better” at achieving a weight loss goal?
- Some popular products that contain ephedrine are: Metabolife, Metabolift, Metabolite, Ripped Fuel, Stacker 3, Yellow Jackets, and Xenadrine.
- One dose of Ripped Fuel, 2 capsules, is equal to 10 tablets (30mg each) of Sudafed nasal decongestant. Who would knowingly take 10 Sudafed tablets at once, yet would not think twice to taking 2 Ripped Fuel capsules (334mg of MaHuang Extract- ephedrine by another name)?
- Ephedrine is banned by the Olympics, NFL, and NCAA.
- In 2001, 21,000 male and female collegiate student-athletes participated in a NCAA survey that revealed 42% of the respondents admitting to dietary supplement use.
- Of those collegiate student-athletes reported using dietary supplements, 57% stated they began using them in high school. This fact should alert parents, coaches and athletic trainers of high school and middle school student-athletes that efforts are needed to educate them on the potential risks of using ephedrine as a performance-enhancing aid.
As seen in the case of high profile athletes such as Steve Bechler and Kory Stringer, ephedrine use, in conjunction with unknown heart abnormalities, recent illnesses that leaves one dehydrated, or a history of high blood pressure or heat related illnesses, conditions may align themselves at a vulnerable moment, resulting in tragedy. As a certified athletic trainer with more than 25 years of experience, I know that the competitive nature of sports can produce injuries that are difficult to control. However, I also know that the one area all athletes or physically active people do have complete control over is their decision to use dietary supplements that contain ephedrine. Student-athletes, their parents and coaches at all competitive levels should be made aware of the potentially harmful effect of ephedrine in dietary supplements. Ephedrine, even when used as suggested by the manufacturer, is seldom without risk. To be forewarned about ephedrine in dietary supplements is to be forearmed against potential hazards to one’s health. Proven scientific methods of conditioning and diet remain the prudent approach to exercise, preparing for competition and maintaining a healthy body weight. Dietary supplements that contain ephedrine place the consumer at a greater risk than any corner-cutting benefit that is hoped to be gained from their use.
For more information on ephedrine, visit the website: drugfreesports.com.
Timothy Neal, M.S., ATC Head Athletic Trainer Syracuse University
