ERGOGENIC AIDS AND PERFORMANCEBy Zaharul Azwan Abd Razak Faculty of Education UiTM, Shah Alam

An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance. An ergolytic substance is one that has detrimental effect on performance.

3 classes of ergogenic aid:Pharmacological agents Hormonal agents Physiological agents

Pharmacological agents1. Alcohol

Has ergolytic effects. Classified as a drug because of its depressant effects on the CNS. Used by athletes because of psychological effects. Thought to increase self-confidence, calm nerves, lower anxiety, increase mental alertness, decrease pain & muscle tremor. Risks no improvements in physiological functions. Decreases psychomotor functions.

2. Amphetamines

CNS stimulants. Sympathomimetic amines (activity mimics SNS) Appeties suppressants Combat fatigue, increase endurance. Recent studies showed increase in strength, acceleration, increase maximal lactale respones during exhaustive exercise & increase time to exhaustion. Euphoria Risks increase HR & BP that can trigger arrythmias. Excessive use can cause deaths. Addictive.

3. Beta blockers

Block beta-adrenergic responses, therefore preventing neurotransmitters binding. Lowers HR, therefore advantageous to shooters, archers. Lowers VO2max because cardiac output is decreased due to decreased in HR. Risks- bradycardia that can lead to heart block,hypotension, bronchospasm, fatigue and decreased motivation.

CNS stimulant. Effects are similar to amphetamines but weaker. Increase alertness/concentration and mood. Decrease fatigue. Increase catecholamines and mobilization of FFA, therefore increase in muscle use of FFA, therefore GLYCOGEN SPARING. Risks- causes nervousness, restlessness, imsomnia, tremors & diuresis (therefore, more susceptible to heat injuries due to dehydration). Also addictive.

4. Caffeine

5..Cocaine

CNS stimulant. Causes euphoria increase self-confidence & motivation. Risks- extremely addictive. Trigger major psychological disorders. Physiological effects includes stress to heart functions that can lead to death.

6. Diuretics

Affect the kidneys ie; increase urine formation & excretion (prescribed to control hypertension & decrease edema) Used by athletes for weight reduction (weight category sports) and mask use of other drugs. Risks- weight loss from extracellular fluids (also plasma) which can cause dehydration, that can affect thermoregulatory and electrolyte balance.

7. Marijuana

It is a recreational drug which can be a stimulant as well as a depressant (acts on CNS). Risks- Mainly ergolytic. Decrease performance since hand-eye coordination and reaction are affected, also motor coordination, tracking ability and perceptual accuracy. Personality changes, short-term memory impairmanet, hallucination, psychotic-like behavior.

8. Nicotine

It is a stimulant. Ingested by smoking, or chewing tobacco, snuff & compressed tobacco. Some athletes thought to increase alertness, concentration & calmness. Risks- detrimental to performance. CV changes, also metabolic, respiratory & hormonal functions. Can lead to cancer and CV disease.

Hormonal agentsAlso called androgenic-anabolic steroids for musculinizing and building. Synthetic steroids enhance the anabolic effects. Anabolic steroids increase muscle mass, strength, endurance capacity and recovery (not proven) Risks- personality changes, testicular atrophy, decrease sperm count, breast enlargement in males, prostate enlargement in males, breast reduction in females, musculinization in females. Also liver damage and CV disease.

1. Anabolic steroids

2. Human growth hormone

Stimulates protein synthesis & nucleic acid in skeletal muscles, increase bone growth, increase lypolisis (therefore decrease body fat), increase blood glucose & healing. Little or no effect on muscle mass & strength. Risks- limited research. Can cause acromegaly, hyperthrophy of internal organs, muscle & joint weaknesses, diabetes, hypertension & heart diseases.

3. Oral contraceptives

Regulate menstrual cycle. Limited research as ergogenic aid. Beneficial for athletes suffering from PMS or dysmenorrhea Risks- nausea, weight gain, fatigue, increased BP, liver tumors, blood clots, stroke & heart attack.

Physiological agents1. Blood doping

Increases total volume of rbc, therefore increases bloods oxygen-carrying capacity, so increases endurance performance. Increases VO2max and time to exhaustion. Risks- blood clotting, heart failure, transfusion reaction and transmission of hepatitis & virus (AIDS)

2. Erythropoietin (EPO)

Increases rbc, therefore increases O2carrying capacity, also VO2max & time to exhaustion. Risks- we cannot predict the magnitude of bodys response to EPO administration, therefore rbc can be overproduced. Blood viscosity can also increase that can cause blood clotting , therefore death.

Increases endurance performance. Risks- problems during administration.4. Aspartic acid

3. O2 supplementation

Aspartic acid is an amino acid involved in livers conversion of ammonia to urea. Ammonia can lead to fatigue. Therefore, ingestion of aspartates can decrease ammonia buildup during exercise, therefore delay fatigue. Risks- Limited findings.

5. Bicarbonate loading

It is a buffer to maintain normal pH by neutralizing excess acid, therefore delays fatigue. Risks- causes GI stress ie; cramps, bloating & diurrhea.

6. Phosphate loading

Ingestion of NaPO4 can increase CV & metabolic functioning. PO4 loading during exercise increases PO4 that increases oxidative phosphorylation & PCr synthesis. Also increases O2 release to cells, CV responses to exercise, buffering capacity & endurance capacity. Risks- limited research findings.