Do You Know the Dangers of Dietary Supplements?

At the first mention of steroids or performance enhancers, most people think of elite athletes. But it seems that male teens are more commonly using these supplements, and not just for the purpose of enhancing athletic performance. The same pressures that girls face regarding body image are now mounted on many boys’ shoulders. Striving to have a body like Taylor Lautner of Twilight fame becomes all-consuming, and rash thinking and radical decisions may present themselves in the form of consuming a protein shake, an overpriced vitamin, a legal supplement or the not-so-legal steroid.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 27 per cent of adolescents have, or are currently using, some sort of dietary supplement (DS). (The age range for the survey was between 11 and 19 year olds, and conducted over a four-year period from 2002 to 2006.)

Unfortunately, the truth is these supplements can be damaging to the body, especially a body that is still developing. “Individuals taking exogenous sources (that which your body doesn’t make itself) of testosterone, or derivatives of, actually end up depleting their own body’s stores (endogenous supply), says Vancouver chiropractor Dr. Crysta Serné. “Adolescent men need testosterone to progress through their secondary sexual characteristics; their ability to develop muscle, etc.”

So essentially, if you deplete your own body’s natural ability to produce hormones such as testosterone for long enough, you will eventually be forced to take secondary sources to maintain levels that your body would have otherwise been able to produce.

There is an obvious difference between a powdered supplement such as Jay Robb’s Whey Protein or a pill type supplement such as Testo-X and something like anabolic steroids. Steroids, according to teenhealth.org, are a mimic or “artificially produced” version of the male type sex hormones in the body as opposed to supplements that don’t mimic any specific hormone but just enhance your natural hormones and are 100 per cent legal. However, just because a supplement is legal, doesn’t make it safe.

One enhancer that’s had its fair share of controversy is creatine monohydrate. Much like anabolic steroids, creatine also increases testosterone levels, and with long-term use can affect the body in other ways. “Research has shown that creatine can cause GI disturbances, muscle cramps and decreases in internal production with chronic use,” Dr. Serné explains.

Even seemingly innocuous enhancers can be harmful if the user is not knowledgeable about the product. “Protein powders are often made with a lot of fillers, which are added because the company cannot afford to actually supply what they claim is in the product,” says Dr. Serné. “The product needs to come from a reputable source and needs to be dispensed by the appropriate individual.” Dr. Serné continues: “The moral of the story is that even over-the-counter products can have serious health consequences and that one should always consult with a health practitioner before including in their diet regime.”

Self-esteem is an issue synonymous with the teenage years, and body image is inherently linked to how teens feel about themselves. For guys, self-esteem is often measured by who is the bulkiest or the most successful at a certain sport. Just as a girl may stop eating or walk a dangerous line to get skinny, guys feel the pressure to mess with the natural way of bulking up by turning to something that speeds up the process. In the end though, self-esteem has to come from within and certainly can’t be found in a bottle.

For more information on performance enhancers and dietary supplements, talk to your health practitioner.