Ergogenic aids pt.2

Question 1

What are the methods of supplementation?

Answer 1

1. Creatine
2. Caffeine
3. Bicarbonate
4. Nitrates.

Question 2

What are nitrates?

Answer 2

1. Nitrates are inorganic compounds which dilate blood vessels and reduce blood pressure.
2. Advantages (4)
   - Decreased blood pressure
   - Increased blood flow
   - Increased intensity and duration of performance
   - Delayed fatigue.
3. Drawbacks (3)
   - Headaches, dizziness, light headedness
   - Long-term effects are unclear
   - Possible carcinogenic risk.
4. Legal aid.
5. Used by all performers, consumed by eating root vegetables, beetroot and greens.

Question 3

What is caffeine?

Answer 3

1. Caffeine stimulates the CNS and increases the breakdown of FFA’s for aerobic energy production.
2. Advantages (5)
   - Increased nervous stimulation
   - Increased focus/concentration
   - Increased metabolism of fats
   - Preservation of muscle glycogen
   - Increased endurance performance.
3. Drawbacks (3)
   - Dehydration
   - Insomnia and anxiety
   - Gastrointestinal problems.
4. Legal aid.
5. Can be used by all performers, found in tea, coffee energy drinks etc.

Question 4

What is bicarbonate?

Answer 4

1. Bicarbonate is an alkaline which acts as a buffer to neutralise a rise in acidity in the blood stream.
2. Advantages (3)
   - Increased buffering capacity
   - Increased tolerance to lactic acid so OBLA is delayed
   - Increased intensity of performance.
3. Drawbacks (2)
   - Gastrointestinal problems
   - Unpleasant taste causing nausea.
4. Legal aid.
5. Can be used by all athletes, can be performed through soda loading (consuming large amounts of bicarbonate in advance to make blood more alkaline therefore increasing aerobic endurance by limiting lactic acid build-up).

Question 5

What is creatine?

Answer 5

1. Creatine increases phosphocreatine (PC) stores in the muscle, which is used for very high intensity energy production.
2. Advantages (3)
   - Increased PC stores so more fuel for intensity training
   - Increased intensity and duration of training
   - Increased maximum and explosive strength.
3. Drawbacks (4)
   - Increased weight gain
   - Increased water retention
   - Muscle cramps and gastrointestinal problems
   - Long-term effects unclear.
4. Legal aid.
5. Used by power athlete’s e.g. weightlifters.

Question 6

What are the different types of sports drinks?

Answer 6

1. Hypotonic drinks
   - Lower concentration of glucose than blood
   - Vital during prolonged exercise.
2. Isotonic drinks
   - Equal concentration of glucose to blood
   - Used for events of over 1 hour.
3. Hypertonic drinks
   - Higher concentration of glucose than blood
   - Used during recovery, do not use during event as it can cause dehydration.

Question 7

What are pharmacological aids?

Answer 7

Pharmacological aids include:

• Anabolic steroids.
• Erythropoietin (EPO).
• Human growth hormone (HGH).

Question 8

What are anabolic steroids?

Answer 8

1. Anabolic steroids are a synthetic hormone which resemble male testosterone.
2. Advantages (3)
   - Increased muscle mass and strength
   - Increased recovery
   - Increased intensity and duration of training.
3. Drawbacks (5)
   - Irritability
   - Mood swings
   - Liver damage
   - Heart failure
   - Acne
4. Illegal aid.
5. Used by power athletes e.g. sprinters, but can also be used for rehabilitation and muscle wastage diseases.

Question 9

What is EPO?

Answer 9

1. EPO is a hormone naturally found in the body, secreted by the kidneys, RH EPO is the artificial version.
2. Advantages (3)
   - Increased RBCs and haemoglobin count
   - Increased oxygen transport and aerobic capacity.
   - Increased intensity and duration of performance.
3. Drawbacks (4)
   - Increased blood viscosity
   - Decreased cardiac output
   - Increased risk of blood clots and heart disease
   - Decreased natural production of EPO.
4. Illegal aid.
5. Used by endurance athletes e.g. marathon runners, it is difficult to detect as some athletes have high concentration of RBCs.

Question 10

What is Human Growth Hormone (HGH)?

Answer 10

1. Synthetically produced HGH is used by some athletes in place of anabolic steroids.
2. Advantages (5)
   - Increased muscle mass and strength
   - Increased recovery
   - Increased intensity and duration of training
   - Increased fat metabolism and decreased fat mass
   - Increased blood glucose.
3. Drawbacks (3)
   - Abnormal bone and muscle development
   - Enlargement of vital organs
   - Increased risk of cancer and diabetes.
4. Illegal aid.
5. Can be used by any athlete.

Question 11

What are the effects of dehydration?

Answer 11

(5)

1. Decreased heat regulation and increased temp.
2. Increased blood viscosity.
3. Increased HR.
4. Increased fatigue.
5. Decreased cognitive function and skill level.