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Sports enhancers or ergogenics, which include everything from steroids to hormones to over-the-counter supplements, can improve athletic performance and help muscles work more efficiently, but are the people taking them playing a dangerous game? Physicians at the University of Michigan Health System say there is no telling what long-term effects these powders and pills can cause. "Many of these [substances] have not been studied adequately. We don't have long-term studies on what they do to the body," explains Edward Wojtys, M.D., director of the U-M Health System's MedSport. However, a recent study found that when the body processes creatine it forms formaldehyde--a toxic substance that can damage everything from artery walls to muscle.

Athletes taking steroids or growth hormones are at a greater risk. "Growth hormone is found in your body in limited amounts and [disrupting] that delicate balance is not a good idea. There are legitimate uses of growth hormone, but the potential side effects are concerning, therefore monitoring by a physician is [imperative]," says Wojtys.

Steroids, in addition to the well-publicized tendencies toward anger, cause altered hair growth throughout the body, acne, other cosmetic problems and a significant change in a person's voice. "Keep in mind that for males some of these side effects are reversible after short-term use, but in females, it's thought that most of these effects are not reversible," Wojtys says.

Liver and cardiovascular system complications may occur with long-term use. "You have to balance the risks versus the benefits. If you look at the risks of steroid use, it's unbelievable how dangerous it is. There's a lot that can be done to improve what you do naturally, such as eating natural foods," suggests Wojtys. "You can also find what types of workouts are best and how to get the most out of yourself. That's the safest way to do it."

# posted by Medical Information : 3:45 AM