Supplements (Full Version)

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tc -> Supplements (April 17, 2005 1:20:00 PM)

Adult sports & fitness is really outside my area of expertise since I am primarily a peds PT, but I have a question for you guys. My friend just started with a "trainer" at a gym, I don't know the certifications or lack thereof. Some of the advice sounds reasonable, some does not. The major thing concerning me is he recommended she take "pyruvate" supplements to speed up her metabolism. I generally don't agree with any type of supplements. (And, this is someone who really only wants to "tone up" - if she lost more than 5 pounds she would be considered well underweight.)
Any opinions on this supplement??? :confused: Thanks.



Dr.Wagner -> Re: Supplements (April 17, 2005 4:29:00 PM)

Sounds like bunk.



srcase -> Re: Supplements (April 17, 2005 4:42:00 PM)

Tell her to get another trainer. There is no research that pyruvate has any effect on metabolism, and combined with chromium (as it almost always is) it can actually be detrimental to her health.
Sarah



Randy Dixon -> Re: Supplements (April 17, 2005 6:57:00 PM)

Pyruvate doesn't have any research backing up it's claim.

I'm a believer in supplements, but only a few seem to actually work, more importantly they are almost never NEEDED, the training program and macro-nutrition account for about 97% of the gains to be made. Contrary to most advice given in fitness magazines, (supplement catalogs. The secret pill to "speed up the metabolism" safely is the holy grail of supplements with lots of claims but little evidence. There was some evidence for aspirin-ephedra-caffeine effectiveness. Still, it's like a runner worrying if they should wear thinner socks to improve their times, maybe, but their are more important things to worry about.



JLS_PT_OCS -> Re: Supplements (April 18, 2005 3:51:00 AM)

Good point Randy, love the socks analogy, i'm going to steal and use that one!!

Agreed with the others, your friend needs to ditch this so-called "trainer".

I think overall the consistent message should be to de-emphasize supplements in favor of a good training and diet regimen.
No magic answers, no magic pills.

When clients/patients ask me about supplements, I also say that at both the US Olympic training center and the Army World Class Athlete Program, supplements are never used. Not because they are not allowed (some of the good ones like creatine are legal) but because they are unnecessary.

This "trainer" might also sell this snake oil crap as well, and that should tell you something also.
J



coreconcepts -> Re: Supplements (April 18, 2005 7:29:00 AM)

I think the issue here is not so much with the efficacy of pyruvate (agree with Randy and S. Case that it is innefective anyway) but with the fact that a "trainer" is recommending supplements in the first place! This is extremely irresponsible, completely out of his scope (unless by the off chance he is also an RD) and unprofessional. Does "crunch" fitness ring a bell to anybody???



tc -> Re: Supplements (April 18, 2005 11:55:00 AM)

thanks for all your input. glad to know i was on the right track with my advice.
coreconcepts: what are you referring to about the "crunch" fitness thing?



coreconcepts -> Re: Supplements (April 18, 2005 12:49:00 PM)

oooh... afraid I may have opened a can of worms here. Since I can't really "un-ring" that bell, you can read the link here. http://www.kovr13.com/01jan00/062999a.htm
The supplement was ephadra, not pyruvate - however this should wake people up to the potential for disasterous mishaps such as in this case.



tc -> Re: Supplements (April 18, 2005 6:36:00 PM)

no can of worms for me ... i just hadn't heard of that story. thanks for the link. i have heard of those devastating effects of ephedra and have tried to caution people I know who think all supplements or herbs are "safe" because they are "natural", such as "ma huang" and dieter's tea, but I so frequently can't get people to listen to me or use common sense. If there was an easy, risk-free way to lose weight - no one would be overweight! But some people just want an easy way out!



JLS_PT_OCS -> Re: Supplements (April 19, 2005 1:59:00 AM)

I think the easy way out is what prompts people, including athletes, to ask about supplements anyway.



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