Document Detail


Search for the competitive edge: a history of dietary fads and supplements.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  9164254     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The premise and promise of ergogenic aid use is rooted in antiquity and is based upon superstition and ritualistic behavior of athletes who perceive that past performances were predicated upon unique dietary constituents or dietary manipulation. Accounts from ancient times recommended that athletes and soldiers preparing for battle consume specific animal parts to confer agility, speed or strength associated with that animal. Scientific understanding of the chemical and physiological nature of muscular work in the early 20th century was followed by ergogenic aid use by athletes and rationalized as "scientific" justification. Ergogenic aids such as alkaline salts, caffeine, carbohydrate and protein have been used by athletes with variable success. As nutritionists and exercise physiologists discovered and perfected the scientific understanding of metabolic reactions, athletes in turn experimented with the amount, form and timing of administration in the search for optimal performance. Anabolic steroids and blood doping enhance athletic performance, but health risks, ethics and sportsmanship contravene their use. Popularity and use of ergogenic aids often have preceded scientific substantiation of claims. Current products such as protein isolates and antioxidant nutrients commonly are used by athletes, and many ergogenic aids available today differ little from those used long ago.
Authors:
E A Applegate; L E Grivetti
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Historical Article; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of nutrition     Volume:  127     ISSN:  0022-3166     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Nutr.     Publication Date:  1997 May 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1997-06-13     Completed Date:  1997-06-13     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0404243     Medline TA:  J Nutr     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  869S-873S     Citation Subset:  IM; Q    
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Diet Fads / history*
Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage
Dietary Proteins / administration & dosage
Food, Fortified / history*
History, 19th Century
History, 20th Century
History, Ancient
Humans
Sports*
Vitamins / administration & dosage
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Dietary Carbohydrates; 0/Dietary Proteins; 0/Vitamins

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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