Current Concepts in Sports Nutrition - Australian Sports Commission

Dietary Supplements / 40
PowerBar has made a commitment to have their products involved in the Supplement
Information Scheme coordinated by the Australian Sports Drug Agency, Australian
Institute of Sport and Australian Goverment Analytical Laboratories. This scheme
assesses the doping risk of sports foods and supplements. Many manufacturers
have not made a commitment to have their products assessed by the Supplement
Information Scheme. Athletes need to be aware that all supplements carry a doping
risk and athletes are personally responsible to ensure any products they choose to use
do not contain banned or harmful substances. In particular, care should be taken when
purchasing products overseas. Athletes should be aware of the dangers of potential
contamination of supplements and of the significant effect of the principle of strict
liability - athletes are ultimately responsible for substances found in their bodies and
ignorance is no excuse. Further information is available via the Australian Sports Drug
Agency website (www.asda.org.au).
Vitamins and minerals
Regular, prolonged strenuous exercise may result in an increased dietary requirement
for certain vitamins and minerals. However, if the daily energy intake is high and a
well-chosen diet is consumed, supplementation is not necessary, unless a specific
deficiency is identified.
Calcium
Calcium is important for strong bones and teeth. The best sources of calcium are dairy
products, as well as calcium-fortified foods (such as soy milk, bread and juice), canned
fish with bones, green leafy vegetables, nuts and tofu.
Iron
Iron is a key component of haemoglobin in red blood cells that helps transport oxygen
through the blood. Inadequate iron stores can result in fatigue, loss of performance
and anaemia. The best sources of iron include lean red meat, chicken, fish, eggs,
fortified breakfast cereals, green leafy vegetables, spinach, whole grains and legumes.
Supplementation with a vitamin/mineral supplement may be useful in a number of
situations or for certain athletes. These include situations in which food intake is
severely restricted in either quantity or variety (for example, extreme weight loss
practices, elimination of one or more food groups from the diet, food intolerances
and picky eating). Travel may also limit the variety and adequacy of food choices.
In all cases, dietary inadequacy needs to be simultaneously addressed through
improvements in food selection.