Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A growing consumption of natural (plant-derived) dietary supplements with ergogenic aims, with particular regard for <it>ecdysteroids</it>, <it>phytoestrogen</it>s and <it>vegetal sterols</it>, has...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2012-06-01
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| Series: | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/28 |
| _version_ | 1818233515966201856 |
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| author | Borrione Paolo Rizzo Marta Quaranta Federico Ciminelli Emanuela Fagnani Federica Parisi Attilio Pigozzi Fabio |
| author_facet | Borrione Paolo Rizzo Marta Quaranta Federico Ciminelli Emanuela Fagnani Federica Parisi Attilio Pigozzi Fabio |
| author_sort | Borrione Paolo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A growing consumption of natural (plant-derived) dietary supplements with ergogenic aims, with particular regard for <it>ecdysteroids</it>, <it>phytoestrogen</it>s and <it>vegetal sterols</it>, has been registered over the last years among “recreational” athletes. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the real knowledge of plant-derived nutritional supplements among physically active people as well as their real consumption. Additional aim was to evaluate the effects of these supplements on the health profile of the users.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-three trained subjects who habitually used natural dietary supplements, and 30 matched controls were analyzed for plasma biochemical markers and hormonal profile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The laboratory tests revealed the absence of any sign of organ toxicity/damage in both athletes and controls. On the contrary, hormone profiles revealed marked alterations in 15 (65%) out of the 23 of investigated athletes. Specifically, 10 males presented increased plasma levels of progesterone, 15 subjects presented abnormal estrogen levels, including 5 (2 F and 3 M) presenting a “dramatic” increased estrogen values and 2 two males with increased estrogen levels, increased testosterone levels and associated suppression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the present study highlighted that the habitual consumption of plant-derived nutritional supplements is frequently associated with significant hormonal alterations both in male and female subjects. Although these biochemical alterations were not associated with signs or symptoms of organ toxicity/damage at the moment of the study, it cannot be excluded that, in the mid/long-term, these subjects would suffer of health problems secondary to chronic exposure to heavily altered hormonal levels. Further large scale studies are needed to confirm the results of this pilot study as well as to investigate the biological mechanisms at the base of the observed hormonal alterations.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:23:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f5113ae42ef475cbd1fed2cd521d05c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1550-2783 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T11:23:25Z |
| publishDate | 2012-06-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f5113ae42ef475cbd1fed2cd521d05c2022-12-22T00:25:58ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition1550-27832012-06-01912810.1186/1550-2783-9-28Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletesBorrione PaoloRizzo MartaQuaranta FedericoCiminelli EmanuelaFagnani FedericaParisi AttilioPigozzi Fabio<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A growing consumption of natural (plant-derived) dietary supplements with ergogenic aims, with particular regard for <it>ecdysteroids</it>, <it>phytoestrogen</it>s and <it>vegetal sterols</it>, has been registered over the last years among “recreational” athletes. The present study was carried out in order to evaluate the real knowledge of plant-derived nutritional supplements among physically active people as well as their real consumption. Additional aim was to evaluate the effects of these supplements on the health profile of the users.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-three trained subjects who habitually used natural dietary supplements, and 30 matched controls were analyzed for plasma biochemical markers and hormonal profile.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The laboratory tests revealed the absence of any sign of organ toxicity/damage in both athletes and controls. On the contrary, hormone profiles revealed marked alterations in 15 (65%) out of the 23 of investigated athletes. Specifically, 10 males presented increased plasma levels of progesterone, 15 subjects presented abnormal estrogen levels, including 5 (2 F and 3 M) presenting a “dramatic” increased estrogen values and 2 two males with increased estrogen levels, increased testosterone levels and associated suppression of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the present study highlighted that the habitual consumption of plant-derived nutritional supplements is frequently associated with significant hormonal alterations both in male and female subjects. Although these biochemical alterations were not associated with signs or symptoms of organ toxicity/damage at the moment of the study, it cannot be excluded that, in the mid/long-term, these subjects would suffer of health problems secondary to chronic exposure to heavily altered hormonal levels. Further large scale studies are needed to confirm the results of this pilot study as well as to investigate the biological mechanisms at the base of the observed hormonal alterations.</p>http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/28Nutritional supplementsErgogenicEcdysteroidsPhytoestrogensVegetal sterolsAthletes |
| spellingShingle | Borrione Paolo Rizzo Marta Quaranta Federico Ciminelli Emanuela Fagnani Federica Parisi Attilio Pigozzi Fabio Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Nutritional supplements Ergogenic Ecdysteroids Phytoestrogens Vegetal sterols Athletes |
| title | Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes |
| title_full | Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes |
| title_fullStr | Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes |
| title_short | Consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant-derived nutritional supplements. An observational pilot-study on recreational athletes |
| title_sort | consumption and biochemical impact of commercially available plant derived nutritional supplements an observational pilot study on recreational athletes |
| topic | Nutritional supplements Ergogenic Ecdysteroids Phytoestrogens Vegetal sterols Athletes |
| url | http://www.jissn.com/content/9/1/28 |
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