Athletes think they are improving their performance, but their food supplements could actually make them sick. An American study reveals that several products contain prohibited or even dangerous substances. And Health Canada confirms that it has found several non-regulatory products in Quebec in recent years.
A team of American researchers analyzed 57 brands of dietary supplements for athletes. “We found that 89% of products misrepresented what was actually in the bottle,” says Dr.r Pieter Cohen, lead author of the study released on Monday and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, in an interview with The Press.
Several brands also contained drugs banned by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), including pharmaceuticals from Russia and Europe, as well as a stimulant that was never approved in any country.
In other words, we are as likely to have a product that contains exactly what is mentioned on the label as to have a product that contains prohibited drugs. It’s a real chaos.
The Dr Pieter Cohen, lead author of the study
To be eligible for the study, products had to contain plant-derived ingredients, either methylliberin, halostachin, rauvolfia vomitoria, octopamine or turkesterone.
PHOTO AILEEN SON, THE NEW YORK TIMES ARCHIVES
Since the brands are anonymized in the study, it is not possible to confirm that the problematic products are also available in Canada.
In 40% of the products, the plant-based ingredient listed on the label was not found in the supplements. On the other hand, in some samples, the content of the natural ingredient was found to be up to 330% higher than that mentioned on the label.
“It’s worrying,” says the president of the Order of Dietitians-Nutritionists of Quebec, Joëlle Emond. However, she said she was not surprised by the results.
It has already been pointed out that the labeling in terms of sports supplements is not always reliable.
Joëlle Emond, President of the Order of Dietitians-Nutritionists of Quebec
Six products also contained prohibited synthetic stimulants. One brand of supplements contained four different banned drugs. “These drugs can put a strain on the body by increasing blood pressure, heart rate and contractions of the heart,” laments the Dr.r Cohen.
Since the brands are anonymized in the study, it is not possible to confirm that the problematic products are also available in Canada. “I’m sure that many of these products are available in Canada or will eventually be,” said Dr.r Cohen. Today, the market for sports nutrition supplements has become global. »
“Due to the fact that supplements can also be purchased on the internet from other countries, it is certainly possible that those included in the study in question are in Canada,” adds the senior program manager. Canadian Anti-Doping Officer at the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport, Elizabeth Carson.
A problem in Canada
Between September 2019 and February 2020, Health Canada also analyzed 25 natural health products intended for training. In total, seven products did not meet the requirements, including four sold in Quebec.
Two products sold at Jean Coutu and at Minotaure Nutrition contained a suspected pathogen, the bacterium Clostridium sp. Two other products sold at Shop Santé did not contain the levels indicated on the label.
Elsewhere in the country, a product sold in Manitoba contained more lead than the allowable limit, while two products, one in Ontario and one in Alberta, contained more caffeine than indicated.
In Canada, manufacturers of natural health products, including dietary supplements, must obtain a license granted by Health Canada. However, the quality of these products is only based on the declarations of the manufacturers.
Health Canada therefore continues “to find products on the Canadian market that do not meet Canadian regulatory requirements”, can we read on the federal government’s website.
“The market is out of control”
Joëlle Emond and the Dr Pieter Cohen believe that the supervision of natural products should be more rigorous. “Companies put what they want on the market and wait to see who gets sick and who ends up in the emergency room. The market is out of control,” says the Dr Cohen.
A US study published in 2015 found that 23,000 patients end up in emergency rooms each year in the United States due to adverse effects related to dietary supplements. “It was mainly sports supplements that were the problem,” says Dr.r Cohen.
Competitive athletes can also be penalized by supplements that do not contain what is on the label, notes Joëlle Emond.
There is a difficulty in guaranteeing the absence of illicit substances which can lead to the disqualification of an athlete during a competition. Even if he ingests the substance without his knowledge, he remains fully responsible.
Joëlle Emond, President of the Order of Dietitians-Nutritionists of Quebec
Mme Emond therefore emphasizes the importance of obtaining information from qualified people, such as dietitian-nutritionists with a specialization in sports nutrition, before choosing a sports supplement and to determine if it is needed.
How to choose ?
In Canada, the NSF “Certified for Sport®” and “Informed Sport” certification programs allow athletes to choose safe dietary supplements. The independent body NSF ensures that products do not contain dangerous levels of contaminants, banned substances and that what is on the label corresponds to what is in the product. For its part, Informed Sport regularly tests products for substances prohibited in sport. The products certified by the programs can be found on their respective websites.
Learn more
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- 87%
- Proportion of Canadian athletes who consume dietary supplements.
Source: Study conducted in 2012 by the Canadian Center for Ethics in Sport (CCES)