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Protein, creatine, BCAA amino acids and others: food supplements are experiencing growing success among athletes, including amateurs, in the name of a quest for performance which is however not without risk to health in the event of overconsumption.
About ten years ago,dietary supplements were very frowned upon, people conflated them with doping products, such as steroids“, told AFP the sports youtubeur Tibo InShape, 30, whose channel has nearly nine million subscribers.But thanks in part to the emergence of social networks, there is a +democratization+, especially among young people“.
Like many others, this influencer with impressive muscles promotes dietary supplements and launched his own brand at the end of 2019, today attracting customers from “16-17 years old to 50 years old and over”, specifies t -he.
The nutrients contained in these products already exist in the basic diet, for example in meat, eggs, fruit or dairy products.
But “what attracts is the feeling that it allows to accelerate the results“, conjugated to “a cult of the body on social networks“, develops the youtubeur, while acknowledging that “dietary supplements are not magic“.
“The basis of everything is rigorous training and a healthy diet.“, that is to say varied and balanced, he says.
Marketing innovation
Very popular among athletes, whey protein (made up of 80% whey protein, also called whey) aims in particular to support the muscles and help build muscle mass.
But a multitude of other products exist – branched amino acids (BCAA), creatine, omega 3, collagen, vitamins, L-Carnitine, etc. – promising improved sports performance, muscle hypertrophy, weight loss or even better recovery.
“Manufacturers have in fact redoubled their efforts in recent months to revisit recipes and packaging in order to expand their customer base.“, underlines Cathy Alegria, expert of the economic analysis firm Xerfi, in an article published at the beginning of 2022.
Unlike drugs, the marketing of supplements does not require marketing authorization and there are now dozens of online sales sites. The major retail chains are also gradually embarking on this lucrative niche.
Vigilance and moderation
Be careful, however, not to use any product, or just any old how, alert dieticians, especially in a market where the supply is plethoric and of very variable quality.
At high-intensity training, “the needs may not be covered by a normal diet, this is where complementary alternatives are used“, explains to AFP Nicolas Aubineau, nutritionist dietician.
But “the food base must be correct first“, adds this expert, also warning against the risk of “drift towards truly doping products” On behalf of “always more“.
Purchasing on the internet de facto exposes the athlete more to the consumption of fraudulent food supplements or supplements with more chemical substances, likely to lead to positive anti-doping controls and to induce health effects, indicates the National Agency of health security (ANSES).
The agency points out that the possible performance gains linked to supplements do not exclude the health risk, with cases of adverse effects observed on the cardiovascular system (tachycardia, arrhythmia and stroke) and psychic (anxiety disorders and mood), on the faith or the kidneys, in particular in the event of overconsumption. Increased risks in the youngest, whose organism is more sensitive than in adults.
“These are products related to health, they should not be trivialized“, stresses to AFP Irène Margaritis, assistant to the director of risk assessment at ANSES, recommending to consult a health professional in the event of use of food supplements.