ANSES warns against the risks associated with the consumption of food supplements and enriched foods for athletes.
- ANSES warns against food supplements and enriched foods intended to develop muscle mass or reduce fat mass.
- These products, widely used by athletes, represent a risk to health, particularly cardiovascular health.
- 154 cases of adverse effects have been recorded in 8 years, including two deaths and four people whose life was in danger.
Dietary supplements and foods enriched with proteins, amino acids or plant extracts, developed to develop muscle mass or reduce fat mass, are popular with athletes. However, after an initial alert issued in 2016, the French National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) has renewed his warning on July 17.
These products have many adverse effects, particularly on the cardiovascular system, which can lead to death.
Food supplements for athletes: 154 cases of adverse effects in 8 years
Between 2016 and February 2024, ANSES recorded 154 new cases of adverse effects linked to the consumption of these products nicknamed “prots” by these users. Eighteen of them are considered very serious. Among other things, there were two deaths and four people whose life was threatened. These cases are in addition to the 49 reports of adverse effects recorded between 2009 and 2016.
ANSES specifies that “Cardiovascular effects are the most frequent with the occurrence of tachycardia, palpitations, and even cardiac arrest”. Sports food supplements can also cause general symptoms such as malaise, fatigue, fever, dizziness or even digestive effects, but also neurological ones (strokes).
Food supplements for athletes: pay attention to the composition
ANSES is taking advantage of its warning to remind that “certain ingredients of these products such as anabolic steroids, clenbuterol and ephedrine are prohibited for consumption in particular because of their numerous severe adverse effects on cardiovascular activity.”
“Their presence in food supplements therefore constitutes fraud and can expose the sports consumer, beyond the health risks, to an abnormal analytical result (“positive control”) during an anti-doping test”the agency said.
To reduce the risks, ANSES recommends:
- avoid the concomitant consumption of several food supplements or fortified foods or combining them with medications;
- seek the advice of a healthcare professional, doctor or sports dietitian before consuming;
- favor products that comply with the European standard EN 17444:2021 and avoid purchases on the Internet.
