Supplements and Ergogenic Aids Flashcards

A sports dietitian is reviewing a client's supplement stack that includes a pre-workout product containing both caffeine and synephrine. What is the primary safety concern with this combination?

Answer: Additive or synergistic stimulant effects increasing cardiovascular risk

Caffeine and synephrine are both stimulants; when combined, they may produce additive or synergistic effects on heart rate and blood pressure, raising cardiovascular safety concerns.

Which form of creatine has the most robust scientific evidence supporting its safety and efficacy compared to other commercially available forms?

Answer: Creatine monohydrate

Creatine monohydrate has the largest body of safety and efficacy evidence spanning decades of research, and no alternative form has been shown to be superior in well-controlled trials.

An athlete wants to use medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) as a fat fuel source during competition to spare glycogen. What does current research indicate about MCT supplementation during exercise?

Answer: MCTs are oxidized more rapidly than LCTs but do not provide meaningful glycogen-sparing or performance benefits at practical doses

Despite theoretical appeal, controlled studies show that MCTs at tolerable doses do not spare glycogen meaningfully or improve endurance performance, and higher doses cause gastrointestinal distress.

A sports dietitian learns that an athlete is using a supplement purchased online that claims to contain SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators). Which statement is most accurate?

Answer: SARMs are unapproved investigational drugs banned by WADA, and products may be mislabeled or contaminated

SARMs are investigational drugs not approved by the FDA for human use, are prohibited by WADA, and are often found in mislabeled or contaminated supplement products.

A sports dietitian is asked about ribose supplementation for recovery in a team sport athlete. What does evidence indicate?

Answer: Evidence does not support ribose supplementation for improving performance or recovery in healthy, well-nourished athletes

Well-controlled studies in healthy athletes have not demonstrated meaningful performance or recovery benefits from ribose supplementation, as the body can synthesize adequate ribose through the pentose phosphate pathway.

When counseling an athlete about vitamin D supplementation, which factor is MOST important to assess before recommending a specific dose?

Answer: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels through blood testing

Serum 25(OH)D is the accepted biomarker for vitamin D status; dosing should be individualized based on current levels to avoid both deficiency and toxicity.

A sports dietitian is advising a distance runner about omega-3 fatty acid supplementation. Which specific outcome has the strongest evidence for omega-3s in athletes?

Answer: Attenuation of exercise-induced inflammation and support for muscle protein synthesis when combined with resistance training

Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, have the best evidence for reducing exercise-induced inflammatory markers and for augmenting the muscle protein synthetic response to resistance training.