Performance Enhancement Flashcards
What is an ergogenic aid?
Substances or techniques used to improve athletic performance (physiological, psychological, or biomechanical function)
Examples include anabolic steroids, caffeine, and other supplements.
What does ‘ergogenic’ mean?
Work producing
What is a critical evaluation of nutrition supplement studies?
Considerations include:
* Clear hypothesis
* Study on cells, tissues, animals or humans
* Comparable population
* Controlled external variables
* Placebo controlled
* Adequate techniques used
* Randomized trials
* Crossover design used
* Confirmation by other studies
* Peer-reviewed
* Funding source
Name two types of ergogenics for weight/strength gain.
- Anabolic steroids
- Creatine
- Prohormones (Androstenedione or DHEA/S, both similar to testosterone)
- Growth hormone
- HMB
- Beta adrenergic agonists
What are some examples of pharmaceutical agents for weight loss/aerobic performance?
- Thermogenic drugs (Ephedrine alone or mixed with caffeine/asprin)
- Anorexiant drugs (Fluoxetine)
- Nicotine
- Diuretics
How do anorexiant drugs cause weight loss?
Loss of appetite
How do thermogenic drugs affect the nervous system?
Caffeine/ephedrine stimulate the SNS, a major regulator of thermogenesis
Explain the difference between alpha and beta receptors.
α1: Heart, vascular smooth muscle.
α2: Presynaptic terminals, vascular and other smooth muscle cells.
β1/2/3: Heart, lungs, blood vessels. Many functions, including increasing lipolysis.
What are some examples of SNS stimulants?
Adrenaline/ epinephrine, amphetamine, noradrenaline/ norepinephrine, ephedrine.
What are some examples of CNS stimulants?
Ephedrine/ pseudoephedrine
List some potential benefits of symathetic stimulants
- Weight loss
- Reaction time/ acceleration/ speed
- Aerobic endurance
- Higher max HR and peak lactate
- Better focus
- Fine motor coordination
What are the risks of sympathetic stimulants?
- Death
- Cardiac arrythmias
- Delay in sensation of fatigue
- Extreme nervousness
- Aggressive behaviour
- Insommnia
How does ephedrine affect the body?
SNS Stimulant that prevents low BP (sympathomimetic substance)
More effective than the over the counter version (pseudoephedrine)
What are the proposed effects of sympathetic stimulants?
Ephedrine, amphetamines…
As sympathomimetic substances, they stimulate α and β receptors, causing weight loss.
Prevents loss of FFM, may be influencing protein synthesis.
May also prevent drop in RMR with restriction.
Ephedrine has both ___ and ___ effects.
Thermogenic; Appetite suppressive
True or False: Caffeine is considered a sympathomimetic substance.
True
What are the proposed effects of caffeine?
- Increases lipolysis
- Reduces perception of fatigue
- Increases mental awareness
- Stimulates metabolism
When studied, what were the more serious side effects of ephedrine?
MI, stroke, seizures…
Ephedra products account for 64% of all adverse reactions to herbs in US.
Ephedra alkaloids 10 deaths, 13 permanent disability.
What is the half-life of caffeine?
2-10 hours
Peak in blood roughly 60 minutes after consumption
Caffeine = trimethylxanthine
How does caffeine reduce fatigue?
Caffeine is an antagonist to adenosine, meaning that it blocks the neurotransmitter from binding to cause feeling of fatigue.
How does caffeine affect noradrenaline levels?
Reduces the negative feedback that inhibits noradrenaline secretion.
How does caffeine affect the body?
Antagonist to adenosine
Agonist to noradrenaline
Relaxes smooth muscles (increased BF)
Increases CHO absorption
Stimulates adrenal medulla (adrenaline)
Increases lipolysis, fat oxidation
Fill in the blank: Caffeine is metabolized in the liver into paraxanthine, theobromine, and _________.
Theophylline
What is the function of each product of caffeine metabolism?
Paraxanthine (84%): Increases
lipolysis, causing high glycerol/ free fatty acid levels in plasma.
Theobromine (12%): Dilates blood vessels and increases urine volume.
Theophylline (4%): Relaxes smooth muscles of the
bronchi, used to treat asthma.
