ERGOGENIC AIDS

Brief History of Performance Enhancing Substances

● Before the 1960’s, it was common practice for athletes and coaches to ignore
side-effects and ethical considerations.
○ There was no drug testing done yet.
● In 1967, the international Olympic Committee became more involved with
anti-doping after an athlete died during the Tour De France
○ A medical commission of the IOC was established.
○ A list of banned substances was released.
● Today: the substances that athletes used are closely monitored and highly regulated

Ergogenic
● Formed from the conjunction of 2 words: Ergo + Genic which directly translates to
“generating or increasing work”
● Due to the increased pressure and desire to win, there is a significant amount of
research that goes into improving performance.

Ergogenic Aids
● A physiological, mechanical, nutritional, psychological, or pharmacological
substance or treatment that improves physiological variables or removes subjective
restraints.
● These are any particularly positive influences in producing additional work.
● These factors enhance performance of the individual, exceeding the edge of his or
her limits.
● Anything that an athlete can use during competition or training to help improve
performance (e.g. lifting weights, run farther, jump higher, workout for longer
periods of time.)
● While most ergogenic aids may boost an athlete’s performance for a brief period, it
can also hasten the recovery period between bouts of exercise.
● It may also come in the form of psychological treatment which can help athletes
focus or overcome mental hurdles.
● Sports psychology can be used by everyone. A variety of mental exercises and
techniques have been used by individuals to prepare, maintain, motivate and focus,
and to relax.
In essence, ergogenic aids are said to do the following:
● Directly influence the physiological capacity of a particular body system
● Remove psychological constraints which impact performance
● Increase the speed of recovery from training and competition

Types of Ergogenic Aids

1. Mechanical
○ Any physical object that affects performance qualifies as a mechanical aid.
Most common aids and easily accessible
○ Common Examples:
i. Athletic shoes (running/training/etc.)
ii. Dri-fit garments
iii. Equipment innovations
iv. Nasal breathing strips
v. Artificial surfaces (turf, etc.)
2. Pharmacological
○ Performance enhancing drugs, both illegal and legal, that can either be
injected or ingested
○ Common Examples:
i. Beta-blockers: main purpose is to reduce blood pressure but has also
been known to suppress adrenaline
ii. Erythropoietin: Stimulating agents which aim to increase red blood
cell production
iii. Antihistamines: Allergy medications
iv. HGH: Human Growth Hormones
v. Anabolic-androgenic steroids: Used/seen in powerlifting,
bodybuilding, and baseball
vi. Amphetamines: Increase signal transmission therefore reducing
reaction time, increasing speed and agility
vii. Caffeine
viii. Alcohol
○ These substances can be divided into stimulants or suppressants
3. Physiological
○ Natural substances and activities designed to relax or enhance bodily
functions
○ Common Examples:
i. Blood doping: increase/boost red blood cells therefore, increase the
capacity to carry oxygen and nutrients to the working muscles.
Increase the VO2max and overall endurance. Can be done through
1. Transfusion of your own blood or somebody else’s
2. Injection of erythropoietin
3. Injection of synthetic blood carriers
ii. Saline-infusion: works as rehydration
iii. Bicarbonate Loading
iv. Altitude training (hypoxia)
 ○ Because these are naturally occurring substances or functions of the body
then it is arguably not considered illegal or unfair to make the most out of
what your body is already producing or doing for you.
4. Psychological
○ Techniques that support and boost an individual’s mental state
○ Common Examples:
i. Hypnosis
ii. Imagery
iii. Cheering
iv. Music
v. Guided meditation
vi. Relaxation
vii. Yoga
5. Nutritional
○ Affects energy metabolism or directly affects the central nervous system.
○ Includes anything from manipulations of the fluid, carbohydrate, fat, and
protein content in a diet, to nutrient or food supplements in the form of
tablets, liquids, bars, injections, or powders.
○ Increase lean or fat-free body mass and increase muscle mass by increase
protein simulations and decrease body fat content
○ Common Examples:
i. Metabolic fuels
ii. Limiting cellular components
iii. Anabolic or stimulatory substances
iv. Anti-catabolic
○ These effects can be seen in diets such as carbohydrate loading, keto, and
paleo.

Ergogenic Edge for Human Performance

1. Stimulants
○ Used by individuals for appetite suppression, to utilize energy sources and to
sharpen reflexes.
○ Chemical structures of stimulants aid in the release of
norepinephrine/epinephrine more commonly known as adrenaline,
triggering the fight-or-flight response.
i. Increased heart rate and arterial constriction
ii. Bronchodilation for easier transfer and exchange of gases
iii. Increased alertness and concentration
○ Provide a short term or acute burst of energy to those who use them
○ Common adverse effects, usually seen at higher doses or in individuals with
cardiac risk factors, include:
i. Headache
ii. Hypertension
iii. Dizziness
iv. Anxiety
v. Tremors
2. Anabolic Steroids
○ Arguably the most famous type of ergogenic aids
○ Steroid usage is prominent in a wide range of sport events
○ It is estimated that 1 million Americans have used some form of anabolic
steroids at least once.
○ Derivatives of Testosterone, these steroids have anabolic (tissue building)
and androgenic (masculinizing) effects
○ Stimulation to protein synthesis is one mechanism by which they cause
increased muscle mass and a positive nitrogen balance.
○ Some even have Anti Catabolic effects (the prevention of tissue breakdown)
that adds to the increase in muscle mass
○ There are numerous adverse effects and some may affect multiple organ
systems
i. Liver and heart damage
ii. Increased risk of cancer
iii. Testicular atrophy, reduced sperm count
iv. Menstrual disruption, masculinization
v. Impotence
vi. Acne
○ The use of steroids in males decreases endogenous testosterone production
through a negative feedback mechanism
○ Instances of increased aggression (Roid Rage) and personality changes have
also been observed.
3. Diuretics
○ Substances that increases the rate of urination (production and excretion)
○ The main purpose is for rapid weight reduction
i. Loss of water weight through frequent urination
○ It can also be used to mask other drugs during testing
i. Diluting banned substances and “flushing it out”
○ This can lead to dehydration, impared thermoregulation, and electrolyte
imbalance
4. Creatine
○ One of the most popular nutritional supplements in the market
○ It is the main component of Creatine Phosphate
i. Can be found in meat and fish
ii. Is also synthesized in the liver
○ Used as a supplement to better maintain ATP/energy levels
○ Has also been shown to increase strength and fat-free mass
○ Phosphocreatine becomes a source of ATP replenishment after an explosive
physical performance
○ However phosphocreatine is depleted after an additional 5 to 15 seconds of
maximal anaerobic exercise
○ Creatine increases intracellular water in the muscle cell resulting in a net
increase in protein synthesis via decreased protein catabolism
○ Having higher levels of creatine will provide more ATP and promote protein
synthesis
 ○ The body only has a finite amount of creatine that it can store. Having too
much creatine results to the most serious adverse event is the potential for
renal failure
i. The ceiling for creatine muscle storage of approximately 5 g per kg of
muscle
○ Once this ceiling has been exceeded, the excess creatine must be excreted
by the kidneys. Having too much creatine can lead to chronic kidney diseases
i. This results in elevated blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine
levels.
5. Blood Doping
○ The artificial increase in total volume of the red blood cells, often via
transfusion
○ The process involves:
i. Removal of blood (between 1-4 units),
ii. Storage of the blood
iii. Reinfusion of the RBCs (1 week prior to competition)
○ The most crucial part of the process is cultivation and saving of the RBCs
○ This leads to an improved endurance performance through the increased
amounts of oxygen-rich and nutrients-rich blood in our body.
○ The augmented amount of RBCs results in
i. Improved oxygen carrying capacity of the blood
ii. Increased VO2max
iii. Increased time to exhaustion
○ Side-effects include:
i. Thickening of the blood (more viscous)
ii. Blood clots
iii. Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
iv. Risk of contracting blood-borne diseases.