Supplements

It is recommended that you perform a personal cost-benefit analysis before deciding whether to use any nutritional supplement. 

Questions to ask before making your decision: 
1. How strong is the evidence that it can help athletes in your sport/discipline/with your impairment? Look at scientific journals (laboratory and field based) and/ or ask a registered professional sports nutritionist, dietitian, sport scientist or doctor. 
2. Have the long-term benefits, issues or side-effects been investigated? 
3. Is the product regularly tested for prohibited substances? 
4. How much does it cost?
5. Can I gain the same (and sufficient) nutrients from a whole food source? 
6. Overall, do the gains/benefits outweigh the costs and possible risks of taking the supplement? Or vice versa?

Cereal bars, milkshakes and other similar snacks could be considered a supplement to the diet of the athlete. These are food products manufactured by food companies and they can form a useful part of a regular diet.

This might include sports drinks, gels and glucose tablets or sweets. They are not normally associated with a risk of contamination, although you should be aware that it is still a possibility and that the rule of ‘strict liability’ makes you, as an athlete, responsible for any substance found within your body. It is important to ensure that these products come from a reputable source and once made up it is important that drinks are kept in a secure way to ensure that no one can tamper with them.

It should be possible for every athlete to consume an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals by eating a well-balanced and varied diet. The simplest and safest way to ensure this is to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. There is no evidence that extra vitamins or minerals will enhance sport performance, unless you are deficient. If minerals are needed to treat a medical condition, such as iron for anaemia, this should be done under the supervision of a sports dietitian and/or doctor.

These are substances which claim to help an athlete perform at a level higher than they would normally be able to. Included in this group would be illegal substances such as steroids, as well as non-banned substances such as glucosamine or carnitine. There are very few substances which have sufficient evidence to support their use but there are a few supplements that have been shown to have a beneficial effect on performance in non-disabled athletes such as creatine, caffeine and buffering agents (sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine).

If you are an athlete using any of these substances, you do so at your own risk. Some medical conditions may involve a few extra nutritional issues that those undertaking sport may need to consider. For example, those with a poor appetite, an increased energy requirement due to their condition, or feeding problems may routinely use supplementary drinks provided on prescription. For the travelling athlete it is important to ensure that sufficient supplies are available when travelling either by carrying personal supplies or by contacting the company who produces the drinks to arrange a delivery in a foreign country if possible.

As an individual with an amputation or SCI, you may need to consider adjusting the dosage of a supplement to suit your needs, which often means reducing the recommended non-disabled dose. Logically this would mean adjusting the dosage according to the amount of active muscle mass you have. Unfortunately, the evidence for exactly how much and how often you should consume different supplements is limited so please consult a registered nutritionist or dietitian for advice.