“Polysupplement”
in Bodybuilding
“Polysupplement”
was derived from a pharmacy term called “Polypharmacy”.
Polypharmacy is defined as the use of several drugs or medicines
together in the treatment of disease, suggesting indiscriminate,
unscientific, or excessive prescription. The term is used
when too many forms of medication are used by a patient,
more drugs are prescribed than clinically warranted, or
even when all prescribed medications are clinically indicated
but there are too many pills to take ("pill burden").
“Polysupplement” therefore refers to the use of multiple
supplements by a bodybuilder or anyone who uses them to
achieve his/her fitness goals even when all the supplement
are not warranted. The common result of polypharmacy/polysupplement
is increased adverse drug reactions and higher costs.
At
risk demographic groups
Patients
at greatest risk of polypharmacy consequences include the
elderly, psychiatric patients, patients taking five or more
drugs concurrently, those with multiple physicians and pharmacies,
recently hospitalized patients, individuals with concurrent
comorbidities, despondent celebrites, and those with impaired
vision or dexterity. People at risk of polysupplement consequences
include bodybuilders, fitness athletes, and anybody who
depend on multiple supplements to gain a competitive advantage
in whatever sporting activity they’re engaged.
Over
the years, I have seen too many bodybuilders, fitness athletes,
and “gym goers” who take more pills (up to 10 to 30 pills
a day!!!) everyday than their elderly grandparents. This
leads me to ask this question: Aside from the increased
adverse drug reactions and higher costs of polysupplement,
who is really stronger and healthier, the young bodybuilder
or his elderly grandmother?
In
my opinion, if you take more pills than your grandma, your
grandma is actually stronger and healthier than you. Dietary
supplements are suppose to be used to do just that, “supplement”
(not to replace) your diet. If you need to add multiple
supplements to your training regimen, you probably should
consider adjusting your eating habit and use “supplements”
to tie up loose ends. However, if you feel your eating habit
is great but you still need multiple supplements, you should
probably see your Doctor for an evaluation, because you
could need more than just tons of dietary supplements. You
should also probably consider spending your money on “premium”
supplements only, because all those supplement you are taking
may be poor quality and ineffective and therefore not worth
damaging your liver and kidneys over.
Adverse
reactions and interactions
Contrary
to popular belief, supplements, when consumed (by mouth
or injected) take the same physiological or biology path
as any prescription or over-the-counter medication. They
are metabolized and excreted by the liver and/or kidney,
therefore supplements can cause the same problems as prescription
medication if they are abused or used excessively.
Like
every medication, all supplements have potential adverse
side-effects. With every supplement added, there is an additive
and/or exponential risk of side-effects. Many supplements
have potential interactions with other substances. Doctors
and pharmacists aim to avoid prescribing medications that
interact; often, adjustments in the dose of medications
need to be made to avoid interactions. My goal is to educate
or advice my fellow “bodysculptors” about the potential
problems of “polysupplement” and to avoid “unnecessary”
use of multiple supplements.
I
welcome any comments, suggestions, and/or objections anyone
may have concerning this article. Please email me at DrKofi@koflexsports.com
with suggestions of topics would like me to discuss here.
Thanks
for your time, and remember to use premium supplements to
“SCULPT
YOUR MASTERPIECE.”™
"A
healthy body, mind, and soul... that is all we ask of you"
