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Performance-enhancing sports supplements: role in critical care.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Weitzel, L-RB; Sandoval, PA; Mayles, WJ; Wischmeyer, PE
Published in: Crit Care Med
October 2009

Many performance-enhancing supplements and/or drugs are increasing in popularity among professional and amateur athletes alike. Although the uncontrolled use of these agents can pose health risks in the general population, their clearly demonstrated benefits could prove helpful to the critically ill population in whom preservation and restoration of lean body mass and neuromuscular function are crucial. Post-intensive care unit weakness not only impairs post-intensive care unit quality of life but also correlates with intensive care unit mortality. This review covers a number of the agents known to enhance athletic performance, and their possible role in preservation of muscle function and prevention/treatment of post-intensive care unit weakness in critically ill patients. These agents include testosterone analogues, growth hormone, branched chain amino acid, glutamine, arginine, creatine, and beta-hydryoxy-beta-methylbutyrate. Three of the safest and most effective agents in enhancing athletic performance in this group are creatine, branched-chain amino acid, and beta-hydryoxy-beta-methylbutyrate. However, these agents have received very little study in the recovering critically ill patient suffering from post-intensive care unit weakness. More placebo-controlled studies are needed in this area to determine efficacy and optimal dosing. It is very possible that, under the supervision of a physician, many of these agents may prove beneficial in the prevention and treatment of post-intensive care unit weakness.

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Published In

Crit Care Med

DOI

EISSN

1530-0293

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

37

Issue

10 Suppl

Start / End Page

S400 / S409

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Testosterone
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Humans
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Glutamine
  • Emergency & Critical Care Medicine
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Critical Illness
 

Citation

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Weitzel, L.-R., Sandoval, P. A., Mayles, W. J., & Wischmeyer, P. E. (2009). Performance-enhancing sports supplements: role in critical care. Crit Care Med, 37(10 Suppl), S400–S409. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b6f2e6
Weitzel, Lindsay-Rae B., Paul A. Sandoval, W Jonathan Mayles, and Paul E. Wischmeyer. “Performance-enhancing sports supplements: role in critical care.Crit Care Med 37, no. 10 Suppl (October 2009): S400–409. https://doi.org/10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b6f2e6.
Weitzel L-RB, Sandoval PA, Mayles WJ, Wischmeyer PE. Performance-enhancing sports supplements: role in critical care. Crit Care Med. 2009 Oct;37(10 Suppl):S400–9.
Weitzel, Lindsay-Rae B., et al. “Performance-enhancing sports supplements: role in critical care.Crit Care Med, vol. 37, no. 10 Suppl, Oct. 2009, pp. S400–09. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/CCM.0b013e3181b6f2e6.
Weitzel L-RB, Sandoval PA, Mayles WJ, Wischmeyer PE. Performance-enhancing sports supplements: role in critical care. Crit Care Med. 2009 Oct;37(10 Suppl):S400–S409.

Published In

Crit Care Med

DOI

EISSN

1530-0293

Publication Date

October 2009

Volume

37

Issue

10 Suppl

Start / End Page

S400 / S409

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Testosterone
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Muscle Weakness
  • Intensive Care Units
  • Humans
  • Human Growth Hormone
  • Glutamine
  • Emergency & Critical Care Medicine
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Critical Illness