In this interactive online course you will learn about the process for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements. You’ll learn the advantages and disadvantages of using dietary supplements and explain these to the athletes with whom you work.

In this course, you’ll work with two certified athletic trainers and a registered dietician. They’ll help you answer questions from several high school and collegiate athletes who are considering using dietary supplements. You’ll also spend time at an athletic event and working in an orthopedic clinic.

The focus of this course is trained athletes. However, Unit 6 is devoted to recreational athletes. There is more supplement research conducted on highly trained athletes than on recreational athletes. Because training is an important variable, results from studies in highly trained athletes should not be extrapolated to recreational athletes.

After reading a short article about each supplement, you’ll be able to identify the active ingredient(s), describe the physiological mechanisms, and summarize the scientific research for each of the dietary supplements that the athletes inquire about. You’ll determine the type of athlete whose performance will benefit or be harmed by the supplement. You’ll learn to recognize the recommended dosage and protocol and you’ll be able to outline the potential side effects associated with dietary supplements.

Eleven supplements are covered in this course. Three of the supplements (androstenedione, DHEA, and ephedra) are not found in food. Three others (creatine, chromium, and pyruvate) are found in food but the dose of the supplement is not adjusted based on the amount a person might obtain from food. The remaining five (protein, calcium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E) are found in food and the amounts contained in food should be considered. A dietary analysis is a helpful tool to estimate the amount of nutrients an athlete currently consumes through diet. The Food Guide Pyramid, although less accurate than a dietary analysis, can be used to identify potential nutrient deficiencies. Its use with a recreational athlete is illustrated in Unit 6.

The prerequisite knowledge that will enable you to take full advantage of this course includes:

• Understanding of the scientific method
  
• Understanding of the physiological processes of digestion, absorption, and metabolism, the basic principles of energy systems and the substrates involved, and the anabolism and catabolism of muscle and adipose tissues
  
• Understanding the basic principles of nutrition, including the role of calories, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water
  
• Understanding of exercise physiology principles related to intensity and duration of exercise
  
• All competencies listed on pages 59-63 of the NATA’s Athletic Training Educational Competencies

Unit 1: Evaluating Dietary Supplements
You’ll work with Mike and learn how to help a collegiate football player trying to increase his muscle mass and lose body fat in the offseason. You’ll learn a process to help the athletes you work with to make informed decisions about dietary supplements. By the end of this unit, you’ll understand the role of the certified athletic trainer in helping athletes evaluate dietary supplements, the ethical issues associated with this process, and the risk/benefit ratio associated with the use of dietary supplements.

Unit 2: Regulations Governing Dietary Supplements
You’ll meet with Jackie Beckman, a registered dietitian, and learn how the Food and Drug Administration regulates dietary supplements. Jackie will explain the terms used to describe dietary supplements. You’ll learn how to interpret the Supplement Facts and the Principal Display Panel on Dietary supplements labels. The NCAA bylaws on nutritional supplements are discussed. You’ll learn how to calculate the percentage of protein contained in an energy bar and determine whether or not the product is permissible under the NCAA bylaws. Jackie explains how manufacturing procedures may contaminate dietary supplements.

Unit 3: Creatine Monohydrate
You’ll work with the football player, a wrestler, and a female distance swimmer, who are considering taking creatine supplements to have more energy available to fuel their exercise. You’ll discuss creatine monohydrate with these athletes and explain the scientific research, chemical mechanism, dosage, and potential side effects. You’ll judge the safety and effectiveness of this dietary supplement. You’ll also help these athletes to understand the type of athlete who may benefit from this supplement.

Unit 4: Supplements to Build Muscle and Increase Strength
You’ll begin this unit by reviewing the mechanisms for increasing muscle size and strength. After that, you’ll work with a shot putter and discuss the scientific research, chemical mechanism, dosage, and potential side effects associated with protein, androstenedione, DHEA, and chromium picolinate. You’ll judge the safety and effectiveness of these dietary supplements. You’ll also help this athlete to understand the type of athlete who may benefit from this supplement.

Unit 5: Supplements to Lose Body Fat
You’ll discuss using pyruvate, ephedra, and “fat burning supplements” with a high school swimmer and his parents. As you discuss these supplements, you’ll begin by reviewing the mechanisms for decreasing body fat. Then, you’ll explain the scientific research, chemical mechanism, dosage, and potential side effects. You’ll judge the safety and effectiveness of these dietary supplements. You’ll also help this athlete to understand the type of athlete who may benefit from these supplements.

Unit 6: Supplements to improve a poor dietary intake
Supplements to improve a poor dietary intake will be the focus of your conversations with a recreational tennis player. Your first step will be determining whether or not the athlete’s current diet is lacking in nutrients. You’ll explain the scientific research, chemical mechanism, dosage, and potential side effects associated with calcium, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin E. You’ll judge the safety and effectiveness of these dietary supplements. You’ll also help this recreational athlete to understand the type of athlete who may benefit from these supplements.

Finally, you’ll take an exam over the process of evaluating the safety and effectiveness of and making recommendations to athletes about the use of dietary supplements.