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Cited by 280Doping in SportsPharmacological Effects and AssaysHormonal and reproductive studies

Popular Ergogenic Drugs and Supplements in Young Athletes

Calfee, Ryan, Fadale, Paul·2006·Pediatrics
DOI 10.1542/peds.2005-1429
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Abstract

Ergogenic drugs are substances that are used to enhance athletic performance. These drugs include illicit substances as well as compounds that are marketed as nutritional supplements. Many such drugs have been used widely by professional and elite athletes for several decades. However, in recent years, research indicates that younger athletes are increasingly experimenting with these drugs to improve both appearance and athletic abilities. Ergogenic drugs that are commonly used by youths today include anabolic-androgenic steroids, steroid precursors (androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone), growth hormone, creatine, and ephedra alkaloids. Reviewing the literature to date, it is clear that children are exposed to these substances at younger ages than in years past, with use starting as early as middle school. Anabolic steroids and creatine do offer potential gains in body mass and strength but risk adverse effects to multiple organ systems. Steroid precursors, growth hormone, and ephedra alkaloids have not been proven to enhance any athletic measures, whereas they do impart many risks to their users. To combat this drug abuse, there have been recent changes in the legal status of several substances, changes in the rules of youth athletics including drug testing of high school students, and educational initiatives designed for the young athlete. This article summarizes the current literature regarding these ergogenic substances and details their use, effects, risks, and legal standing.

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  • Creatine is still less frequently used when compared to other dietary supplement categories such as multivitamins, protein powders, and energy products, in which usage rates can range anywhere from 60-80% among adolescent athletes.

    “While creatine appears to be a popular dietary supplement of choice among elite adolescent athletes, creatine is still less frequently used when compared to other dietary supplement categories such as multivitamins, protein powders, and energy products, in which usage rates of these product categories can range anywhere from 60–80% among adolescent athletes [26,27,28,29,30,31,32].”

    From Creatine Supplementation in Children and Adolescents (2021) · cites this paper as [30]

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Authors
Calfee, R., & Fadale, P.
Affiliations
Brown University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Pediatrics
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Published
2006-03-01
Volume
117
Issue
3
Pages
e577-e589
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
DOI
10.1542/peds.2005-1429
OpenAlex
W2120061101
Cited by
280
References
95
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 15 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 25
FWCI
81.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Doping in Sports
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Pharmacological Effects and Assays
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
ergogenic aids, performance-enhancing drugs, youth athletes, anabolic steroids, steroid precursors, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone, growth hormone, creatine, ephedrine alkaloids, adverse effects, health education
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Affect, Aggression, Creatine, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Doping in Sports, Ephedrine, Humans, Legislation, Drug, Sports Medicine, Illicit Drugs, United States, Substance Abuse Detection, Human Growth Hormone, Dietary Supplements, Anabolic Agents

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