Why elite athletes use supplements — Report

Elite athletes are increasingly incorporating supplements like creatine into their routines, aiming to secure marginal performance gains. However, sports nutrition experts emphasize that a robust foundation in healthy living is paramount. Creatine, a natural substance produced within the body and also present in meat and fish, serves as a rapid energy source, especially beneficial for short, high-intensity activities such as sprinting.

Obtaining adequate creatine through dietary means alone can be challenging; Prof. Graeme Close, a prominent nutrition expert, points out that one would need an entire kilogram of raw chicken daily to obtain sufficient creatine. Despite this, creatine's popularity surged in elite sports during the 1990s, fueled by its introduction in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and its widespread adoption by 1996.

According to a BBC Sport report, creatine transitioned into one of the most established supplements in sports nutrition, with ongoing research exploring its potential cognitive benefits as well. Close, who was involved in nutrition for the British and Irish Lions rugby union tour, cautions that supplements should be considered only after athletes have established a strong nutritional base, describing them as "the final piece of the jigsaw" rather than a starting point.

He underscores that athletes who prioritize fundamentals are more likely to achieve tangible results than those fixated on supplements. Moreover, Close highlights that athletes who excel in their overall diet are more likely to achieve significant improvements. Australian cyclist Nicole Frain echoes this sentiment, asserting that supplements are merely supporting tools that should complement well-established practices.

Frain suggests that athletes should not rely on supplements as a panacea for fundamental issues, such as maintaining a balanced diet, rigorous training, proper sleep, recovery, hydration, and other critical aspects. Prof. Graeme Close, a professor of human physiology at Liverpool John Moores University, notes that while literature suggests about 90% of athletes use supplements, his experience working with sports teams suggests the number is likely closer to 100%.

This widespread usage prompts the question of how athletes ensure they remain compliant with anti-doping regulations. Sports nutrition experts collectively advise that while supplements may provide that additional edge, elite performance hinges on addressing the other 99% of essential factors.