[Science Report]:Sports Drugs


This is the VOA SpecialEnglish SCIENCE REPORT.

A new study says many young people in the United States takesubstances that claim to make people perform sports better. Thestudy says that about one-million Americans between the ages oftwelve and seventeen years old have used these sports supplements.One in five young people questioned said they know someone who usesthe sports supplements. People can buy them at stores that sellvitamins.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association carried out the study.Researchers questioned almost one-thousand-eight-hundred Americansby telephone. Seven-hundred-eighty-five of them were young peoplebetween the ages of ten and seventeen. Blue Cross researchers usedthe findings to estimate national use of the sports supplements.

The study found that children as young as ten years old usesports supplements. The researchers estimate thatthree-hundred-ninety-thousand children between the ages of ten andfourteen have used the products.

Those questioned identified creatine as the most commonsupplement. The body produces creatine naturally. Some famousAmerican athletes use products with creatine to increase thestrength of their muscles. In the United States, the substance issold legally in candy and other foods.

However, creatine also has been linked to health problems. Onedoctor noted that the substance causes stomach pain and diarrhea. Hesaid it also has been linked to muscle injury and kidney problems.

A trade group for supplement makers said it believes thatcreatine is safe, when taken by someone responsible. The trade groupsays there is a large amount of evidence that shows creatine ishelpful for healthy people.

Seventy percent of the young people questioned in the study couldnot identify any harmful effects that might result from using sportssupplements. Yet ninety-six percent of them believed that people whouse the supplements face the possibility of some health damage.

Blue Cross officials urged American parents and teachers toeducate children about the issue. They also urged the government totake action to limit marketing and sales of supplements to youngpeople.

This VOA Special English SCIENCE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.

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