Doping and dietary supplements

Aims. - To evaluate the risk of accidental doping after an absorption of dietary supplements. Synthesis of facts. - Dietary supplements are widely used all over the world as a mean of losing weight, increasing energy and athletic performance. Traditionally, dietary supplements referred to products made of essential nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. In 1994, US Congress broadens the definition with DSHEA to include, with some exceptions, any product such as herbs and plant-derived substances, enzymes, hormones and metabolites. Positive cases of doping due to dietary supplements can be found in three cases: addition of amphetamine-like compound, hormones and prohormones sold as dietary supplements, intentional contamination of dietary supplements by hormones, mainly anabolic steroids. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. Tous droits reserves.