Strength in Caution: Exploring the Risks of Fitness Supplements

A recent warning issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) illuminates the risky landscape of bodybuilding products infused with potentially hazardous elements. The captivating promise of accelerated muscle growth and performance enhancement has fueled the influx of products vow promising swift outcomes. However, it remains crucial to acknowledge the potential dangers lurking within these products.

Labeled as hormone products or substitutes for anabolic steroids, a substantial number of these bodybuilding items claim the ability to impact muscle mass and strength. These products often boast the capacity of their active elements to modulate androgen, estrogen, or progestin-like effects within the body. However, a significant portion of these items contain anabolic steroids or substances resembling steroids—synthetic hormones linked with male testosterone.

Troublingly, the FDA identified numerous bodybuilding products labeled as “dietary supplements” both in online markets and retail outlets. However, these so-called supplements frequently contain undisclosed or untested components, constituting unauthorized new drugs and violating the law.

Among the common constituents of these products are Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs). Engineered to selectively engage androgen receptors in specific tissues, like muscles and bones, SARMs strive to minimize the adverse impacts associated with conventional anabolic steroids. This is expected to fuel muscle growth and improve performance while curbing the androgenic effects such as hair loss, prostate enlargement, and voice alterations. Nonetheless, SARMs carry a potential for heightened heart attack and stroke risks, along with uncertain long-term effects on the body.

It’s crucial to highlight that body-building products containing SARMs have not earned FDA approval and raise safety apprehensions. These concerns include the potential escalation of heart attack and stroke risks, as well as perilous responses like liver impairment. Instances of health setbacks stemming from these products encompass kidney damage, heart attacks, strokes, pulmonary embolisms (clots in the lungs), and deep vein thrombosis (clots in deep body veins).

Furthermore, some users of bodybuilding items indulge in “stacking,” wherein multiple products—sometimes including stimulants or misleading liver protection claims—are consumed concurrently to amplify results. This practice heightens the potential for severe and life-threatening outcomes. Ultimately, it’s consumers who may lack awareness of these perils and inadvertently subject themselves to harm, lured by products boasting miraculous outcomes or empty promises.

It’s worth noting that while appropriately employed alongside a comprehensive diet and training regimen, bodybuilding products can confer benefits. However, they’re no panacea and cannot replace a well-rounded lifestyle. Prior to incorporating any bodybuilding products, it’s strongly advised to consult a healthcare professional or qualified nutritionist to ensure alignment with individual goals and overall well-being.

Signs of product usage include:

• Severe acne

• Hair loss

• Mood fluctuations

• Irritability

• Escalated aggression

• Depression

Additionally, life-threatening consequences encompass:

• Kidney impairment

• Heart attacks

• Strokes

• Pulmonary embolisms (lung clots)

• Deep vein thrombosis (clots in deep veins)

Sources: 

1. Caution: Bodybuilding Products Can Be Risky | FDA
2. FDA In Brief: FDA warns against using SARMs in body-building products | FDA
3. Bodybuilding and Performance Enhancement Supplements | NCCIH (nih.gov)