Supplement 411: a Great Resource for Information on Dietary Supplementation

Take some time, perhaps as much time as you would spend shopping aimlessly for your dietary supplements, and navigate to a website called Supplement 411 . USADA (United States Anti-Doping Agency) has created this website to help guide athletes in their never ending search for the magic supplement...the pill or powder that will elevate their game to the next level. The site is designed to do the following:

• Designed to give facts about the supplement industry,
• Suggests what is the best thing to take,
• Explains why athletes often choose to take dietary supplements,
• Discusses the serious health and safety risks that athletes are exposed to when using dietary supplements,
• Warns the consumer about the possibility of ingredient mislabeling and/or product contamination of banned substantces, and
• Helps to identify risks and red flags when purchasing these supplements.

Click on the Supplement 411 link above or simply cut and paste this link into your browser and start educating yourself of the hidden dangers of dietary supplement use and abuse.
http://www.usada.org/supplement411

Cranberries Can Cure...

True or False:

Drinking cranberry juice may offer some protection to millions of women each year who suffer from Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Answer: TRUE!!

Leading research institutions have been reporting the latest findings regarding the cranberry's antibacterial and anti-adhesion properties, as well as promising new areas of research in anti-aging, anti-cancer and protection against cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes. Click here to read the full article about the health benefits of cranberries.

Water Gone Wrong...

There has been some discussion regarding the use of Vitaminwater at NCAA sponsored Championship events. The concern is that some of the products in this line contain substances that appear on the NCAA banned substance list or are considered non-permissible substances. Read below to answer some of your questions regarding these popular products used for fluid replacement.

Vitaminwater Frequently Asked Questions

What is Vitaminwater?
Vitaminwater is an electrolyte and nutrient enhanced water.

Which variety will be part of NCAA championships?
Vitaminwater Revive will be the only flavor associated with NCAA championships.

Are there other Vitaminwater varieties affiliated with this partnership between Coca-Cola and the NCAA?
Vitaminwater Revive will be the only variety directly affiliated with the partnership. The other eight varieties of Vitaminwater (out of a total of 15 flavors) that contain nutrients permissible by NCAA bylaws will be available to schools, athletics staff and student-athletes on a by-request basis.

Every bottle of Vitaminwater has at a minimum:
· 25% of four b vitamins
· 100% of vitamin c for most products
· calcium, magnesium and potassium electrolytes
· 32 g of sugar

How will Vitaminwater Revive be incorporated into NCAA championships? Vitaminwater Revive will have sideline presence at NCAA championships in the way of coolers, cups, water bottles and related items.

Vitaminwater Revive will be added as an additional hydration option for all NCAA championships. Other Coca-Cola products will be available, including Smartwater and POWERade.

The entire line of Vitaminwater products (all 15 flavors) may appear in retail displays next to NCAA championship themed promotions, but there will be no direct association between the impermissible 6 flavors and the NCAA. There also will be a visible disclaimer in those situations.

Vitaminwater will promote its NCAA relationship and activation through television, print and other media during and around selected championships.

Does the sideline presence of Vitaminwater Revive mean that the NCAA is now endorsing a supplement drink product? No. The NCAA does not endorse commercial products/services, including nutritional supplements. The NCAA has reviewed the list of ingredients on the bottle labels per NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2.g and found that NCAA institutions may provide the following nine Vitaminwater products to their student-athletes:

· Revive – fruit punch
· Essential – orange-orange
· XXX – acai, blueberry, pomegranate
· Focus – kiwi strawberry
· Formula 50 – grape
· Multi-v – lemonade
· Charge – lemon-line
· Endurance – peach-mango
· Defense – raspberry-apple

Since there are Vitaminwater products that contain banned or impermissible substances as defined by the NCAA, how can NCAA institutions determine which vitaminwater varieties or other hydration beverages may be provided?
If an institution has an interest in providing Vitaminwater, or any other supplement product, it is the institution's responsibility to review each product independently or contact NCAA membership services for any questions related to NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2.g.

What impermissible ingredients per NCAA Bylaw 16.5.2.g might be found in Vitaminwater varieties?
Taurine, L-theanine, green tea extract, or glucosamine.

What NCAA banned substances might be found in Vitaminwater varieties?
Caffeine or guarana seed extract.

The NCAA bans caffeine because it is found to be a performance enhancer, and because of concern about the effects of stimulant use during intense exercise. Caffeine will produce an NCAA positive drug test if amounts exceed 15 micrograms/mL in the urine sample collected. There is not a formula to calculate the amount of caffeine one can consume prior to a drug test and not test positive. Varying metabolic rates and time of consumption prior to urine collection are among the contributing factors. The 15 micrograms/mL cut-off is designed to allow for moderate caffeine consumption below the positive test threshold. The NCAA recommendation is not to consume caffeine in a supplement form.

What is the difference between impermissible and banned substances according to NCAA Bylaws?
Impermissible nutritional supplement products are those that contain ingredients that do not meet the criteria identified in NCAA Division I Bylaw 16.5.2.g, and Division II Bylaw 16.5.1.h which define what kinds of nutritional supplement products institutions may provide to student-athletes to assist them in calorie and fluid replacement. Student-athletes may purchase a nutritional supplement that contains impermissible substances, provided it does not contain an NCAA banned substance.

Student-athletes may not use substances that are Banned by the NCAA, at any time, unless for legitimate medical purposes. The classes of banned-drugs are defined in NCAA Bylaw 31.2.3.4.

Some supplement products may contain both impermissible supplement ingredients and banned substances.

Which Vitaminwater products contain impermissible or banned substances?
At this time, Vitaminwater has six products that contain impermissible or banned substances. Those products are Power-C, Energy, B-Relaxed, Rescue, Vital-T and Balance.

Power-C (Drangonfruit) Impermissible Substance is Taurine

b-Relaxed (Jackfruit-Guava) Impermissible Substance is L-Theanine

Vital-T (Lemon tea-Rooibos) Impermissible Substance is Rooibos Tea Extract

Balance (Cran-Grapefruit) Impermissible Substance is Glucosamine

Energy (Tropical Fruit) Banned Substances are Caffeine and Guarana Seed Extract

Rescue (Green Tea) Banned Substance is Caffeine

What is the “center for responsible hydration” as noted on the Vitaminwater Revive product label?
This reference is simply a moniker glacéau uses for marketing purposes.

Have the ingredients in Vitaminwater Revive changed over the years?
Yes. Vitaminwater Revive contained kola and ginseng nearly three years ago (2006). Those ingredients have since been removed and all nutritional facts are currently published on the product bottle.

Will Smartwater, another Glacéau product line, be offered as a bottled water hydration option at NCAA championships instead of Dasani?
Coca-Cola will provide bottled water for all 88 NCAA championships, whether it is Smartwater or Dasani.

Information provided by Mary Wilfert on behalf of the NCAA.

Vitamins and Minerals, Sources and Functions

Vitamin	Best Sources	Function
A Retinol Carotene 800-1000mcg	Eggs, dark green and yellow vegetables and fruits, lowfat dairy products, liver	Growth and repair of body tissue, immune functions, night vision
B-1 Thiamin 1.0-1.5mg	Wheat germ, pork, whole and enriched grains, dried beans, seafood	Carbohydrate metabolism, appetite maintenance, nerve function, growth and muscle tone
B-2 Riboflavin 1.2-1.7mg	Lowfat milk products, green leafy vegetables, whole and enriched grains, beef, lamb, eggs	Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, needed for cell respiration, mucous membranes
B-6 Pyridoxine 1.6-2.0mg	Fish, poultry, lean meat, whole grain, potatoes	Carbohydrate and protein metabolism, formation of antibodies, red blood cells, nerve function
B-12 Cobalamin 2.0mcg	Lean beef, fish, poultry, eggs, lowfat and nonfat milk	Carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism, maintains nervous system, blood cell formation
Biotin (No RDA)	Egg yolk, meat, lowfat and nonfat milk, dark green vegetables; also made by microorganisms in intestinal tract	Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, formation of fatty acids, utilization of B vitamins
Folic Acid 200-400mcg	Green leafy vegetables, dried beans, poultry, fortified cereals, oranges, nuts	Red blood cell formation, protein metabolism, growth and cell division
Niacin 13-19mg	Poultry, fish, whole and enriched grains, dried beans and peas	Carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, health and digestive system, blood circulation, nerve function, appetite
Pantothenic Acid (No RDA)	Most plant and animal foods, especially leans meats, whole grains, legumes	Converts nutrients into energy, vitamin utilization, nerve function
C Ascorbic Acid 60mg	Citrus fruits, tomatoes, melons, berries, green and red peppers, broccoli	Wound healing, strengthens blood vessels, collagen maintenance, resistance to infection, healthy gums
D Cholecalcoferol 5-10mcg 200-400 IU	Egg yolk, fatty fish, fortified milk, also made in skin exposed to light	Calcium and phosphorus metabolism (bone and teeth formation)
E Tocopherol 8-10mg	Vegetable oil, wheat germ, nuts, dark green vegetables, whole grains, beans	Protects cell membranes and red blood cells from oxidation, may be active in immune function
K 60-80mcg	Green leafy vegetables, cereal, egg yolk	Formation of blood clotting agents and bone

Mineral	Best Sources	Functions
Calcium 800-1500mg	Lowfat or nonfat milk products, calcium fortified orange juice and bread, salmon with bones	Support of bone, teeth, muscle tissue, regulates heart beat, muscle action, nerve functions, blood clotting
Chromium (No RDA)	Cheese, whole grains, meats, peas, beans	Needed glucose for metabolism (energy), increases effectiveness of insulin, muscle function
Copper (No RDA)	Nuts, dried beans, oysters, cocoa powder	Formation of red blood cells, pigment, needed for bone health
Iodine 150mcg	Seafood, iodized salt	Function of thyroid gland, which controls metabolism
Iron 10-15mg	Meat, fish, poultry, organ meats, beans, whole and enriched grains, green leafy vegetables	Formation of hemoglobin in blood and myoglobin in muscle, which supply oxygen to cells
Magnesium 280-350mg	Nuts, green vegetables, whole grains, beans	Enzyme activation, nerve and muscle function, bone growth
Phosphorus 800-1200mg	Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, lowfat milk products, beans, whole grains	Bone development, carbohydrate, protein and fat utilization
Potassium (No RDA)	Vegetables, fruits, beans, bran cereal, lowfat milk products	Fluid balance, controls activity of heart muscle, nervous system
Selenium 55-70mcg	Seafood, lean meat, grains, eggs, chicken, garlic	Fights cell damage from oxidation
Zinc 12-15mg	Lean meat, eggs, seafood, whole grains, lowfat milk products	Taste and smell sensitivity, regulation of metabolism, aids in healing