As a sports dietitian, I am frequently asked about nutritional supplements. Supplements and ergogenic aids are big businesses. According to Richard Lewis, Ph.D. director of the University of Georgia sports nutrition program, some schools spend upwards of $12,000 a year on supplements (mainly creatine). Athletes are a prime market for these products as they are always trying to improve performance. There is a growing body of research on many of these substances but in most cases, there is still not enough evidence to make solid recommendations to athletes.
 With all the current research, we can make a few broad conclusions:

1. for an athlete consuming adequate energy and a variety of foods, nutritional supplements does not appear to benefit performance.

2. If an athleteís diet is deficient in certain nutrients due to poor food choices a supplement such as a multivitamin can be beneficial, and

3. Certain ìat riskî groups of athletes can benefit from supplementation. These groups include athletes consuming inadequate energy for weight loss purposes, vegan or vegetarian athletes - especially those not consuming dairy products, and female athletes who are ammenorrheic (not having menstrual periods).
 Before deciding to supplement your diet, make and effort to become informed about the product. Unlike most of our food and prescription drugs, the FDA does not currently regulate most nutritional supplements - which essentially means manufacturers can make any claim they want about a product without having to back it up with solid evidence. Seek out a nutrition professional such as a registered dietitian (RD) to help you evaluate the product.