Mice trying to bulk up should be aware of possibly fatal effects from their favorite bodybuilding powders.
According to research recently released by University Health System scientists, a commonly used compound found in some bodybuilding powders has caused extremely detrimental side effects in mice and could be fatal.
Assoc. Pediatrics Prof. Ben Gaston, one of the researchers, said scientists initially thought the compound, an antioxidant called N-Acetyl Cysteine, would prove beneficial. Instead, the study found the compound's side effects when given to lab mice in large quantities were the opposite. Large doses of the compound caused the right side of the mice's hearts to enlarge and eventually fail, Gaston said.
Co-researcher Lisa Palmer, associate pediatrics professor, said the study also found that male mice experienced more severe effects than female mice, noting she plans to continue her research to learn more about gender differences in the negative effects caused by the antioxidant.
The heart condition experienced by the mice could cause shortness of breath, chest pain, light-headedness and even sudden death for humans, Gaston said. He noted, however, that this specific antioxidant was only tested on mice and may not be dangerous to humans.
According to Gaston, N-Acetyl Cysteine is actually beneficial in smaller doses and is found naturally in mice. It can be used to stimulate ventilation by making the body believe it is not receiving enough oxygen, he said.
"This is a new way that the body senses oxygen," he noted. "The system for sensing oxygen was much more beautifully designed than we thought."
Gaston said the purpose of the research was to alert people who are using bodybuilding supplements to be aware of possible harmful side effects and to use these drugs cautiously.
Using bodybuilding supplements is always a risk because manufacturers are not held to the same quality standards for producing supplements as medicines, University nutrition educator Melanie Brede said.
"I would always caution users to be very careful and selective," Brede said, noting that few supplements are as safe as good diet and exercise.
Palmer said research has shown that the popular bodybuilding drug Creatine, however, may have positive performance effects as long as it is used according to directions.
According to Kelly Drown, assistant director of fitness programs at the Aquatic & Fitness Center, however, there has not been enough research done on any specific bodybuilding powders to say whether they are harmful to humans.
"We don't by any means endorse any one of them," she said.
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