An Overview of the Risks and Impact of Pre-exercise Supplements for Exercise Performance, Recovery, and Cardiovascular Health

AbstractPurpose of the ReviewPre-workout supplements, usually referred to as dietary supplements, are very popular among consumers looking to improve their physical and athletic performance. Although use is broad, there is data lacking on the potential short- and long-term cardiac impact of these supplements. This review was undertaken to assess available information on the contemporary most used pre-workout supplement categories, their ergogenic effects to understand the rationale for use, their use in patients with CVD or those interested in CVD prevention or disease progression mitigation, and potential safety concerns in both younger and older people interested in augmentation of exercise performance and improved recovery times.Recent FindingsThe pre-workout supplement market in the USA is projected to increase to $26.8 billion by 2023 from its $14.2 billion value in 2022. It is important to note that the FDA does not currently regulate the safety, effectiveness, or labeling of these supplements; this puts the onus on the makers to provide accurate safety and use information, and this can lead to customer confusion. The effectiveness and safety of pre-workout supplement use amongst the CVD population or for CVD prevention are unclear despite the broad use and popularity of the most used products: antioxidants, caffeine, creatine, and nitrates. However, outside of antioxidant therapy, there are clear favorable differential impacts of these agents on exercise performance an...
Source: Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research