Archive for October, 2009

Bodybuilding With Steroids Damages Kidneys

Athletes who use anabolic steroids may gain muscle mass and strength, but they can also destroy their kidney function, according to a paper being presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s 42nd Annual Meeting and Scientific Exposition in San Diego, CA. The findings indicate that the habitual use of steroids has serious harmful effects on the kidneys that were not previously recognized.
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Experts Weigh in on Calorie Lists on Menus, Despite “Mixed” Science

Washington, DC – Scientific uncertainty exists about the benefits of requiring restaurants to prominently display calorie information on menu boards in the US, but key researchers in the field say that the obesity problem is so great that society needs to act now to increase awareness about the calorie content of these typically fast-food meals.

Presenting data during a special symposium at Obesity 2009, Dr Kelly Brownell (Yale University, New Haven, CT) likened the calorie labels to an exit sign in an office [1]. While not everybody uses the sign to find the way out and there is no evidence showing more people left the building after the sign went up, the consumer’s right to know about such information is important.
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IFBB Eliminating Posing Routine Scoring
by Joe Pietaro

What almost seems like a formality at this point, the IFBB has officially removed the scoring in regards to the posing round in both men and women’s bodybuilding. What was once a major part of a competitor’s presentation, posing is even less than the afterthought that it had become since mass took over for symmetry.

“In Bodybuilding, the posing routine will no longer be scored. This will value the Prejudging and Finals Posedown at 50% each,” was listed as one of the rule changes included as part of the IFBB Advisory Notice 101409 prepared by Chairman Jim Manion. (http://www.ifbbpro.com/news/advisory-notice-101409/)
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Consumers Value Supplements Despite Tough Economy

Despite challenging economic times, 65% of adult consumers (up slightly from 64% in 2008) take dietary supplements, according to a new consumer survey conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs for the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), Washington, D.C.

When asked if the economy had impacted their household’s dietary supplement purchasing habits, nearly three-quarters (74%) of those surveyed responded that it had not.

“We’re pleased that consumers continue to place emphasis on their health, even in uncertain economic times, and that dietary supplements continue to play a role in their overall wellness regimen,” said Judy Blatman, senior vice president, communications, CRN. “According to our survey, consumers, including supplement users, report to be taking necessary steps towards good health, such as trying to eat a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. We’re encouraged that dietary supplements continue to be a part of that equation for many.”
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William Llewellyn’s Sport Supplement Reference Guide Now Available

William’s latest book (which is on supplements and not steroids) has now been released. It’s called the “Sport Supplement Reference Guide” and it’s sure to be a hit. William Llewellyn is the author of the bestselling ANABOLICS Reference Guide and one of the most respected researchers in the field of sports nutrition. In this book, William Llewellyn uses his usual “no bull” approach and breaks down which performance-enhancing supplements are backed by real science, and which ones are pure hype.
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Lee Priest Comeback May Result in 202 Victory
by Joe Pietaro

An announcement was made during Olympia weekend that may just shake up the 202 division next year. Lee Priest, who has not competed since 2002, announced that he is coming back and intends on taking on Kevin English and the rest of the 202 division. He will begin preparing next month in his native Australia and will be filming his workouts for Muscular Development.
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Mass Tab Causes Stroke in 17-Year-Old Football Player?

Mass Tab is a prohormone supplement marketed to help users gain size and strength. Unfortunately, the makers of this product are in a heap of controversy after the product was linked to allegedly causing a stroke in a 17-year-old football player who used the product and then fell ill!

“The manufacturers of Mass Tab have engaged in what appears to be fraud and reckless and negligent marketing of a bogus bulking supplement that contained a steroid,” said Greg Davis, attorney for the young football player, who filed a lawsuit in state court today. “The manufacturers failed to test and to warn the public of the known risks of its product, insidiously marketing it as having ‘low side-effects.’”
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India Set for Nutritional Supplement Boom
By Carina Perkins

India’s nutritional supplement market is set to boom over the next few years, with some analysts predicting it will double in value by 2013.

According to a report released by Netscribes (India) Pvt. Ltd, the total market for nutraceuticals in India is growing at 21 per cent per annum. It is currently valued at INR 44bn (€621m), but could be worth more than INR 95bn (€1.34bn) in four years time.

Analysts say the growth of India’s nutritional supplement market is being driven by the changing lifestyle of the country’s consumers and increased knowledge about nutritional supplements.
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Kevin English – King of the 202 Division
by Joe Pietaro

Why bodybuilding took so long to bring back a second division for the smaller framed competitors may be questionable, but now that it is here to stay it appears that Kevin English has established himself as the one to beat. The back and forth battle between the Great Neck, New York native and David Henry continued with English edging his rival a year after falling to him at the 202 Olympia.
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Branch Warren More Than Just ‘On the Map’
by Joe Pietaro

And then there were two. As Jay Cutler and Branch Warren stood side by side on the stage at the Orleans Arena, the tension cut be cut with a knife. As emcee Bob Cicherillo was set to read out the winner’s name, a bit of confusion ensued when he led the announcement with “the new Mr. Olympia.”

Surely many people read into that statement and were under the impression that Warren’s name was about to be read. With Cutler having two Sandows to his name, many may have overlooked that defending champion Dexter Jackson was already on the side holding the third place check. So regardless of who won, technically he would have been the ‘new’ Mr. O.
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Vitamin Lawsuit: Men’s One A Day Gets Sued

Drug Giant Tries to Silence CSPI With Threat of Libel Suit

WASHINGTON—The Center for Science in the Public Interest has sued the German drug company Bayer for falsely claiming that the selenium in Men’s One A Day multivitamins might reduce the risk of prostate cancer. The lawsuit is filed in the Superior Court of California in San Francisco.

CSPI first contacted Bayer in June to demand that the drug maker alter its marketing of Men’s One A Day because the largest prostate cancer prevention trial ever conducted found eight months earlier that selenium supplementation does not prevent prostate cancer. More alarmingly, that study and another found that selenium supplements may increase the risk of diabetes.
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iForce Nutrition Served Search Warrant During 2009 Olympia Expo
by Millard Baker

The FDA served iForce Nutrition and owner Dave Nelson with a search warrant during the course of the 2009 IFBB Olympia Expo. The search warrant was executed in the days following the FDA raid of Bodybuilding.com. Four iForce Nutrition products were listed as “undercover purchases” made at Bodybuilding.com. Both the iForce Nutrition search warrant and the Bodybuilding.com search warrant alleged that these products contain anabolic steroids, unapproved new drugs, and/or misbranded drugs: 1,4 AD Bold 200 (androstenedione), 17a PheraFLEX (Madol), Dymethazine (Superdrol) and Methadrol (Superdrol).
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Dr. Jesse Haggard Voluntarily Surrenders to Federal Agents on Steroid Distribution Charges
by Millard Baker

Dr. Jesse Haggard, the former clinical director of Revolution Medical Centers, will voluntarily surrender to federal agents in Florida on Friday, October 2, 2009. Haggard will be taken into custody at the Orlando International Airport and transported to Alabama where he faces steroid distribution charges.

Dr. Haggard was indicted as part of the Applied Pharmacy Services criminal investigation announced in January 2009. The government has accused Haggard of prescribing anabolic steroids “outside the usual course of professional practice” and “not for legitimate medical purposes”. However, unlike other doctors similarly prosecuted, Haggard had an indisputable doctor-patient relationship with all of his patients that included comprehensive laboratory testing; Haggard never prescribed anabolic steroids over the internet or to any patients not evaluated during an in-person medical examination.
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