Energy Boosters: Can Supplements and Vitamins Help?

Take a walk through your local supermarket, and you might come to the conclusion that Americans are in the grip of an energy crisis.  There are the countless bottles of energy supplements, whey protein products, coolers of energy drinks, and racks of energy bars at the check-out counter. You have countless choices in energy supplements. But what works? A WebMD feature article discusses energy supplements as part of our daily lifestyles. “Energy [supplements have] become one of the fastest-growing categories of supplement,” says Andrew Shao, PhD, from the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a trade organization in Washington D.C.  “And that’s because everybody -- whether you’re a man or a woman, young or old -- wants more energy.” Whether it’s true or not, it sure seems like life is more hectic than it once was. For people always on the go, the idea of an energy pill is compelling. But do they work? Experts say some energy supplements may help some people to a degree. You have to know what you’re looking for.  To help guide you toward the energy you need, WebMD talked to the experts.  Many energy supplements are derived from the nutrients, proteins, fats, and amino acids that are already in our bodies or that we get from food.  And in a sense, these supplements like no xplode do work.  “Research has clearly shown that these compounds support the energy metabolism process,” says Shao.  They affect how the body processes the nutrients we eat and converts them into energy.But while these compounds have a role in the body’s metabolism, will taking them as supplements actually boost an average person’s energy? That depends. If you eat a well-balanced, healthy diet, you likely get enough of these vitamins and amino acids from food, and probably don’t need supplements, says Coates. “If you’re not medically deficient in substances like CoQ10 or [the amino acid] carnitine, there’s virtually no evidence that taking more will enhance your energy.” But people who are deficient in CoQ10, carnitine, and B vitamins may benefit from the supplements such as muscle milk , says David Leopold, MD, director of Integrative Medical Education at the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine. “And deficiency is much more common than we think,” he notes. Who is likely to be deficient? Athletes who push themselves hard might be depleted in these nutrients, says Shao. Plus, people who have poor diets or take regular medications, such as acid blockers, anti-inflammatory painkillers, or antibiotics, says Leopold. Paul R. Thomas, EdD, RD -- a scientific consultant at the Office of Dietary Supplements -- says that creatine does have the potential to increase energy output under particular circumstances.  For instance, a sprinter running a 100-yard dash might benefit from it. But the effects are that specific. Bottom line: Will creatine, animal pak, and other supplements boost energy? If you are deficient in these nutrients or are an elite athlete, you might benefit from some of these supplements.

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Supplements & Vitamins

Supplements & Vitamins