HOW TO COMBINE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WITH FUNCTIONAL ACHIEVEMENT
Start by getting interested in research?
More and more athletes, their coaches and advisers are increasingly convinced that performance gains are achievable through the use of supplements that are backed by clear and credible scientific evidence from human studies. To make science more understandable we have adopted the well known and accepted FDA framework of classifying science into four categories so that our customers will know what level of benefit can be reasonably expected:
GROUP A SUPPLEMENTS
This is the most credible scientific category as evidence is based on human research that demonstrates a physiological change and a reproductable performance or health benefit to the supplements use in a specific sport or exercise context.
GROUP B SUPPLEMENTS
In this category there is a clear physiological rationale for using the supplement. However, there is no definitive evidence from human study at the level of a category A to definitively support an actual performance or health outcome will result from the supplement use.
GROUP C SUPPLEMENTS
Beware of taking a supplement in this category if you are looking for performance improvements. There is simply not sufficient evidence to support a rationale for use for a supplement in this category.
GROUP D SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements in this category very often achieve widespread popularity possibly because they are convenient or hyped up to be believable! However their use is not proven to enhance performance or recovery and no performance benefits will be achieved.
How do we communicate science to customers?
We will tell you on our labels what group the supplement is in. We will also tell you what physiological, performance, health benefit or rationale is associated with the supplement.
The types of performance benefits that can be expected on certain supplements include:
• Reduced or delayed muscle fatigue
• Repeated energy bursts even after prolonged exhausting activites.
• Reductions in soft tissue injuries
• More endurance capacity
• Improved weight management
• Better levels of concentration and mental focus.
But remember that performance improvements are mainly linked to the use of certain nutritional strategies for specific types of activities. There is no 'one size to fit all'.
