To date, there are two dead and around twenty people victims of serious undesirable effects, including heart stops and strokes (AVC). These people used to consume food supplements, generally in the form of powders, with the aim of gaining muscle mass or fat reduction. The National Health Safety Agency (ANSES) warns on the serious side effects that these products can cause.
Anabolic steroids, clenbuterol and ephedrine
Brands that market these products promise athlete musculature and rapid loss of fat. Everything you dream of the regulars of the sports halls to whom these marks make believe that current food will not allow them to achieve their performance goals. And they are always more numerous: 6.2 million French people are subscribed to a gym.
The packaging of these supplements are attractive and yet they contain substances dangerous for health. ANSES is concerned about the illegal incorporation of dopants that can have serious side effects on cardiovascular activity. These are anabolic steroids, clenbuterol and ephedrine. “”Their presence in food supplements thus constitutes fraud and can not only expose the consumer athlete to risk for their health, but also to an abnormal analytical result (positive control) during an anti -doping control “reports the agency.
A standard has been set up to guarantee the absence of these doping ingredients in food supplements for athletes: the European standard in 17444: 2021. ANSES advises consumers to favor products that mention this standard. However, the consumer association that Choose noted that it appeared on few references. The fact remains that ANSES advises against the supplements containing caffeine and recommends that athletes request the advice of their doctor before buying this type of product.
20% of the side effects reported were very serious
A nutrivigilance system, set up by ANSES has made it possible to identify all the reports of undesirable effects which can be linked to the consumption of these food supplements intended for athletes. In total, more than 200 reports were recorded between 2009 and 2024. Among them, 18 were considered very serious, with two deaths and four people who saw their vital prognosis threatened.
The most frequently observed side effects are tachycardia, palpitations and cardiac arrest. General symptoms can also occur such as discomfort, fatigue, fever, dizziness, digestive but also neurological disorders.
If you notice undesirable effects after consuming food supplements, talk to your doctor quickly and send a report on www.nutrivigilance-enses.fr.