July 19, 2012

expert reaction to BMJ/BBC study on lack of evidence for claims made for sports products

A joint investigation by the BMJ and BBC Panorama found “a striking lack of evidence” to support claims about improved performance and recovery for many sports products like drinks, trainers and protein shakes.

Dr Graham Burge, Reader in Nutrition at University of Southampton, said:

“This is a well-conducted study that shows that for a substantial number of products purported to enhance sports performance the evidence underpinning such claims is inadequate. This is a cause for concern as there is potential for the public to be misled or, perhaps more importantly, for harmful effects to go unreported. Unfortunately, the study stops short of calling for legislation to set standards for evidence to support claims related to enhanced sports performance which is needed if the interests of the public are to be protected.”

Dr Colin Cable, Pharmaceutical Science Information Officer at the RPS, said:

“If consumers are to make informed choices when purchasing sporting drinks or supplements, evidence must be available to support any claims that are made by manufacturers.

“Although the extent of evidence required to support claims made for foods and dietary supplements is much less than for medicines, the evidence must be high quality, robust and sufficient to clearly demonstrate any beneficial effects.

“However, for the vast majority of sporting participants, it is questionable whether any form of supplementation will be necessary, as a healthy balanced diet will provide their body’s requirements for protein, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals.”

Professor John Brewer, Head of Sport Science at the University of Bedfordshire, said:

“There is a wealth of high quality scientific evidence supporting the sensible use of sports drinks and nutritional supplements in appropriate environments. Whilst those who exercise as a means of keeping fit and losing weight may find that water is a useful and simple means of staying hydrated and do not therefore require sports drinks, those who compete intensively for long durations have been show by numerous studies to improve their performance through the sensible consumption of sports drinks. It is essential that athletes who use sports supplements chose reputable manufacturers who can justify their claims with scientific evidence, and have their products screened to ensure they do not contain WADA banned substances.”

Joint BMJ / BBC Panorama Press Release “Striking lack of evidence” to back up claims for popular sports brands. Published in BMJ Open.