What are the Effects of Muscle Building Supplements?

Body builders and exercise aficionados often use muscle-building supplements as a tool in their fitness arsenal. Supplements are an additive to diet and exercise that may be either beneficial or harmful to consumers depending on types and usage. Muscle supplements might include amino acids, omega acids and steroid based substances.

Muscle Mass

• The muscle supplement L-lysine is an amino acid that promotes muscular growth because it purportedly helps to increase protein stores in the body that contribute to muscle development. Human growth hormone is available in injection form and may increase muscular bulk as well, but is illegal to use for those purposes in the United States.

Fat Loss

• Supplements that help to metabolize triglycerides are often known as fat burners. For instance, using chromium picolinate may increase energy and release fat stores. L-arginine might help to eliminate salt stores and enhance lean muscle. L-carnitine is touted to work at metabolizing triglycerides that are stored as fat. Supplements such as chromium picolinate may also induce fat loss by decreasing appetite.

Energy and Recovery

• Supplements for energy such as ginsing, creatine or caffeine can increase energy during a workout which can contribute to increased musculature. The Mayo Clinic states that creatine can increase performance to give athletes the ability to perform at optimal capacity. L-glutamine supplementation can aid in recovery after a strenuous workout.

Steroids

• The Food and Drug Administration warns against taking substances that contain steroids or substances that imitate a steroid effect. These products may contain substances such as testosterone or androtestosterone and can have an adverse effect on the body including heart attack, stroke, gynocomastia or male breasts in males, low male fertility and masculinization in women.