5 Quick Supplement Facts:

Supplements are largely unregulated. The FDA does not pre-approve dietary supplements.
If you unknowingly ingest a NCAA banned substance through your supplement, you are still subject to penalties if you test positive.
If your supplement is not 3rd party tested, there is no guarantee you are getting what you paid for.
Between 40 to 70% of athletes use at least one supplement to gain a performance edge.
There are only a handful of supplements that have been thoroughly researched and shown to be highly effective.

5 Considerations When Evaluating Supplements:

Safety – is this supplement going to harm my health?
Effectiveness – does this product actually work?
Doping Status – will this supplement cause me to test positive for a banned substance?
Dose – am I taking the right amount?
Quality – am I taking the right form of this supplement?

Find A Supplement:

For Mason athletes, any supplement you choose to take should be certified by either NSF’s Certified for Sport or by Informed-Sport (click the links to search their databases). Or, look for one of the following labels on your supplement.

Does My Supplement Work as Advertised?

Want to know if your supplement is effective? Check out some of the below resources.

Apps:

The following apps can be useful in screening supplements and searching for potentially banned substances

Aegis Shield Mobile
NSF for Sport
WADA Prohibited List

Banned Substances List:

For a 2015-16 list of NCAA banned substances, see the link here.

Disclaimer:
The George Mason University Sports Nutrition web site provides information about food and human nutrition. The information found in this web site is not intended for medical self-diagnosis, treatment, counsel, or as a substitute for the care of a licensed health care professional.