Doping-control urinalysis of a ginseng extract, Cold-FX, in athletes.
Nutraceuticals may induce doping infractions through contamination of the product itself or their ingestion might be metabolized within the body to create a positive doping control test. We tested this possibility using a commercially available, proprietary ginseng root extract (Cold-FX, CV Technologies Inc., Edmonton, AB). After athletes ingested Cold-FX for 28 d at 400 mg/d, urine samples were collected and processed under strict IOC doping control guidelines and then analyzed for a full screen of IOC banned/restricted substances by an IOC-approved laboratory. There were no positive tests for any banned substances in any of the subjects. Our study demonstrates that ingestion of Cold-FX for 28 d at 400 mg/d does not represent a doping concern for athletes. Carefully controlled clinical studies like this one are necessary to provide the athlete, the nutraceutical industry and IOC regulatory bodies with information to avoid inadvertent exposure to banned/restricted or potentially unhealthy substances.
National Centre for Agri-food Research in Medicine, and Faculties of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Danny P
DP
Goel
Jonathan D
JD
Geiger
Jacqueline J
JJ
Shan
Dean
D
Kriellaars
Grant N
GN
Pierce
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004300:Doping in Sports; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D013046:Specific Gravity; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection / Q000379:methods; D016482:Urinalysis
D010936:Plant Extracts