Herriman Maguire, Fletcher Laura, Tchaconas Alexis, Adesman Andrew, Milanaik Ruth
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Lake Success, New York.
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Lake Success, New York
Pediatrics. 2017 Feb;139(2). doi: 10.1542/peds.2016-1257. Epub 2017 Jan 2.
Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics' recommendations against pediatric use of creatine and testosterone boosters, research suggests that many young teenagers take these dietary supplements. Our objective was to determine to what extent health food stores would recommend and/or sell creatine and testosterone boosters to a 15-year-old boy customer.
Research personnel posing as 15-year-old high school athletes seeking to increase muscle strength contacted 244 health food stores in the United States via telephone. Researchers asked the sales attendant what supplements he/she would recommend. If a sales attendant did not mention creatine or testosterone boosters initially, each of these supplements was then specifically asked about. Supplement recommendations were recorded. Sales attendants were also asked if a 15-year-old could purchase these products on his own in the store.
A total of 67.2% (164/244) of sales attendants recommended creatine: 38.5% (94/244) recommended creatine without prompting, and an additional 28.7% (70/244) recommended creatine after being asked specifically about it. A total of 9.8% (24/244) of sales attendants recommended a testosterone booster. Regarding availability for sale, 74.2% (181/244) of sales attendants stated a 15-year-old was allowed to purchase creatine, whereas 41.4% (101/244) stated one could purchase a testosterone booster.
Health food store employees frequently recommend creatine and testosterone boosters for boy high school athletes. In response to these findings, pediatricians should inform their teenage patients, especially athletes, about safe, healthy methods to improve athletic performance and discourage them from using creatine or testosterone boosters. Retailers and state legislatures should also consider banning the sale of these products to minors.
尽管美国儿科学会建议儿童不要使用肌酸和睾酮增强剂，但研究表明许多青少年会服用这些膳食补充剂。我们的目的是确定健康食品店会在多大程度上向一名15岁的男性顾客推荐和/或销售肌酸和睾酮增强剂。
研究人员假扮成想要增强肌肉力量的15岁高中运动员，通过电话联系了美国的244家健康食品店。研究人员询问店员会推荐哪些补充剂。如果店员最初没有提及肌酸或睾酮增强剂，研究人员会分别专门询问这些补充剂。记录补充剂推荐情况。还询问店员15岁的青少年能否在店内自行购买这些产品。
共有67.2%（164/244）的店员推荐了肌酸：38.5%（94/244）在未被提示的情况下推荐了肌酸，另外28.7%（70/244）在被专门询问后推荐了肌酸。共有9.8%（24/244）的店员推荐了睾酮增强剂。关于是否有货出售，74.2%（181/244）的店员表示15岁的青少年可以购买肌酸，而41.4%（101/244）的店员表示可以购买睾酮增强剂。
健康食品店员工经常向高中男生运动员推荐肌酸和睾酮增强剂。针对这些发现，儿科医生应告知青少年患者，尤其是运动员，关于提高运动表现的安全、健康方法，并劝阻他们使用肌酸或睾酮增强剂。零售商和州立法机构也应考虑禁止向未成年人销售这些产品。
