Q & A

Lacteeze is a commercially available tablet or liquid, containing the digestive enzyme lactase, which is used to break down the milk sugar (lactose). The use of lacteeze enables people who are lactose intolerant to enjoy dairy foods, which are a wonderful source of protein and calcium.

As the lactase enzyme isn’t a supplement ingredient, the lacteeze tablets and drops aren’t technically a supplement. Therefore, lactase (or the commercially available Lacteeze product) is not listed on the AIS Supplement Framework.

Lacteeze is manufactured in Australia in a pharmaceutical facility, and therefore is considered low risk for use by athletes. For specific guidance, reach out to your doctor or sports dietitian.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) is a water-soluble vitamin naturally found in food, which plays an important role in metabolism, brain health and red blood cell production. However, in larger doses, as occurs with supplement use, Vit. B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that causes tingling, burning or numbness and the hands and feet.

While the maximum permitted daily dose in individual supplements is 100mg, Vit B6 is added to a large number of supplements, including multi-vitamin and mineral supplements, electrolytes, plus mineral complexes like magnesium and zinc. Peripheral neuropathy can occur at doses of Vit. B6 <50mg.

If you are taking and supplements, check if they contain Vit. B6. You should look for all the chemical names of Vit. B6, including pyridoxine hydrochloride, pyridoxal 5-phosphate and pyridoxal 5-phosphate monohydrate.

Talk to your sports dietitian if you have any concerns about the supplements you are using and chat to your doctor if you have any questions about peripheral neuropathy.

Want more information....What is peripheral neuropathy? | Health supplements containing vitamin B6 can cause peripheral neuropathy | Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), opens in a new tab

The inclusion of herbal or botanical ingredients into mainstream sports supplements like protein powders is definitely increasing in the marketplace. These botanical ingredients are typically extract from seeds, gums, roots, leaves, bark, berries, or flowers, and may contain a number of ingredients with proposed health and/ or performance benefits. Examples include green tea extract, maca root powder, ashwaganda, echinacea and mushroom powders. The scientific evidence supporting the use of these botanicals for performance and health is limited. It may be that integration of these botanical ingredients merely adds a potential marketing edge to your old faithful supplement. There’s also some evidence to suggest some ingredients, including Chinese herbal preparations may be laced with WADA banned substances. It’s a case of buyer beware. Always choose supplements that have been third party batch tested by reputable companies like HASTA or Informed Sport.

GluteGuard is a commercially available tablet, containing the enzyme caricain which may break down gluten, a protein contained in wheat, rye, barley and oats. A (life long) gluten free diet is the primary prescription for individuals with coeliac disease and those with gluten insensitivity. However, sometimes these individuals may be inadvertently exposed to gluten, resulting in uncomfortable intestinal symptoms. This is where GluteGuard is claimed to benefit, taken just before a meal that may contain gluten to reduce the potential for symptoms.

As the caricain enzyme isn’t a supplement ingredient, GluteGuard tablets aren’t technically a supplement. Therefore, Caricain (or the commercially available GluteGuard product) is not listed on the AIS Supplement Framework.

GluteGuard is batch tested for banned substances, and hence safe for you to use. Please contact GluteGuard direct for assistance accessing batch details and certificates.  For specific guidance on following a gluten free diet or the potential use of GluteGuard, reach out to your doctor or sports dietitian.

Fodzyme is a combination of enzymes which are used by our guts to digest certain carbohydrate components which can, in some individuals, cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating and pain. It is manufactured in the USA, and the safety of this manufacturing environment from a ‘limiting risk’ is uncertain. Therefore, we do NOT recommend the use of Fodzyme by athletes who are likely to be tested for banned substances.

Sustagen Sport is considered a Formulated supplementary sports food (FSSF). These are foods that are formulated to assist sports people in achieving specific nutritional or performance goals. They are intended to supplement the diet of athletes rather than be the only or main source of nutrition. Sustagen Sport is not third-party batch tested. However, it is manufactured by Nestle following Australian Good Manufacturing Practice regulations, and thus considered low risk.

Foods fortified with isolated protein ingredients, known as protein fortified foods (PFFs), are now widely available. Large scale food manufacturers are developing PFFs with label claims using ‘protein’ as a prime focus on foods inherently low in protein or to boost the protein content of foods. Research conducted by the AIS suggests PFF’s manufactured within Australia present no additional risk of containing WADA prohibited substances than other commercially made foods with mixed ingredients. However, foods (e.g. protein balls and smoothies) from cafes and other food outlets with protein added during their in-house preparation may carry extra risk, given the protein isolate is unlikely batch tested. Look for foods manufactured in Australia or New Zealand.

If you are interested in incorporating PFFs like cereals, yoghurts, and bars into your meal plan,seek the guidance of a sports dietitian.

While not classified by the AIS Supplement Framework, the AIS do not support the use of nicotine pouches as it poses significant health, performance and dosing risks. Nicotine is a controlled drug, regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia. Nicotine is an addictive stimulant found in tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, tobacco pouches), tobacco-free products (some pouches), tobacco cessation products (gum, spray, patches) and e-cigarette (vape) liquids. Nicotine use is increasing among athletes (especially in UK pro sport, plus the USA collegiate system), particularly in the form of nicotine pouches and SNUS. Despite its popularity, the use of nicotine poses significant health, performance and doping risks for athletes. Nicotine is currently on the WADA Monitoring Program List to assess both its use and misuse in sport. Although nicotine is not prohibited in sport, there remains a doping risk due to lack of regulation.

Doping and Legal Risk • It is unlawful to purchase nicotine products unless you have a valid doctor’s prescription or it is purchased from a registered Australian pharmacy for smoking cessation. In other words, it’s unlawful to purchase tobacco products online without a doctor’s prescription. • Nicotine pouches are not currently approved for sale in Australia and purchasing them is unlawful. The situation may be different in other countries. • As nicotine pouches are currently not approved for sale in Australia, you can’t be sure of what is in unregulated nicotine products. You just can’t be sure that these products do not contain a banned substance. Health Risks • Nicotine use is associated with impaired cognitive function, anxiety, impaired sleep, appetite suppression and altered cardiovascular function. • Athletes may have a higher susceptibility to heat exhaustion when using nicotine • Chronic use may lead to increased tolerance and addiction and associated withdrawal symptoms. • These impacts are only compounded if the nicotine is obtained via inhalation (i.e. vape, cigarette) which introduces additional risks. • Even though the risk is lower than smoking, SNUS has been associated with a possible increased risk of oral cancers. The evidence remains mixed. • There are also some studies which suggest increased risk of hypertension and stroke with heavy use of SNUS. • SNUS can cause gum recession, tooth discolouration and mucosal lesions at the site of placement.   Performance Risks • Despite some athletes reporting perceived benefits, there is limited published evidence that nicotine is performance enhancing. In contrast, there is evidence that nicotine increases perception of fatigue and workload, impairs perceived readiness and reduces exercise capacity.

Given the above, the AIS does not support the use of nicotine in sport. The exception may be under the guidance of a medical practitioner to assist in smoking cessation.

You are correct in that multi-vitamin and some mineral supplements are classified as a Group B supplement on the AIS Supplement Framework. However, there is a risk of an antidoping rule violation with the method of administration. Under Anti-Doping requirements, the maximal allowable volume for an intravenous infusion (IV) (or an injection) is 100 ml within a 12 hour period. Exceeding this volume limit could result in an anti-doping rule violation unless you have a therapeutic usage exemption (TUE) or it is as part of medically urgent treatment in a hospital.

The AIS Best Practice Principles, opens in a new tab state “substances are not to be injected as a routine part of any supplement program”. Furthermore, “Sporting organisations should have a written Injection Policy which should prohibit individuals other than registered medical practitioners from administering injections to an athlete, with such injections only permitted in the treatment of a documented medical condition”.

In late 2023, an Australian athlete received an 18 month suspension for breaching anti-doping rules due to the use of IV drips. In this athlete’s case, the centre he attended provided the vitamins in a 1000 ml infusion, clearly violating regulations.

Given the above, athletes should avoid the use of IV drips, unless you have a TUE to do so, or it is treatment as part of a medical emergency (in an emergency, appropriate treatment should be carried out first. A TUE should be applied for after the medical situation is stabilised/resolved).

While vitamin infusions sound like a healthful concept, there is no evidence that IV vitamin delivery is superior to oral intake in healthy people. The characteristic of IV therapy that likely makes people feel better is the fluid - the exact feature that is banned.