From Marieb et al. (2007), the human body is classified into six levels of structural organization: chemical level this includes the factors that help in the bodies chemical activities like oxidation of the blood, breaking of sugars in smaller dissolvable units among many other. Cellular level, which consists of the smallest unit of a living organism, the cell. Each cell has a unique function within the human body. Tissue level this is a group of cells, pulled together and doing the same function example muscle tissue. Organ level is a combination of tissues that aim to perform same function example the brain is an organ in the human body. Organ system level is a case where multiple body organ work in unionism to meet a sing purpose. Finally, is the organismal level, this is the whole combination of the various body levels to form the human body, as a normal functioning structure.
What are supplements? Bjelakovic et al. (2007) describe supplements as factors that prevent oxidative damage of cellular components. This alters with the bodies system of getting rid of damaged and aged cells. On a plus side it plays a positive role in slowing aging but might lead to diseases like cancer and cardiovascular diseases (which are both fatal diseases). Senchina (2013) claims that the number of athletes involved in supplement usage is increasing over the years. The question is why do they use these substances? The supplements as discussed earlier prevent oxidative damage of cells in the body, meaning that an athlete who uses them, requires less oxygen and does not tier, this gives the individual an advantageous edge over their competitors. A study shows that the leading used supplements are Echinacea and Ginseng (2013), but others too are coming up. From this analysis, supplements are being regulated by the athletics governing body (Olympics among other sporting agencies). The process of testing for the supplements is an expensive procedure, but at the same time, it’s a vice in the sporting world. Therefore, it should be monitored strictly by the sport’s governing bodies, while the financial burden to be shouldered by the participants’ example a country’s athletics body, this helps make the participants not to take this route. It’s should be noted that supplement testing should not only done on athletics alone, for instance on a personal level one can undergo the test while checking their diet (if it’s healthy or not).
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Biology is a research-intensive field where information is acquired from different fields. Since not all individuals in the field are experts, credible information is distinguished. Like in the topic we are discussing on supplements, different articles have varied opinions on the matter. Stevenson et al.’s (2016) and Bella et al.’s, are articles discussing the effect of a specific supplementary Echinacea on increasing one’s aerobic tolerance. Bella and co argue that Echinacea efficiently increases one’s aerobic endurance, while, Stevenson and co argue that Echinacea does not archive maximum aerobic tolerance, matter like this put upcoming scientists in a dilemma. Never the less the articles agree on other aspects, for example Senchina et al. and Perera et al. both agree on the effects of bloodroot rhizome, they both not that bloodroot rhizome alters on the activity of the immune system of the body.
In conclusion, supplements should remain regulated, since they have a catastrophic effect on the body structure, and on an athletics level, they bring out the unfair competition. To upcoming scientists, they should closely scrutinize information they use in their research.
References
Bellar, D., Moody, K. M., Richard, N. S., & Judge, L. W. (2014). Efficacy of a botanical supplement with concentrated Echinacea purpurea for increasing aerobic capacity. ISRN nutrition , 2014 .
Bjelakovic, G., & Gluud, C. (2007). Surviving antioxidant supplements.
Marieb, E. N., & Hoehn, K. (2007). Human anatomy & physiology . Pearson Education.
Perera, M. A. D., Robinson, J. R., Shearn, C. T., Noble, T. M., Hallam, J. E., Kohut, M. L., & Senchina, D. S. (2013). Athletics and herbal supplements. American Scientist , 101 (2), 134.
Senchina, D. S. (2014). Effects of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis L.) rhizome ethanol extracts on cytokine production by blood mononuclear cells during flowering and fruiting. Journal of Herbal Medicine , 4 (1), 18-23 .
Stevenson, J. L., Krishnan, S., Inigo, M. M., Stamatikos, A. D., Gonzales, J. U., & Cooper, J. A. (2016). Echinacea-Based Dietary Supplement Does Not Increase Maximal Aerobic Capacity in Endurance-Trained Men and Women. Journal of dietary supplements , 13 (3), 324-338.
