Even if this biological pathway is not entirely proven, TT is regularly used by many athletes as “legal” anabolic aid. However, different studies concluded that TT do not produce the large gains in strength or lean muscle mass that many manufacturers claim can be experienced within 5–28 days and the possible health risks deriving from TT assumption have not been investigated [14]. Most of the previously mentioned commercially available supplements have not been studied for long-term safety and it’s likely that

many habitually users FRAX597 cell line are not aware of the real efficacy of these products, or the adverse effects related to their consumption. Questions regarding their possible side effects on endocrine and reproductive systems should be raised even

in light of their advertised high-dose use. With those premises, the present study was carried out in order to evaluate the real knowledge of plant-derived nutritional supplements among physically active people, in order to quantify the real use of these supplements and to evaluate the effects of these supplements on the health profile of the users. Methods Study protocol This observational pilot study was designed in agreement with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the local Ethical Committee. All subjects volunteered to the study and gave their informed consent. Tyrosine-protein kinase BLK The enrolled subjects were asked to fill out an anonymous this website questionnaire in order to obtain information about their knowledge and/or personal experience with plant-derived nutritional supplements. Those who declared to consume any of these products were included in the study as “users” who were asked to provide a blood sample for laboratory analysis. Subjects Over a period of 6 months, 740 trained subjects (420 body builders, 70 cyclists, and 250 fitness athletes)

were enrolled in the study. All subjects have been training regularly for at least 1 year, 1–2 hours per day, 3–6 days per week and most of them had practiced the same, or other, sports in the past. All subjects, through the compilation of the anonymous questionnaire, denied the consumption of any prohibited substances. Athletes were instructed to abstain from caffeine, alcohol and drug consumption and to refrain from any strenuous physical activity for 24 hours before the Trichostatin A research buy examination that consisted of a blood sampling in the morning (08:00 h, after an overnight fast) and a medical evaluation which included a detailed familiar, medical and sportive personal history and a complete physical examination. Laboratory analysis Of the 740 athletes who completed the questionnaire, 26 declared to use plant-derived supplements and 23 of them gave their consent for the blood sample collection.