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Lead Stories: Monday, December 1, 2008

Study: Pseudoephedrine can improve performance of runners and other athletes

Posted February 8th, 2007 at 11:02 AM by Megan Hueter

Section: Nutrition, Supplements

Pseudoephedrine (commonly sold over the counter as Sudafed in 30mg or 120mg) is an over-the-counter drug derived from the plant ephedra which is used to relieve nasal and sinus congestion.

New research from a 2006 study published in Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise found that pseudoephedrine decreases run times by 2.1% in a group of 1500-m runners.

Pseudoephedrine is derived from the plant genus ephedra, also known as ma huang, which has over 40 different species and can be broken down to nearly 30,000 different tones, most found in the plant’s stem. Ephedrine, a well-known herbal weight-loss supplement, is also derived from ephedra.

Ephedrine accounts for 90% of alkaloid content (meaning it generates the biggest physiological response in the body), whereas pseudoephedrine accounts for only 27% alkaloid content. In order to understand the impact of pseudoephedrine, it is necessary to understand the ethical debate over its original source, ephedra.
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