|
ZMA in the NFL
Muscular Development January 2000
|
 |
From Miami to Oakland, Pro Football Takes
Advantage of a Hot New Sports Supplment
By Bob Lefavi, PhD, CSCS, CHES
Man, sports supplementation is on a
roll. Until the early '90s, we were bombarded by product
after product having little if any science behind it. o
(Remember boron?). But lately, with better research and
technology we've seen well-supported supplements- like creatine-
hit the market. And through appropriate use of science,
we've made quick pronouncements when those supplements didn't
pan out; a perfect example is androstenedione.
ZMA, along with its very impressive
research (see sidebar), has many world class athletes and
strength coaches reporting strength and recovery benefits
in the gym as well as on the athletic field. Of course,
it wasn't long before coaches and players in the National
Football League (NFL) caught on. What is ZMA, and who's
using it?
"Z"What?
ZMA FUEL was developed by Victor Conte,
founder and director of BALCO Laboratories in Burlingame,
Calif., which has been in existence for 15 years. BALCO
specializes in mineral and trace element assessment, and
performs research with elite Olympic and professional athletes.
According to Conte's colleague at BALCO, Jim Valente, "We
have now tested over 250 NFL players and found more than
70 percent of these players to be either depleted or deficient
in both zinc and magnesium."
ZMA FUEL is a scientifically designed
anabolic mineral support formula. It contains Zinc Monomethionine
Aspartate plus Magnesium Aspartate and vitamin B-6, and
is an all-natural product that has been clinically proven
to significantly increase anabolic hormone levels and muscle
strength in trained athletes.
The Double Whammy
Zinc deficiency significantly affects
the metabolism of anabolic hormones. Many human studies
have shown that zinc deficiency causes a reduction in testosterone
levels. There is also animal research showing that zinc
deficiency causes a reduction in the number of anabolic
hormone receptor cites. About these interesting zinc studies,
Conte says, "Anabolic hormone metabolism was studied in
zinc-deficient animals and the zinc deficient group had
a 63 percent reduction in the number of anabolic hormone
receptor cites compared to controls. This indicates that
zinc is extremely important in the anabolic hormone binding
process in the target cells."
Conte continues, "ZMA supplementation
may provide a double benefit to athletes by increasing the
number of their anabolic hormone receptors as well as increasing
their testosterone levels. What's Conte talking about? Keep
reading.
It actually is fascinating when you
read the research. Take the studies by K.W. Chung, for example.
Chung originally started in this line of research when he
found that male alcoholics often had physiologically feminizing
qualities. He subsequently discovered that they were depleted
in zinc, which he postulated down-regulated their anabolic
hormone receptor sites.
After studying zinc status in rats (1986),
Chung showed that zinc depletion reduced, the number of
anabolic receptors breakthrough information for sport nutrition
specialists and strength/power athletes. Hey, when this
happens, it doesn't matter how much testosterone is pumped
into the system; it has nowhere to go.
Recently, with A.S. Om (1996), Chung
found that not only do anabolic hormone receptor sites decrease
in number, but circulating testosterone levels also decrease
as a result of zinc depletion! This double whammy - decreased
anabolic hormone receptor sites and decreased testosterone
levels- spell trouble for anyone wanting to maximize muscle
mass and strength. ZMA FUEL in Sport
ZMA FUEL is a uniquely synergistic and
effective mineral formulation designed to significantly
enhance muscle strength, endurance, healing and growth.
Because ZMA FUEL is also a very effective sleep aid, it
is recommended that it be taken 30 to 60 minutes before
bedtime. Many athletes fail to realize that their growth
and recovery is a function of their ability to rest and
sleep well.
ZMA FUEL in the NFL Miami Dolphins
According to John Gamble, strength and
conditioning coach for the Miami Dolphins, "Players using
ZMA are cramping much less and seem to be getting a more
deep and restful sleep, which enhances their recovery."
How did Gamble find out about ZMA FUEL?
Gamble brought in the team from BALCO laboratories to test
each player's blood and urine levels of magnesium, zinc
and copper- minerals that may be problematic for athletes,
possibly leading to suboptimal performance. After BALCO
identified players' deficiencies, it set them up with individualized
nutritional supplements based upon their test results. The
need for a supplement like ZMA Fuel was prevalent. "Balco
has been an important part of this year's conditioning and
preparation," says Gamble.
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings Strong Safety Robert
Griffith uses ZMA religiously. Griffith says, "I definitely
feel a difference with recovery. There's no question about
it; I'm able to recover because I'm able to rest." He adds,
"I use it as a recovery tool, and because I have felt such
a difference I'm in the process of getting ZMA FUEL to other
players on the team."
Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders Strength and Conditioning
Coach Garrett Giemont is well known and respected as a nutrition
and conditioning expert in the NFL. I'm excited to have
access to ZMA FUEL and look forward to its usefulness with
our players."
About ZMA FUEL'S strong science, Giemont
claims, "This is certainly one of those that are out to
a great start. It has some very solid science behind it.
ZMA FUEL is one of the supplements on the horizon that has
certainly shown its stuff. ZMA FUEL is very exciting, and
I think our players will really benefit from it."
Denver Broncos
Bill Romanowski, Denver Broncos All-Pro
linebacker, says, "Hey, the proof is in the pudding. I really
noticed a difference when I started taking ZMA. My strength
in the weight room started going up. Not big, huge increases,
but definitely noticeable and substantial jumps in weight!"
Romanowski, understanding how this could
affect the entire Denver Broncos team, hasn't kept this
success to himself. "I've got about 90 percent of the Broncos
on ZMA. The guys are telling me they sleep better and feel
better!"
"Victor's [Conte] the man," says Romanowski.
"When I heard he was providing mineral testing for the
Seattle Supersonics and many other elite Olympic and professional
athletes, I figured I should probably be tested, too. I
found out through blood and urine testing that I was deficient
in both zinc and magnesium. Anyway, I started taking ZMA,
was later re-tested and my zinc and magnesium levels became
normal!"
Atlanta Falcons
Lester Archambeau, starting defensive
end for last year's NEC Champion Atlanta Falcons, says he
is "extremely satisfied with ZMA."
"ZMA definitely helps me recover!" says
Archambeau. "I can tell when I take it and when I don't
take it. There is no doubt I sleep better." And when it
comes to the gym, the big Falcon claims, "I have better
endurance when taking ZMA."
Jacksonville Jaguars
Bryce Paup, Jacksonville's multi-All
Pro defensive end and 1995 Defensive Player of the Year
(he led the NFL with 17 sacks), has been taking advantage
of BALCO's technology for years. "When I take ZMA I sleep
better and more soundly, and I feel more rested when I wake
up. When I take it right before bedtime, I have no trouble
falling asleep," says Paup.
But what about the playing field? Tm
sure it helps on the field! The more you rest and the deeper
your sleep, the more you'll recover and the better you'll
perform on the field," Paup claims.
Paup has already seen success with ZMA.
He says, "I started taking it [ZMA] a few years ago when
I hurt my groin, and it really seemed to speed up my recovery!
So I'm very optimistic about ZMA!"
The Bottom Line
No question about it, ZMA FUEL has the
scientific research and real-world anecdotal evidence to
launch it to a level previously held only by creatine. And
the NFL has taken notice.
Dr. Bob Lefavi, Certified. Strength
and Conditioning Specialist and Certified Health Education
Specialist, is a professor in the School of Health Professions,
Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah, Ga.
|
