A scoop of pre-workout powder in your drink before you start is the most normal thing in the world for many gym-goers. It would make you perform better and last longer. The XXL Nutrition company in Deurne earns a lot of money selling sports nutrition, including pre-workout. But owner René van der Zel also sees the dangers: “It is a powerful product and you can get into trouble if you overdose.”
It once started with a business from his garage in Helmond. It grew into a company with a turnover of millions in a huge building on an industrial estate in Deurne. Expansion plans are already on the agenda and the sports supplements are even for sale in the supermarket.
High-risk supplement
The sports powder is very popular among fitness enthusiasts. Out research of the Hogeschool Arnhem en Nijmegen and the University of Utrecht show that more than forty percent of male fitness enthusiasts use pre-workouts, a quarter even before each training session.
One dose of pre-workout often contains about 300 to 400 milligrams of caffeine per dose. That is the same as in about five cups of coffee. Taking too much can cause sleeping problems, heart palpitations, headaches and anxiety. In addition, pre-workout often contains prohibited substances, such as amphetamine-like substances, for example research. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is responsible for monitoring supplements and removes unsafe products from the market.
According to the Doping Authority, it is quite worrying that the popularity of pre-workout is so great. The Doping Authority and the NVWA regard pre-workout as a ‘high-risk supplement’.
‘Motivation powder’
Entrepreneur Van der Zel also sees the dangers of pre-workout. “Pre-workout is a kind of motivational powder. It has become a habit for many people and they use it every day with every workout.”
According to him, that is not the intention: “It is intended to be used if you have a heavy training or if you really do not lack energy for once. If you have to use this daily to start training at all, then I wonder whether you have the choose the right sport.”
There is no age limit on the pre-workout, but XXL Nutrition advises against it for young people under 18. “That is more of a moral issue, because cans of energy drink are flying out of the supermarket and they also contain a lot of caffeine.”
Placebo effect
Stricter rules apply in Belgium and pre-workouts may contain no more than 80 milligrams of caffeine per dose per day. That is a lot less caffeine than is allowed in the Netherlands. To be allowed to market a sports supplement in Belgium, you must first obtain a certificate. Van der Zel thinks that rules will also follow in the Netherlands. “I think there will be regulation, for example for caffeine restriction.”
XXL Nutrition’s pre-workout contains more than the 80 milligrams allowed by our southern neighbors. Van der Zel is therefore regularly asked whether pre-workout is healthy. “It is not necessarily healthy, but it is not unhealthy either. It does improve your performance. I would not take it every day, choose your moments and stick to the dose is the message I give everyone.”
Van der Zel also sells a caffeine-free pre-workout to people who prefer not to take in much caffeine. According to nutritionists, caffeine is the only substance in pre-workout that gives you energy. What remains of the effect without caffeine? So is it a placebo effect? “I think so. Anyway, that also works, doesn’t it”, he laughs.
Omroep Brabant dived into the sense and nonsense of pre-workout. You can see that in this episode of HOW..?