Recently, I read that sport supplement companies spend a collective four billion dollars per year on marketing alone.1 The first thought that came to mind was:

“If supplements work as advertised, is such a huge marketing budget really necessary?”

I honestly didn’t know the answer, and decided it was time to do some digging. Here’s a brief review of some of the most popular products on the market.

Creatine

Claim: Stimulates muscle growth by “allowing you to perform more work as a result of additional energy” and “volumizing or super-hydrating the muscles.”2

If you’re living in New York, San Francisco, or Los Angeles, you’ve probably already noticed some new additions to the menu at your local Starbucks or T.G.I. Friday’s. No, I’m not talking about the triple-chocolate bundt cake or the deep-fried macaroni and cheese. We’re talking numbers, here. Big numbers. And for once, it’s not the price.

In the last decade many individuals have started taking primrose oil for a number of medical ailments. Some just take the primrose oil for routine prophylaxis for a better life style. There is a belief among athletes that taking more supplements is better for the body and Primrose Oil is just one more nutrient along the same lines.