Abstract des Autors

More stringent criteria of drug efficacy and safety are mandatory in prophylactic drug use in healthy subjects, since all subjects are exposed to the drug risk while only few may profit from the desired effects. In athletes this applies not only to substitution of vitamins, trace minerals or electrolytes, which may cause adverse effects only in high doses, but also to drugs recommended to enhance regeneration of muscles and joints. There is no sufficient evidence of efficacy of chondroprotective agents in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Therefore, their benefit remains obscure in prophylactic use. Doubts exist with regard to the efficacy and safety of immuno-stimulant agents recommended for enhancement of defence against infections. Tissue extracts possess the risks of immune-allergic reactions when used parenterally. Plant extracts possibly exert tumorgenic effects, but studies excluding such risks are lacking. Verf.-Referat