Why is trimetazidine, used by Russian figure skaters, a banned drug? A pharmacist tells you

According to a report in the New York Times on February 16, the test samples of Russian figure skater Valieva were found to contain the banned drug trimetazidine, as well as Hypoxen and L-carnitine, but the latter two are not considered banned substances.

Trimetazidine is a drug for the treatment of myocardial ischemia. It is mainly used to prevent angina attacks in patients with coronary heart disease and is also used to treat myocardial ischemia symptoms after myocardial infarction. Why would a drug for the treatment of heart disease become a banned drug in sports competitions?

The beating of the heart consumes energy. When there is sufficient oxygen, myocardial cells mainly generate energy through the oxidation of fatty acids, and some energy is generated by the oxidation of glucose. When myocardial ischemia occurs, insufficient oxygen supply will affect the energy metabolism of myocardial cells, causing the sodium-potassium ion pump to function abnormally and causing angina pectoris.

Trimetazidine can inhibit fatty acid oxidation and promote glucose oxidation. Relatively speaking, glucose oxidation consumes less oxygen than fatty acid oxidation, thereby optimizing the energy metabolism of myocardial cells under hypoxia, maintaining the normal function of myocardial cells under hypoxia, and maintaining the normal operation of the sodium-potassium ion pump, thereby preventing the occurrence of angina pectoris.

Sports competitions are also a test of physical fitness, and the results achieved are closely related to the cardiopulmonary function of the athletes. In other words, whoever has a strong cardiopulmonary function and can provide the body with more oxygen and energy in a short period of time will achieve better results.

Trimetazidine can improve heart function in anoxic conditions, that is, it can stimulate the potential of the heart. When athletes use it, they are likely to perform beyond their normal level. However, this is achieved with the help of drugs and cannot be counted as their real performance, so trimetazidine is a banned drug in sports competitions.

Hypoxen is a drug developed in Russia and sold only in Russia. It works similarly to trimetazidine, improving metabolism, reducing the body's oxygen consumption, and increasing the ability to work in hypoxic conditions.

L-carnitine is a familiar weight loss drug that can promote fat metabolism and increase the body's energy supply. The human body can synthesize L-carnitine on its own and it is not lacking under normal circumstances. L-carnitine is a "truck" that carries fat. Only by increasing energy consumption can the truck transport more fat. Therefore, if you want to exert the weight loss effect of L-carnitine, you need to combine it with sufficient exercise.

All drugs have their own adverse reactions, and drug treatment can only be carried out when the benefits of using the drug outweigh the risks. Abusing drugs to improve sports performance not only violates the spirit of fair and just sports, but also may cause potential risks, which is undesirable behavior.

I am pharmacist Huazi. Follow me and I will share more health knowledge.