While competing in a motocross event in Australia, Matthew Penbross' heart stopped beating after consuming eight Red Bull energy drinks in five hours.        

Myostatin is a protein that prevents the growth of skeletal muscle. Before birth, myostatin regulates the final number of muscle fibers. In adults, myostatin is produced by skeletal muscle, circulates in the blood and acts to limit muscle fiber growth. Researchers from the University of Rochester found that blocking the myostatin gene with tamoxifen increased muscle growth in male and female adult mice by 25 percent in three months.

      Scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that lifestyle factors contributing to premature death included tobacco (435,000 deaths; 18.1 percent of total U.S. deaths), poor diet and physical inactivity (400,000 deaths; 16.6 percent) and alcohol consumption (85,000 deaths; 3.5 percent).

The effects of alcohol on longevity are confusing. Many recent studies found that people who drink alcohol live longer than teetotalers. Other studies show that alcoholism leads to accidents, violence, liver disease and heart muscle destruction. Italian researchers combined the results of 34 studies on alcohol and longevity involving more than 1 million subjects and nearly 100,000 deaths.

Drinking up to four drinks per day in men and two drinks per day in women increased longevity, while drinking more than that triggered premature death. The studies showed that excess drinking is deadly, while moderate drinking is healthy. (Archives Internal Medicine, 166: 2437-2445, 2006)  

      USA Today columnist Robert Lipsyte called for steroid testing of high school athletes. His position is hysterical nonsense not supported by the evidence. Anabolic steroid use by children can have serious side effects, but this is largely a nonissue. In 10 studies conducted since 1987, only about 3 percent of high school students have ever used steroids, which pales in comparison to the 60 to 75 percent who have used alcohol and tobacco.