Experts warned sellers of nasal dilators may be duping professional football players, other athletes and the public into believing they enhance athletic performance.
Dr. Michael Benninger of Henry Ford Hospital said earlier this week there's no proof the dilators - made with pieces of tape - do anything more than widen nasal passages."There is no scientific evidence which suggests that opening up the nasal passages affects athletic performance," said Benninger, an ear, nose and throat specialist and chairman of the hospital's Department of Otolaryngology.
Benninger studied the dilators three years ago. His latest comments come in the wake of reports that dilatormakers are sending free samples to sportswriters, said hospital spokeswoman Diana Leone.
The devices also have been talked about recently by TV and radio sports commentators covering pro football games, who noticed players wearing dilators on their noses, Leone said.
"For some reason, these guys think (dilators) are going to improve their performance," Leone said. "It makes you wonder."
Benninger said nasal dilators are not harmful and may provide some psychological benefit. But they don't boost physical performance.
Benninger's study involved nine trained athletes who exercised aerobically for at least four hours per week. They were evaluated while riding an aerobic bicycle until they became tired.
Each participant was tested with nasal passages completely blocked, after using a nasal decongestant and after spraying a saline solution or placebo into their noses.
The study found no difference in athletic performance, oxygen consumption, heart rate, respiratory rate or blood pressure under any of the test conditions.