Mounjaro controversy: Did it harm São Paulo players? Expert weighs in | OneFootball

As if all the medical incidents at São Paulo weren't enough, which resulted in 71 absences for various reasons this season, a new controversy gained spotlight last week following a disagreement within the Tricolor's medical department.

One of the reasons for the internal disagreement at the club was the fact that the nutritionist Eduardo Rauen, who has been with the professional football team since June, prescribed a medication called Mounjaro to two players, commonly referred to as the 'slimming pen'.

The medication based on tirzepatide is originally intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. According to a report by UOL that revealed the controversial processes, its prescription occurred without the consent of other Reffis professionals.

WORD FROM AN EXPERT

To determine if Mounjaro could have hindered or slowed the recovery of those who used the medication, the report from AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR consulted an expert in weight loss and longevity, the nutritionist doctor Vinicius Sampaio.

The doctor points out that “the ideal is a multidisciplinary follow-up: doctor, nutritionist, physical trainer, physiotherapist, and therapist”, which was evidently not carried out within São Paulo, 'divided' by Eduardo Rauen's decision.

“People who were at the club before the nutritionist's arrival also say that the lack of integration and command chain involving various professionals appointed by different advisors within the club was a determining factor in the crisis,” confirms the report published by UOL.

“It is important to note that there were only two athletes with an indication to follow this line. In both cases, the use was done strategically, in an appropriate therapeutic window, allowing continuous monitoring and evaluation of possible side effects. The data show that the athletes managed to lose body weight, reduce body fat percentage, and improve muscle mass, even countering the narrative that this conduct should be evaluated,” defended Rauen.

However, nutritionist Vinicius Sampaio issues warnings. We asked the doctor if, without this multidisciplinary follow-up, the use of Mounjaro could have affected the players, who reported symptoms of nausea and weakness.

“Certainly. We conduct treatment with weekly assistance, nutritional, with a nutritionist, serum infusion, intramuscular infusion with nutrients. It is a medication that causes satiety, and you stop eating, even with all this weekly assistance, patients experience side effects because it greatly reduces nutrient intake,” explained Sampaio.

“From the moment you reduce nutrient intake, high-performance output will definitely drop. Loss of muscle mass, loss of vitamins, which will cause weakness. And the medication itself, when used for the first time, can cause discomfort, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea, even with the greatest assistance,” continued the specialist.

“Loss of muscle mass generates greater stress on tendons and ligaments and reduces joint stability. Tirzepatide can hinder the intake of proteins necessary for muscle recovery due to its appetite-reducing effect,” he further warned.

Living a routine of injuries in a hectic national calendar without many days for training or rest, the doctor pointed out that testing a new medication amid São Paulo's major internal crisis was not the best alternative.

“You take a team with a history of 70 injuries, in crisis for some time, and you test a new medication, Mounjaro is new. Testing a new medication, which has no scientific proof for improving high-performance output. Crazy, right?” asked Vinicius.

“Mounjaro fits very well for a player returning from vacation, entering pre-season, when they arrive overweight, you do some work there, but it must be very well monitored. Then I think it's worth it. But for high performance, for guys playing twice a week, no chance,” decreed the weight loss specialist in conversation with AMT.

SÃO PAULO'S DEFENSE

The Tricolor sent an official note to the press giving their version of the facts:

“Regarding the use of the medication, individualized medical treatments were conducted, indicated specifically after careful clinical evaluations in only two professional team athletes, and not in a generalized, continuous, and indiscriminate manner. It is, at the very least, dishonest to link the medication as the reason for the high number of injuries this season.

Mounjaro is a medication regulated and authorized by Anvisa, manufactured by Eli Lilly, one of the largest and most respected laboratories in the world. There is no irregularity in the use of the product, as long as it is of original manufacturing origin and, as in this case, with indication, monitoring, and medical prescription.

The Club, once again, affirms that it values the health of its athletes in all categories and, therefore, always seeks professional excellence in all health departments.

Any conduct in the health area practiced by professionals at the club, whether providers, consultants, or collaborators, is carried out within all the norms and regulations required by professional ethics and current legislation.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.