Physically inactive adults are the main users of sports dietary supplements in the capital of Brazil

Abstract

Purpose This cross-sectional study aimed to provide estimates of dietary supplements (DS) use and to examine the relationship between sports dietary supplements (SDS) use and sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristic, body mass index and total daily physical activity (PA) in the adult population of Brasília, Brazil. Methods DS use was collected from 506 adults via a Food Frequency Questionnaire. DS were divided into multivitamin-minerals, electrolyte drinks, energy, protein, partial meal replacements, creatine, caffeine, and others. Electrolyte drinks, energy, and protein supplements were considered as SDS. PA was estimated from a 24-h PA recall, and total MET (metabolic equivalents)/day and MET-h/day were calculated. Participants were categorized as physically inactive or active according to MET-h/day. Results DS were used by 68% of adults; multivitamin-minerals (38%) and protein supplements (29%) were the most commonly used products. SDS use was associated with the highest socioeconomic level, younger age, and male gender, but not with PA. Also, most SDS users were physically inactive. Conclusion These findings indicate that SDS may be used unnecessarily by adults in Brasília. Specific recommendations and control procedures for the use of SDS are warranted.

Effects of ergogenic supplements and dietary supplements on young athletes’ performance: A review

“…A meal, meal component, nutrient, or non-food substance that is purposely eaten in addition to the regularly ingested diet to gain certain health or performance advantages, is a dietary supplement (Shaw et al, 2021). "A dietary supplement is a food designed for consumption that includes a 'dietary component' intended to give more nutritional content to the diet", according to the US FDA (Garthe and Maughan, 2018;Borges et al, 2022). When the appropriate procedures are followed, dietary supplements are used to cure or prevent nutritional deficiencies, as a handy source of energy, macro-and micro-nutrients, or even to boost performance in sports.…”