Dietary supplement use and its associated factors among gym users in Southern Brazil

ABSTRACT

Objective

Dietary supplement use is popular among gym users. However, there is a lack of understanding about their use. This study investigated the relationship between dietary supplement use and associated factors among gym users from Southern Brazil.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study including gym users (n = 543; 18–59 years old). Subjects answered an online questionnaire concerning demographic, lifestyle and sports practice questions, and dietary supplement use. Pearson chi-square test was used with a significance level of p < .05.

Results

The prevalence of dietary supplement use was 36.5%. Supplement users were mostly men (54.5%; p < .001), exercised 3–5 times a week (73.2%; p < .001) and had trained for longer than one year (55.4%, p < .05). Men reported more frequently self-prescribed dietary supplement use (42.6%), while women reported supplements use prescribed by nutritionists (35.6%; p < .01). The use to gain mass (p < .05), to improve performance (p < .01), and to improve body aesthetics (p < .05) were associated with sex. Supplements categorized as sport foods (84.3%; p < .05) were the most frequently consumed supplements by both sexes.

Conclusion

Supplement users were more likely to be men, to use sport foods, and to have as a goal to increase muscle mass. Moreover, men are more likely to self-prescribe dietary supplements, while women tend to obtain information from nutritionists.

KEYWORDS:

• Dietary supplements
• gym users
• sport nutrition
• muscle mass
• sports foods

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

PM was the principal investigator responsible for the study, conducted data analysis, prepared the tables and figures and drafted the work. RMR, DSS and CS conducted data collection. All authors participated in the interpretation of the data and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors approved the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES (CNPq), National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), the Research Support Foundation of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS), and the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC).