Dietary Supplement Intake and Associated Factors Among Gym Users in a University Community

ABSTRACT

Dietary supplement intake and associated factors among gym users in a university community in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), were assessed using a structured, self-administered questionnaire in this cross-sectional study. Adults (N = 320) from five gyms in the University City of Sharjah participated in this cross-sectional study. The prevalence of dietary supplement intake was 43.8%. Statistically significant associations were found between the use of dietary supplements and sex (47.7% males, 28.1% females; p = .006), as well as weight lifting (88.6% taking supplements vs. 11.4% not taking supplements; p < .001), favoring male gym users. The reasons attributed to the use of dietary supplements varied between the sexes. Male exercisers used supplements to increase or maintain muscles mass, strength, and power and to boost exercise recovery. Females mainly used dietary supplements to increase energy, maintain their health, and prevent nutrition deficiency. Overall, protein supplements (whey proteins [48.6%] and protein powder [45.7%]) were among the most-consumed dietary supplements, followed by multivitamins (38.6%), branched-chain amino acids (36.4%), caffeine (35.0%), and creatine (29.3%). A widespread use of Internet-driven, self-prescribed dietary supplement intake was reported among gym users (60.7%). Only 12.8% of dietary supplement users sought information from dietitians. Practical implications suggest that gym instructors and coaches should be sufficiently trained to be able to provide accurate and scientifically sound information on dietary supplements to the exercisers in gyms in the university environment.

KEYWORDS:

• dietary supplements
• gym users
• United Arab Emirates
• university community

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Deanships of Students Affairs in the University City of Sharjah for providing permission to conduct the study in the gyms, gyms managers and instructors for facilitating the study, and the participants for their kind support and cooperation. Thanks are extended to Dr. Hayder Hasan, faculty at College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, for his expertise in statistical analysis. A special thanks to Alanoud Al Suwaidi and Aya Alkaabi for their participation in the implementation of the study.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

About the authors

Amita Attlee, PhD Food and Nutrition; Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE); Research interests: Epidemiological and nutritional aspects of metabolic syndrome, nutritional assessment and intervention among different physiological groups and clinical conditions.

Amina Haider, Graduate Diploma in Human Nutrition, BSc, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE. Research interests: Food consumption patterns, nutritional and lifestyle behaviors.

Asma Hassan, BSc, Dietitian Latifa Maternity & Pediatric Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. Research interests: Pediatric nutrition and sports nutrition.

Noura Alzamil, BSc, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE. Research interests: Maternal and child nutrition, nutrition behavior.

Mona Hashim, MSc, Nutrition, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, UAE.; Research interests: Early life nutrition and adulthood diseases, childhood nutrition.

Reyad Shaker Obaid, PhD Food Science, Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah Institute for Medical Research (SIMR), Sharjah, UAE. Research interests: Food safety and food microbiology.