NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT USE IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Abstract

231 The purpose of this study was to survey collegiate athletes' knowledge, experiences and beliefs regarding the use of nutritional supplements. 339 Division 1A male and female athletes representing fourteen sports were surveyed anonymously concerning their level of familiarity with and perceived benefits or problems from the use of thirty-two specific nutritional supplements. For the following most frequently cited 11 supplements: creatine, protein powder, caffeine, ginseng, amino acids, vitamin C, vitamin E, multivitamins, zinc, copper, and magnesium, the range of “have heard of it” was 37%-87%, and the range of current or past use was 6%-64%. 139(41%) athletes listed supplements that had been “most helpful” to their athletic performance, of which the most frequently cited were creatine, multivitamins, vitamin C, and protein powder. Of the 328 respondents who rated the effect of their “usual diet” on athletic performance, 273(83%) rated the effect a “3” or “4” (range 1=strongly harms to 5=diet strongly helps my performance). 196 athletes listed one or more “most important source(s) of information and guidance about nutritional supplements,” of which the most frequent, in rank order, were: trainer, family member, magazines/books, physician, coach, friends/teammates, nutritionist/dietician. We conclude that: (1) the high level of familiarity with and use of nutritional supplements amongst collegiate athletes indicates a need for increased educational efforts addressing risks and benefits, particularly for a small number of supplements most frequently cited, (2) athletes' assessments of their usual diet as being neutral or only somewhat beneficial to performance suggests a need for improved education in basic nutrition, and (3) physicians and nutritionists are relatively infrequent sources of nutritional supplement information for athletes.