Practices and Awareness of Ergogenic Aids Related To Physical Fitness and Blood Lipid Profiles of Regular Fitness Center Users

Abstract

The mass of data on understanding health and the importance of physical activity has resulted in increased numbers of fitness center attendees and supplemental dietary intake or use of ergonenic aids in the past ten years. Malaysia, however, lacks data on the awareness and practices of ergogenic supplementation. Hence, this research was undertaken to investigate the pattern of ergogenic aid intake and to compare the blood lipid profiles of users and non users of ergogenic aids among regular fitness centre attendees in Malaysia. Three types of assessments were used: (i) a questionnaire consisting of two sections with categorical and numerical scales to assess practices and awareness; (ii) anthropometry, which included four major components, namely, body composition, cardio-respiratory and muscular endurance, and muscular flexibility assessments that provided data on the level of fitness; (iii) a biochemical assessment of blood lipid profiles (Total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and TG) using the CardioCheck Portable Analyzer. The present study found that fitness levels demonstrated no significant difference between users and non users of ergogenic aids (t =1.246, p = 0.216). However, blood lipid profiles showed significant differences between users and non users of ergogenic aids (t = -1.224, p = 0.022). Results also showed insignificant relationships (r) between ergogenic aid intake and blood lipid profiles as well as in levels of physical fitness.