Sportsmen's Attitude towards Dietary Supplements and Nutrition Knowledge: An Investigation in Selected Roman Area Gyms.

Alberto Finamore,Luca Benvenuti,Laura Rossi,Alberto De Santis,Serena Cinti

doi:10.3390/nu14050945

Alberto Finamore, Luca Benvenuti + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14050945

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Feb 23, 2022
Citations: 13	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Sapienza University of Rome

Abstract

The non-professional sport environment is a grey zone not as widely assessed as that of elite athletes. The purpose of this research was to investigate the dietary supplementation habits and the nutrition knowledge on sport (NKS) in a sample of gym users. The level of adequacy of NKS was set at ≥60% of correct answers. Almost half (46.4%) of respondents stated they used food supplements, in particular multivitamins (31.0%), amino acid pills (29.5%), minerals (29.1%), and protein powders (28.7%). Supplements were used to increase muscle mass (36.9%) and to repair muscle (35.1%). Gym trainers were the preferred source of information on the use of supplements, especially in males (84%). The NKS correct response rate was 57.1% and the proportion of respondents with a sufficient level of NKS was 47.3%. The prevalence of correct answers was highest in males (61.5%) and for respondents with the highest educational attainment levels (44.5% and 53%). This study demonstrated that non-professional sportsmen do not have sufficient knowledge of nutrition and that the gym environment does not facilitate the circulation of the correct information on the role of supplementation. Considering the importance of nutrition for sportsmen, it is necessary to put in place actions aimed at increasing the knowledge of nutrition of gym users and their trainers.

Highlights

A balanced diet and regular physical exercise are essential for good health
This study demonstrated that non-professional sportsmen do not have sufficient knowledge of nutrition and that the gym environment does not facilitate the circulation of the correct information on the role of supplementation
Where n is the sample size, the Z value is 1.96 corresponding to a 95% level of confidence, P is the expected prevalence of dietary supplement use in the gyms, which was estimated at 30%

Summary

Introduction

A balanced diet and regular physical exercise are essential for good health. Regular physical activity increases energy and nutrient requirements; nutrition plays a key role in the improvement of performance, training adaptation, renewal of energy stores, and reduction of fatigue and recovery time [3]. Adequate training and balanced nutrition are essential for sport; in addition, several pieces of evidence demonstrate that the appropriate intake of selected nutritional supplements can enhance performance [4]. It has been found that dietary supplements are widely used among athletes and non-competitive sportsmen and women, depending on the type of sport and the level of training and competition [5]. Some studies have highlighted that dietary supplements are widely used by non-competitive gym participants for various reasons, such as performance amelioration, weight loss, muscle gain, and improvements of physical fitness for aesthetic reasons [6–8]

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