Do elite athletes take supplements?
Written by Ben Bunting: BA(Hons), PGCert. Sport & Exercise Nutrition. British Army Physical Training Instructor.
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Various research studies have been conducted on the sports supplement market and the results indicate that users profile based demographics play a significant role in the purchasing decision.
However, a lot of studies are still needed to identify the benefits and disadvantages of user profile based demographics.
User Knowledge
Despite the high use of sports supplements by athletes, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the proper use of these products. This is the reason why a survey study was conducted.
It assessed the attitudes, beliefs and practices of sports supplements among young athletes. It also explored ethical dilemmas about the misuse of supplements.
A study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Participants were asked to answer 20 questions.
The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad. It also complied with the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) regulations.
The results of the study indicate that male athletes are more likely to take sports supplements. They also use more amino acids, caffeine, creatine, NO reactor and vitamins than female athletes.
Males also use more carbohydrates and protein. The study also found that younger athletes had a poor understanding of the use of sports supplements.
The younger athletes, who were 15-16 years old, had a lack of knowledge about the role of the supplements, the functions of the products, and the intended benefits.
The results of the study showed that athletes in Germany and Serbia had a better understanding of the use of carbohydrates and proteins.
Athletes in Croatia and Japan had a better understanding of the use of vitamins. This is because athletes in these countries had access to professional resources, such as sports dieticians.
Compared to athletes in the other countries, athletes from Germany and Serbia had a better knowledge of the role of carbohydrates, proteins, and vitamins.
Using a sample of 520 sports nutrition aficionados, a published paper investigated the use of the various types of supplements in a sample of professional and amateur athletes.
The study uncovered three major groups of consumers, including professional and amateur athletes, fitness enthusiasts and lottery funded athletes.
The study sought to understand the efficacy and effectiveness of sports supplements. The most notable result was the alarming overuse of vitamins and supplements in the sports nutrition industry.
This was accompanied by an increase in the number of products on the market. It is estimated that more than half of adult US residents are using dietary supplements.
Another study found that the users of most supplement were male professionals in the 24-34 age range.
The most common supplement was the whey protein supplement. Although the whey protein supplement is the most popular, supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrient-rich ingredients are also popular.
In fact, the supplement industry is growing by leaps and bounds and is set to take on the sports nutrition industry in the coming years.
Guidance
It is important for coaches to receive ongoing education about the use of sports supplements.
However, many coaches do not know how to recommend the appropriate supplements for their athletes. A comprehensive education program is needed for all team members.
Moreover, it is important to understand the trends in sports supplements use. Knowledge about these trends will help develop education programs.
The study showed that male athletes tend to take sports supplements for performance purposes, while female athletes take them for health purposes.
Males also rely more on the Internet for information on sports supplements and safety issues while female athletes gather this information from their coaches.
The use of the micro-nutrient whey protein has been gaining steam in the sports nutrition community as more athletes have become interested in a more balanced diet.
A growing variety of sports foods can also serve as an alternative to conventional meal replacements and are convenient. In fact, many athletes use these products to meet their daily energy needs.
The most important aspect of sports nutrition is to maintain a balanced diet to ensure optimal performance.
Conclusion
Studies have found that a large portion of the athletic population use sports supplements.
These supplements can improve performance and are often used by athletes to gain an edge over their opponents.
Supplements can include a range of products, such as performance enhancing supplements, protein powders and shakes. However, many athletes are cautious about what they ingest.
The use of supplements is not restricted to athletics, with a large number of people using them for health and aesthetic reasons.
Some athletes may take high doses that could lead to nutritional problems. Supplements can also be illegal.
There have been several claims of tainted supplements when an athlete tests positive for a banned substance.
An increase in obesity and obesity-related diseases has resulted in the growth of weight loss supplements.
These supplements are unlikely to produce dramatic results in sport performance. However, they can build muscle for aesthetic purposes.
It is also possible that the increasing stakes in the sports world have driven athletes to seek a new edge.
There have been some athletes willing to take banned substances to improve performance.
