Dietary supplement usage and motivation in Brazilian road runners

Motivational Drivers behind the Consumption of Dietary Supplements by Leisure-Time Athletes

The prevalence of dietary supplement use has been growing continuously worldwide. Nevertheless, limited research evidence is available on dietary supplement usage related to the segment of leisure-time athletes with the determinants of motivational drivers, sport types, and demographic characteristics. This research, which was conducted in Hungary among leisure-time athletes, aims to learn about the demographic and sports characteristics of consumers who identified themselves as active dietary supplement consumers in the survey. The motivational drivers for consuming dietary supplements and their differences, as well as the frequency of dietary supplement consumption in each sports category, are examined. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the key motivational drivers, among which health preservation, improvement in physical well-being, and cartilage protection are predominant. The results show that there are significant differences between segments taking part in different leisure-time sport activities and age groups when it comes to dietary supplement usage. Three different segments were identified based on the motivational drivers examined. As a limitation, to note is that due to the sample size, the study can be considered as prospective. In practical terms, the results of the study can be used to support marketing projects that aim to reach leisure-time sport athletes.

Associations Between Health Status, Training Level, Motivations for Exercise, and Supplement Use Among Recreational Runners

Dietary supplement use continues to increase, with athlete use surpassing non-athlete utilization. Most research has been conducted on dietary supplement use in elite or collegiate-level athletes. This study investigated supplement use in adult recreational runners and determined relationships between supplement use and participants' training volume, motivations for exercise, self-reported health status, and reasons for using dietary supplements. Participants (n = 283) were recruited for this cross-sectional study via a convenience sampling method. Participants completed an electronic questionnaire using Likert-scale response options. Correlations between the aggregate variables of health status, training level, exercise motivation, reasons for using supplements, and supplement use were calculated using bivariate Pearson correlation analysis. There was a positive correlation between the variables exercise motivation and supplement use (r = 0.267, n = 276, p = 0.01), and between variables influencing reasons for using dietary supplements and reported supplement use was also found (r = 0.425, n = 276, p = 0.01). There was no correlation between health status and supplement use (r = 0.043, n = 275, p = 0.476), or between training level and supplement use (r = 0.00, n = 275, p = 0.994). This study demonstrated a positive correlation between runners' supplement use and motivations for exercising and reasons for consuming supplements. A significant relationship was not found between supplement use and participants' health status or supplement use and runners' training volume. This finding contrasts with previous research in supplement use in the athlete population, which largely reports increased dietary supplement use with increased training volume.

Qualitative exploration of the factors influencing the use of dietary supplements in Iranian women: introduction to areas of focus for developing interventions

BACKGROUND

Literature shows that the consumption of Dietary Supplements (DS) is more common in Iran. This study aimed to explore the experiences of a sample of Iranian women regarding the factors influencing the use of DS.

METHODS

This qualitative content analysis study was conducted in Qods city, Tehran province, Iran from January to March 2020. Forty-two semi-structured in-depth interviews were performed with women. The participants were asked about their experiences about the determinants of the consumption of DS. After the first round of the interviews was done, we performed content analysis of the data and continued up to data saturation.

RESULTS

Two main themes including personal factors (with 5 subthemes including sociodemographic characteristics, perceived benefits of DS, history of illness, physiological conditions, and lifestyle factors) and socio-economic factors (with 3 subthemes including subjective norms, the price of food and commercial considerations of the sectors involved in the production and sale of DS) emerged as the experiences of the participants as to the intake of DS.

CONCLUSIONS

These variables may suggest areas which need to be focused on for performing more effective interventions to affect appropriate consumption of DS in Iran.

Amino acids and sport: a true love story?

Among a plethora of dietary supplements, amino acids are very popular with athletes for several reasons (e.g., to prevent nutritional deficiency, improve muscle function, and decrease muscle damages) whose purpose is to improve performance. However, it is difficult to get a clear idea of which amino acids have real ergogenic impact. Here, we review and analyze the clinical studies evaluating specific amino acids (glutamine, arginine, leucine, etc.) in athletes. Only english-language clinical studies evaluating a specific effect of one amino acid were considered. Despite promising results, many studies have methodological limits or specific flaws that do not allow definitive conclusions. To date, only chronic β-alanine supplementation demonstrated an ergogenic effect in athletes. Much research is still needed to gain evidence-based data before any other specific amino acid can be recommended for use in athletes.

Prevalence of supplement use in recreationally active Kazakhstan university students

Background

Little is known about the supplements use and recreational sport practices in Kazakhstan university students. Therefore, the aim of this study was to ascertain supplements use prevalence and their predictors in this population.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey of both undergraduate and graduate level students was completed in 2017 et al.-Farabi Kazakh National University, the largest higher institution in the country, from almost all Schools. A 45-item questionnaire was used to record physical activity, supplements use, lifestyle attributes (smoking, alcohol, sleep, etc.) and eating habits, and adjusted regression models were used to verify predictors of supplements use.

Results

Of the entire sample of 889 students (70% females), 526 (59%) were practicing recreational physical activity (RPA), and walking, jogging and track and field was the most popular activity type (38%). N = 151 (29%) students reported the use of any supplement (31% in men and 27% in women), whereas the most popular supplement type were vitamins. Supplement use was most prevalent in swimmers (55%). Age (odds ratio (OR) 1.19 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.37), use of fitness tracker (OR 6.26 (95% CI 3.90–10.03)) and low-fat diet (OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.23–3.10)), but not income predicted supplements use in adjusted models.

Conclusions

With more than half of students exercising regularly, only less than one-third use supplements with a very strong association with fitness tracker use.

Does Carbohydrate Intake During Endurance Running Improve Performance? A Critical Review

Wilson, PB. Does carbohydrate intake during endurance running improve performance? A critical review. J Strength Cond Res 30(12): 3539-3559, 2016-Previous review articles assessing the effects of carbohydrate ingestion during prolonged exercise have not focused on running. Given the popularity of distance running and the widespread use of carbohydrate supplements, this article reviewed the evidence for carbohydrate ingestion during endurance running. The criteria for inclusion were (a) experimental studies reported in English language including a performance task, (b) moderate-to-high intensity exercise >60 minutes (intermittent excluded), and (c) carbohydrate ingestion (mouth rinsing excluded). Thirty studies were identified with 76 women and 505 men. Thirteen of the 17 studies comparing a carbohydrate beverage(s) with water or a placebo found a between-condition performance benefit with carbohydrate, although heterogeneity in protocols precludes clear generalizations about the expected effect sizes. Additional evidence suggests that (a) performance benefits are most likely to occur during events >2 hours, although several studies showed benefits for tasks lasting 90-120 minutes; (b) consuming carbohydrate beverages above ad libitum levels increases gastrointestinal discomfort without improving performance; (c) carbohydrate gels do not influence performance for events lasting 16-21 km; and (d) multiple saccharides may benefit events >2 hours if intake is ≥1.3 g·min Given that most participants were fasted young men, inferences regarding women, adolescents, older runners, and those competing in fed conditions are hampered. Future studies should address these limitations to further elucidate the role of carbohydrate ingestion during endurance running.

Effects of vitamin D and quercetin, alone and in combination, on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle function in physically active male adults

Introduction

Vitamin D and the antioxidant quercetin, are promising agents for improving physical performance because of their possible beneficial effects on muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of increased intakes of vitamin D, quercetin, and their combination on antioxidant status, the steroid hormone regulators of muscle function, and measures of physical performance in apparently healthy male adults engaged in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity exercise training.

Methods

A total of 40 adult male participants were randomized to either 4,000 IU vitamin D/d, 1,000 mg/d quercetin, vitamin D plus quercetin, or placebo for 8 weeks. Measures of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle function, blood markers for antioxidant and vitamin D status, and hormones 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) and testosterone were measured pre- and postsupplementation.

Results

At enrollment, 88.6% of participants were vitamin D sufficient (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D >50 nmol/L) and had normal serum testosterone levels. Supplementation with vitamin D significantly increased serum 25(OH)D concentration (by 87.3% in the vitamin D group, P<0.001) and was associated with an increasing trend of testosterone concentration. There were no changes in concentration of 1,25(OH)₂D₃ and markers of antioxidant status associated with vitamin D or quercetin supplementation. No improvements in physical performance measures associated with vitamin D and quercetin supplementation were found.

Conclusion

The findings obtained demonstrate that long-term vitamin D and quercetin supplementation, alone or in combination, does not improve physical performance in male adults with adequate vitamin D, testosterone, and antioxidant status.